Festive Wines for Christmas | The Christmas Magazine 2025

Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite shares her favourite bottles (and booze-free beauties) to enjoy this festive season.

In my book, Christmas morning unfolds in a very specific order: first come the presents, then it's all about a glass or two of fizz or wine, and finally, the feast (plus or minus a family argument)!

This year, I have some fabulous recommendations to make that second step easy and exciting. Whether you want budget fizz, a special red or stunning non-alcoholic wine that's just as good as the presents – this year's festive wine picks are here to bring sparkle, warmth and a touch of magic to your celebrations.

I usually kick off Christmas morning with a glass of Champagne, but this year, I'm switching things up and starting with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.

Festive Fizz

Sainsbury's Champagne Brut NV

You will always find me picking up this sparkling wine; it has a very eye-catching, beautiful label. This Champagne comes from the highly regarded Louis Kremer Champagne house, which is partnering with and making Sainsbury's own label. This blend of premium Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes is aged for three years in the cellars of the winery in Reims. Tastes of floral, peach and buttered toast. Elegant, with fine bubbles and a satisfying finish.

Sainsbury's Champagne Brut NV, Taste the Difference

£24, Sainsbury's

Veuve Monsigny Champagne

An absolute gem at a fantastic price. It's often hard to get such good quality for less than £15, but this reminds me of Ruinart's style – fresh, steely, elegant and powerful. It offers great value for money and is an ideal gift to take to a party or for your family Christmas (or enjoy a glass to yourself)!

£14.95, Aldi

Contevedo Cava

Another standout from Aldi's sparkling range. Cava often flies under the radar, but this is an unsung hero, especially for winter gatherings.

Most Cava comes from the Penedès region, just outside Barcelona. It's savoury, refreshing and citrus-driven. Really easy to enjoy and it's the perfect sparkling to serve with seafood or a cheese board. For the price, it's an unbeatable option.

Contevedo Cava Brut - £5.79, Aldi

Still Showstoppers

Masi Campofiorin Appassimento

This intense red is a real showstopper and heart-warmer.

This wine goes through "double fermentation" – it was refermented with 30% whole semi-dried grapes for around six weeks. What this does is intensify the flavours to create rich, powerful cherry and red berry flavours with sweet spices, and a soft flavour that lasts forever on your tongue. Its bright crimson colour makes it gorgeous to look at too.

Masi Campofiorin Appassimento 2020 IGT Verona

£15, Waitrose

The Long Road Viognier

Sam O'Keefe is a powerhouse of a woman and a talented winemaker. Sam now has a range at Tesco called The Long Road and I love the Viognier, which is a perfect pairing with turkey or honey-glazed ham.

It's perfumed, floral and brings notes of honeysuckle.

The Long Road Viognier by Sam O'Keefe

£18.50, Tesco

Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

For a winter red that never fails to deliver, look for a classic Cabernet Sauvignon – in this case, one from Chile offering perfectly ripe cassis flavours, herbaceous notes and oodles of flavour. This will impress any Bordeaux lover.

Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo, Chile

£10, Tesco and Waitrose

Non-Alcoholic Gems

Jörg Geiger Blanc de Blanc

This is a Chardonnay with Colombard from Germany. It's an organic wine that's bottle-fermented and matured on the lees in their cellars. This is a slow process and shows the care that goes into the wine.

Beautiful light yellow in colour, bursting with citrus fruit, apple, brioche and a subtle sweetness. The bubbles are fine and the texture is lively with great energy. Very fun and approachable. A second glass please!

Jörg Geiger Blanc de Blanc 0.5%

£29, Club Soda

French Bloom

French Bloom is an alcohol-free sparkling wine brand co-founded by Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger. It was initially created with pregnant women, the sober community, and religious groups in mind but suddenly the brand exploded and everyone was trying to buy it. This is because more drinkers are entering the non-alcoholic world out of curiosity and mindfulness.

Their La Cuvée Vintage Blanc de Blancs 2022, at £109 a bottle, is now the world's most expensive alcohol-free wine.

However, there is also French Bloom Le Blanc, an alcohol-free, organic sparkling wine. It brings together fresh acidity and smooth depth, much like a French Chardonnay. With soft pear and green apple flavours, followed by floral notes and zesty citrus, it's lively and refreshing.

French Bloom Blanc Organic

£32, Mouse and Grape

Thomson & Scott Noughty

Amanda Thomson, a former city professional, founded Thomson & Scott, a brand known for its non-alcoholic sparkling wines, including my favourite: Noughty non-alcoholic sparkling Chardonnay, which is served at The Ritz Carlton!

Lovely fizz, fresh melon and lemon. And with just 14 calories per glass, it's the perfect choice for a hangover-free celebration.

Thomson & Scott Noughty

£10, Waitrose

Kylie Minogue 0% Prosecco Rosé

Kylie Minogue has joined the movement with her Kylie Minogue 0% Prosecco Rosé. This has become a crowd-pleaser and you will see me picking up a bottle at the supermarket.

It's very accessible with notes of rose, strawberries and cream and I think the price is brilliant.

Kylie Minogue 0% Prosecco Rosé

£6, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury's

Copenhagen Sparkling Tea

For those looking for something even more impressive, one of my favourites is Copenhagen Sparkling Tea by sommelier Jacob Kocemba.

This drink blends up to 13 different organic teas to create a beverage with the complexity and tannic structure of wine. It's fresh and light, with delicate aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, white flowers, and a fresh finish.

The tea's natural tannins mimic the sensation of drinking sparkling wine, which really impresses me and is the closest thing to red wine. Serve just like Champagne – cold from the fridge in a flute.

Copenhagen Sparkling Tea

£18.50, Fortnum & Mason

Torres Natureo Muscat

Big thanks to the Spanish Torres family for investing in the technology to remove alcohol at scale and being a leader in non-alcoholic wines.

I reach for the Muscat white wine because it's refreshing and easy to sip. Delicate floral and fruit aromas with a citrus finish.

Torres Natureo Muscat

£9.21, Dry Drinker

Elizabeth Hawthorthwaite Written for The Christmas Magazine 2025