Matching wines with Christmas leftovers
Christmas day has come and gone, but the remnants of feasting remain. Whether it’s the family-favourite Turkey pie or a luxurious Risotto, finding the right wine to pair can help keep the joy of the season going.
Festive foods are a mixture of flavours and textures, from sweet spice of Christmas Puddings to oily smoked salmon. Naturally, this can make pulling off the perfect wine pairing a challenge. Here is the Artelium guide to choosing the right wine to elevate your leftovers into a glorious post-Christmas feast.
LIGHT & FRESH FOOD PAIRINGS
As you relax in the afterglow of Christmas day, you might fancy eating something a bit lighter. Luckily, the fridge likely contains a half-eaten Turkey and some offcuts of smoked salmon. Whether you are going to pull together a fresh salad with cold meats and smoked salmon you need a wine to bring out the best of these lighter flavours.
One way to approach food and wine pairings is to think: what would I want to add as a condiment to this dish? If a squeeze of lemon juice would give the food a lift, then look no further than a lighter style of white wine.
Artelium Chardonnay 2022
Our multi-layered Chardonnay, with a dash of barrel-aged Pinot Gris, brings bright lemon citrus with hints of juicy, fresh mango and pineapple at the core. The palate follows precisely, a great balance of delicious fruit and tense, lively acidity makes it perfect with salads and other light foods.
Sparkling wines are the perfect aperitif, but they also make for a great match with food as well. Especially Blanc de Noirs, which are crafted from black-skin grape varieties Pinot Noir and Meunier.
Artelium Blanc de Noirs 2014
Our 2014 Blanc de Noirs spent 60 months on the lees, giving it enormous depth and complexity. Presenting aromas of warm, fresh bread and wild raspberries, whilst on the palate crunchy red apples and juicy pears come to the fore. Perfect pair for cold meats.
RICH & CREAMY DISHES
For those savouring something rich and yummy like a Turkey Risotto with winter greens or a Cheeseboard Macaroni, there are two pairing choices. Matching food and wines is all about balance. It could be that a wine accentuates the flavours of the food through being an opposite, or by building on the flavours.
Artefact #5 – Futures (Present)
The rich and complex profile of oaked Pinot Gris in this Artefact makes it pair well with heartier meals. Just 250 bottles of this barrel-aged white wine were produced, and it comes with notes of citrus, pear and delicate summer blossom. Time spent in American Oak lends this wine a line of vanilla and light spice, making it an indulgent partner to creamy dishes.
Pinot Noir 2022
Creamy pasta, gratins, or decadent sauces, a fresher red wine like our Pinot Noir 2022 is brilliant. Its refreshing acidity cut through the creaminess, creating a harmonious pairing to delight, while the soft red fruits of the wine add a new dimension to the meal.
CURRY & SPICED RECIPES
After the traditional flavours of Christmas Day, many of us like to turn to Curry or other Asian n recipes to spice up the seasonal leftovers. Pairing with richly flavoured dishes and spicy dishes can be daunting; delicate wines can be overwhelmed by the favours of the food, and tannic wines can accentuate spice.
Here are a few wine pairings from the Artelium range that work well:
White Pinot 2022
This still white wine from the fantastic 2022 vintage brings concentrated of flavours of apple, bramble and strawberry fruit character. A blend of Pinot Noir and Meunier, this White Pinot 2022 brings poached rhubarb and vanilla pod characters, which add layers of complexity to compliment Curry flavours. Lively natural acidity helps to keep the palate feeling fresh.
Artefact #4 – Futures (Past)
A collage of different grape varieties aged in oak; this limited-edition Artefact wine has the richness of body to sit alongside a Curry. Notes of vanilla and barbequed pineapple, give it a depth of flavour to accommodate the strong flavours of well-spiced cuisine.
ABOUT ARTELIUM ENGLISH WINEMAKERS
We’re an artisanal wine producer based in the Sussex countryside, where we create fine English wines using traditional methods. We love sharing our award-winning wine and the land that makes it so special, through our winery tours and tastings - or have some delivered to your door from our online wine shop.