Perfect Pairings for Your Christmas Feasting

Christmas is a time for celebration, connection, and indulgence, with festive food taking centre stage for any gathering. Whether you’re planning an elegant feast or a cosy get-together, the right wine pairing can elevate your festivities to new heights. At Saffron Grange, we take pride in creating wines that not only stand out on their own, but also which compliment a rich variety of different foodie flavours.

In this blog, we’ll explore some pairing ideas for the three exceptional wines that make up our mixed case (available to buy now here) – our Classic Cuvée 2021, Blanc de Blancs 2021, and Sparkling Rosé 2022. From savoury to sweet, each pairing is designed to bring out the best in your seasonal dishes while showcasing the unique character of our carefully crafted vintages.

Classic Cuvée with smoked salmon blinis

What Christmas gathering is complete without smoked salmon blinis with crème fraîche and a sprinkling of dill? Fortunately, the Saffron Grange Classic Cuvée 2021, with its elegant blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, is a sparkling delight when paired with this popular canape. Ages for 24 months on yeast lees to bring out enticing aromas of red fruits, buttery brioche, and almonds, the palate delights with juicy nectarine, baked apples, and a distinctive flinty minerality. This wine’s vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of the smoked fish and cream, while its bready brioche notes harmonise beautifully with the delicate blinis.

Blanc de Blancs 2021 with baked brie

The Blanc de Blancs 2021, crafted from 100% Chardonnay and aged for 26 months on the lees, has a luxurious and distinctive elegance. Its delicate aromas of apple blossom and yuzu lead to vibrant tropical fruit flavours, all rounded out with a sumptuous baked pastry finish. For a festive pairing with a difference, this wine shines brightly with a decadent baked brie topped with honey and toasted almonds and served with crisp apple slices. The wine’s floral and fruity character beautifully balances the sweet and savoury elements of this sharing dish, making it a star feature of any Christmas gathering.

Sparkling Rosé 2022

Who says Rosé is just for summer? At Saffron Grange, it is a firm favourite on our festive table! The delicious Sparkling Rosé 2022, with its stunning salmon-pink hue, offers a playful yet sophisticated take on festive cheer. Made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, it delights the senses with aromas of wild strawberries and baked apricots, followed by a luscious palate of ripe peaches, strawberries, and a subtle hazelnut finish.

We think this it makes a wonderful pairing for cranberry and orange mince pies. The Rosé’s bright acidity and fruity profile balance the tartness of the cranberries and the warm spice of the mincemeat filling, while its hazelnut finish adds depth to the buttery pastry.

Whatever your festive food choices, we have a wine for you. Feel free to pick up the phone or pop in to speak to our friendly team for advice. Our mixed case is available to buy here.