A Fool Proof Guide to Festive Entertaining

Entertaining at Christmas can be chaotic. With an array of dishes to consider, from the paté to the trifle, making sure you serve the right wine can be tricky business, especially if you don’t know your Malbec from your Merlot. So, with the feast of the year just around the corner, we have some top tips to ensure you get it right on Christmas day-  your guests will be ‘rioja-ing’ around the Christmas tree in no time.

Do the math

Work out how many bottles of wine you’ll need, bearing in mind you get about 6-8 glasses per bottle. Think about your guests. Are they driving or staying the night? Remember the golden rule of hosting: never run out of wine!

Look after the pennies

Don’t be fooled into thinking that that hosting a party involves splashing out on the most expensive wine you can find. You can jazz up your seasonal menu with something a little bit special with our delicious regional range for around £8.

1. Best for Christmas canapés: i heart Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ♥
2. Best for turkey with all the trimmings: i heart Berceo Rioja ♥
3. Best for non-traditionalists: i heart Malbec Mendoza ♥

Add some festive flair

A simple way to make your table shine is to roll some coloured napkins and wrap with a contrasting ribbon in satin, velvet, lace or elastic sequins. For extra festive flair, add some holly, bells or candy canes to make your table look spectacular.

Create the ultimate serve

Sparkling wine, such as Prosecco or Cava, should be served chilled, but not so cold that it kills the flavour. Three hours in the fridge usually does the trick – or pop a bottle in the freezer one hour before opening if you have less time. White wines should be served ‘fridge cold’ – around 7-14˚C – and remember that the lighter and zestier the wine is, the colder is can be served. Rich red wines on the other hand, such as Malbec or Rioja, should be served ‘slightly cool’ as the higher tannins in red wine smooth out at warmer temperatures.

Put your party hat on

Once the party prep is taken care of, relax and get in the spirit by popping on playlist with all the Christmas classics. If you’re entertaining guests with kids, put a holiday favourite on the TV, such as Home Alone or Elf, or introduce some friendly competition with some seasonal party games like a Christmas movie trivia quiz or pin the tail on the reindeer!

So, all that’s left for you to do is relax, don your favourite festive jumper and try not to burn the turkey… simple!