When it comes to buying wine for Christmas, there’s nothing more valuable than experience. With more than three decades spent buying wine, travelling the globe and tasting at the source, Liz — our Director of Wine — is the person we turn to for trusted advice, emerging styles and what’s truly worth pouring at the table.
We asked Liz to share her tips for buying wine for Christmas Day, focusing on bottles that work beautifully from aperitif through to the main event. Choosing just six wasn’t easy, but after much thought, these are her standout new finds — a list to file away and return to whenever you need a confident recommendation.
All six wines are available individually or as a mixed case, ready to ship.
Tip 1: Start with a Red That Redefines Expectations
Pomona Chianti
“This is the wine that changed perceptions,” says Liz. Tasted earlier this year in Castellina in Chianti, Pomona lifted the bar on what Chianti can be. Balanced, expressive and full of energy, it’s a modern classic that delivers freshness and depth in equal measure.
Tip 2: Choose Whites from Cool, Elevated Sites
Domaine Buisson Saint-Romain Sous la Velle 2023
Liz has long loved Saint-Romain for its high, cool vineyards and crystalline wines. This 2023 captures everything she looks for — freshness, verve and clarity — and comes from a producer she was thrilled to secure after a memorable visit.
Tip 3: Don’t Underestimate a “Third Wine”
Château Haut Roc 2016
Made from younger vines on the same exceptional site as Château Bélair-Monange and in the same winery, this is Bordeaux with real polish. Depth, charm and approachability make it a smart choice when buying wine to please a crowd.
Tip 4: Look for Champagne with Personality
Les Monts Fournois Champagne
From the team behind Domaine Bérêche, Les Fournois stood out immediately for Liz. Elegant, refined and genuinely fun to drink, this is Champagne with character — perfect for kicking things off in style.
Tip 5: Seek Out Honest, Expressive Rhône Wines
Domaine Combier
A Northern Rhône discovery that continues to impress. These wines show freshness, balance and purity — immediate yet thoughtful, and a brilliant example of why careful buying wine at the source matters.
Tip 6: Finish with a White That Can Age — or Shine Now
Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu 2023
Mineral-driven Chenin Blanc with precision and quiet complexity. Drinking beautifully now, with structure to age, this is a classic table wine Liz returns to time and again.
Six Bottles, Expertly Chosen
These six wines are just a glimpse into our wider range, but together they cover the Christmas table beautifully. If you’re looking for confidence when buying wine, this is a list worth saving — drawn from decades of expertise and a passion for finding wines that truly deliver.
Mixed case of all six bottles available
