What Should I Drink With Christmas Cake, Pudding and Mince Pies?

If you’re not gorging on at least one of these this December, then are you even doing Christmas? Of course, mince pies, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding have their differences, but they’re all based around rich fruits, usually dried, or candied, as well as nuts and spices. Because of this, the same kind of drinks tend to work with them, and work they certainly do – these pairings are mouth-watering, and exactly what Christmas indulgence is about.

Sherry

Sweet, luxurious sherry is such a perfect match. Stick to Pedro Ximenez or Oloroso styles, and the dried fruits, nuts, and silky, rich chocolatey notes will pair up like a match made in taste heaven. It’s a traditional pairing too, so fully embraces the season. We’ve just uploaded our sherry guide for Christmas too, which details recommendations and information about all the styles.

Size: 375ml (half bottle)
ABV: 17%
Find here: £13.65

Port

Tawny Port in particular is a great way to go, brimming with red and black fruits, and if it’s got decent aging, nutty undertones too. The tawny is slightly less sweet than ruby ports, so the richer, nuttier, treacley flavours work well, especially if you’re using brandy butter. This Kopke Tawny is lovely and rich, with a velvety mouthfeel complimenting any cream.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 19.5%
Find here: £14.99

Madeira

Part of Madeira wine’s fundamental manufacturing is heat, giving tonnes of stewed fruits and burnt sugar notes, as well as delicious nutty flavours. I mean, the nose often smells of Christmas cake even! They also keep their acidity nicely, which helps to avoid everything becoming a bit weighed down and cloying. It isn’t as traditional as a glass of sherry but works just as well.  This Blandy’s number is full-on and fruity, but most decent sweet Maderia wines will do the job.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 19%
Find here: £12.99 (usually more!)

Muscat

Dessert wines with carrying hints of apricot or orange work nicely, playing into the festive fruits nicely. Spanish Moscatel de Valencia is a good option – it’s a honeyed wine that’s also fresh and fruity, with lofty florality. It also provides a bit of refreshment and tang if the richness is getting a bit much,

Size: 750ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £7.99

These Christmas sweet treats are all similar in profile, but the same cannot be said for other desserts, where they may be sharp citrus, custard or other difficult to match flavours and textures. Luckily, we have a whole guide on what to drink with Classic British Puddings here!

Best Boxed Wines to Get in For Christmas

It's been fantastic to see how far boxed wine has come. Gone are the days of it being student hangover juice because the technology has improved, and top producers now trust boxes to house their wine. Hooray!

If you’ve got people over, or you’re just fed up with throwing away leftover wine, then these boxes last for much longer, and they’re also a much greener way to package wine... and they work out cheaper per bottle! What’s not to like?

Best Boxed Red Wine

Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet

This is a lovely box of dry Aussie Shiraz Cabernet, brimming with lofty, bright plum fruits and rich with dark chocolate, coffee, and a little spice on the finish. Not only that, but Banrock do great environmental work, planting 100,000 native trees every year.

Size: 2.25L
ABV: 11%
Find here: £19.50 (£6.50 per 750ml)

Terre di Faiano Rosso IGP Puglia Organic

This Italian red catches the eye with its gorgeous blue tube packaging, and the liquid inside doesn’t let it down. It’s super juicy and full-bodied, absolutely brimming with very ripe dark berries, fragrant vanilla, and cocoa dusted dried fruits. For a sweeter, flavoursome boxed red, this is fantastically easy drinking and also cheese-friendly – particularly the salty stuff.

Size: 2.25L
ABV: 11%
Find here: £22.39 (usually more!) (£7.47 per 750ml)

Laylo Lot #10 Malbec

Laylo probably make the best-looking boxed wines on the market, perfect for sprucing up a Christmas countertop. But this isn’t a display piece, what does the actual wine taste like? You normally associate Malbec with rich Argentinian bottles, or more disciplined French varieties, but this is Spanish! Soaking up all that heat, you get a silky smooth expression delighting with ripe plum, mulberries and blueberries, as well as the signature cocoa from Argentinian styles.

Size: 2.25L
ABV: 13%
Find here: £34.99 (£11.66 per 750ml)

Best Boxed White Wine

Sainsbury's Coolwater Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Taste the Difference

Rock solid New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc here, produced by Yealands Estate in the Awatere Valley. It’s refreshing and zesty with racy acidity and crisp mineral finish.  

Size: 2.25L
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £20 (£10 per 750ml)

Soave Cantina di Soave

A very pleasant Italian white from the Veneto region, Soave overlaps with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris, but with a bit more richness. In this case, there are hints of orchard fruits, bright citrus and a food-friendly dry, crisp quality that makes a great choice for Christmas grazing.

Size: 2.25L
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £18.99 (£6.33 per 750ml)

Tállya Radicals Dry Furmint 2022

This classy number uses Furmint, the same grape used in the famous sweet Hungarian wine Tokaji. We’re seeing more and more Furmint wines on supermarket shelves and it’s great to see. This wine is dry, fruity, and mineral, with unique aromatics and hints of honey suckle and pear. The lick of lime coursing through is electrifying too. Start pouring it alongside the cheese boards and you’ll be in Christmas heaven.

Size: 2.25L
ABV: 13%
Find here: £43.32 (£14.44 per 750ml)

Best Boxed Rosé Wine

M&S La Dame En Rose

This is a top everyday Rosé from the Terres du Midi region of South France, with a pleasant bouquet of white flowers and palate teeming with red fruits. It’s a versatile, food-friendly wine that will do well alongside most fish, chicken and salads, so can serve as a steady go-to over the festive period.

Size: 1.5L
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £16 (£8 per 750ml)

ASDA Extra Special Pinot Grigio Rose Boxed Wine

You might not be able to see it straight away but start pouring and the delightful ballet-shoe hue is so inviting. This Italian pink balances the key Rosé characteristics so well – the sweet red fruits, and the crisp dryness. It feels light on its feet, but has enough flavour and substance to stay interesting for the entire 3 bottles worth you get.

Size: 2.25L
ABV: 12%
Find here: £17.95 (£5.98 per 750ml)

These are perfect countertop wine boxes for guests to keep topping up with, but if you’re still on the hunt for special gifts, then you have to take a look at these unique bottles – they’re unforgettable presents.