What I think should be on your festive table this year (or on your Santa List!)
OMG, it is already the 11th of December! How the heck has that happened? This will be the latest I’ve ever written the annual ‘Christmas Cracker’. In case it is your first time seeing this list – this is my list of what could be in your shopping basket and on the table for the summer break. These will all be New Zealand wines and I’ve not picked anything that will blow the budget, but I have been looking back at the wines that I’ve tasted in 2025 – with as tight a budget as I can think of.
There will be a separate list coming on WineFolio where I talk about the very best wines that have crossed my path this year, but for now we’re not trying to break the credit card. Read on.
With a little planning, or even a bit of advice from the internet (ahem) your holiday lineup of wines could be looking as amazing as your colleague’s Xmas socks. Some of these wines might be good on the table on the 25th alongside the turkey; or for taking over to your best mate’s bach whilst he’s away in the South of France. And one or two should definitely be on your Santa list – whether you’ve been naughty or nice.
So, we’ll start with some bubbles. It’s essential to have something sparkling at Christmas. It’s not always the easiest choice to make, but here are a couple of ideas for you.
No. 1 Estate Cuvée Méthode Traditionnelle NV A ‘Blanc de Blancs’ expression, made from Chardonnay. A busy rush of very fine bubbles. The perfume has bags of fresh citrus, peach and apple, with a toasty breadcrumb autolysis character. The balance between the zesty and crisp acidity as it meets the creamy texture gives an edge of both harmony and energy. Clean, precise, with a saline minerality and great drive through to a long, salivating finish $35.99 at Glengarry
Huia Méthode Traditionnelle Rosé NV This small producer whole-bunch presses the grapes with just a hint of skin contact for its delicate blush colour. Kept back for a few years before release, this wine still has vibrancy and energy. The palate is fresh and lively, bursting with raspberry, redcurrant, and strawberry cream. Juicy acidity keeps it crisp and dry into a long, elegant finish. Superb value. $24.99 at Glengarry
A couple of the wines in the next four positions on the list are from Top 10 tastings that I hosted this year. Five whites, with a pink thrown in the mix – Rosé is a great choice for the Christmas table.
Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2025 Crushed herbs, gooseberry, boxwood, guava, white peach and lemon in a “character-filled but still very varietally-pure bouquet” we thought. The quintessential Marlborough flavour profile. The acidity is crisp and fresh, with a real zing through the palate, which lifts the fruit flavours nicely. The finish is juicy with a hint of pepper. $19.99 at Glengarry
Forrest Riesling 2020 Tremendous varietal character to the bouquet – no doubt that this is Riesling. Lime cordial, lemongrass, dried apple, matcha, basil and chamomile on the nose, with much of that flavour translating into the dry, fresh palate. A bright, ozone-like vibrancy and minerality underpins the pop of fruit – which gradually turns more tropical and richer. Acidity is well-judged, and the finish is juicy and long. $23.99 at First Glass
Rapaura Springs ROHE Chardonnay 2023 The bouquet is bold and eye-catching, with peach, lemon curd, vanilla, red apple, grapefruit, baking spice and a touch of struck-match flintiness adding complexity. The oak is prominent but suits the style, with warmth, spice and swagger. The fleshy fruit flavours benefit from the flow of tangy acidity, giving drive through the palate. A creamy texture cossets the back of the palate, finishing on a butterscotch note. $35.99 at Glengarry
Te Pā Pinot Gris 2025 The bouquet shows pear, white peach, lemon curd, ginger, baking spices and jasmine floral notes. Dry to taste, with crisp, zesty acidity that carries the voluptuous fruit flavours well. A touch of warmth shows in a vanilla-flecked toastiness mid-palate, but there is also a layer of savoury flavour, with a whisper of fennel and tarragon. The texture is silky, slowing the wine down and lingering into a finish with good length. $16.99 at First Glass
Misha’s Vineyard ‘The Soloist’ Pinot Noir Rosé 2024 A delicately pale coral pink in the glass, with a blooming bouquet that is quite varietal in style. Raspberry, red cherry, pomegranate notes mix with peppery spices and rose petals. Dry, with fleshy fruit flavours and breezy acidity flooding the palate. A smooth, silky texture slows things down, letting layers of spice, vanilla and stony mineral elements emerge. Pure, crisp and brimming with character. $28.99 at Liquor Mart
Great red wines at lower price points can be a problem to recommend; but looking at the Gold Medal winners from the shows and my own tastings this year, it certainly feels like there is very good wine at sharp prices if you buy carefully. I have no problem recommending these last couple…
Askerne Syrah 2024 Bright and perky aromatics of boysenberry, plum, bramble, mocha and baking spices on the nose. Medium-weight and well balanced with a viscous flow through the palate. Big on character and long on glossy flavour. The finish is sleek and has good length. Around $25
Paritua Stone Paddock Cabernet Franc 2021 is a very approachable glassful right now, with the fruit making more presence felt through the palate, and with a light, delicate balance. There is a root beer, savoury earthiness as well. The fine tannins build and provide structure around which the fruit flavours flow. Around $25
