The journey to work is taken over with thoughts of last-minute shopping, changes to the travel plans you’ve had in place since October, the deadlines at work that keep bringing you out in a cold sweat and the four parties you've got to attend in the three days before Christmas. 

Perhaps you even find time to think about the Christmas menu for the in-laws' visit. If it's a long journey, and you're especially uptight, you might squeeze in a thought or two about which wines you'll open during Christmas dinner.  But maybe not.  So to save you some time and effort, I’ve put together a few examples of which wines to drink with Christmas dinner.  Here goes:

Starters

Pâtés – Pâtés are crammed full of the most exotic of ingredients. Often too exotic to be identified. Nevertheless, they almost all have one thing in common: they taste better with white wine. Especially a sweeter white.  There are a variety of good, robust whites around which fall on the sweet side: try a Riesling from Germany or Australia, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa or, if you can track one down, a Gewürztraminer. For stronger flavoured pâtés you can even give a dessert wine a go (I kid you not). Try a Sauterne or a botrytised Riesling from the New World.

 Oak barrels full of Chianti Classico wine in a wine cellar

Smoked Salmon – Oily and strong—smoked salmon needs a strong, rich white wine to bring out the complex smokey flavours. Try a dry Riesling, a New World Viognier or, as we're on starters and you might still be on Champagnes or sparkling wines, if you're drinking a yeasty, heavier bubbly keep on going as they’re a perfect match.

Parma Ham and Melon – Not the most imaginative of starters but ever popular. If you come across this on your plate over Christmas, try and find a bottle of Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio or, again, a German or Australian Riesling. Otherwise a Sauvignon Blanc will help wash it down.

French Onion Soup – One of the best winter soups, you need a pretty strong white to take care of the mix of onion and melted cheese flavours, so try either a Chenin Blanc or a dry Riesling from France or Australia. It is your choice.

Main Courses

Game – If you're adventurous enough/lucky enough to be having Game, be it partridge, grouse or venison for Christmas dinner then stock up on a few bottles of Burgundy (or New World Pinot) and some strong Cabernets. The majority of Game birds go wonderfully with medium-to-heavy reds. Just make sure you have something of equal quality to the food, otherwise you’ll be disappointed.

BBQ – OK, this one’s for the Aussies I know who suffer in 30C temperatures over Christmas….and who'll be drinking beer. Drink any white, red or rosè that takes your fancy. You'll be on a plane back to fog and rain in 10 days, anyway.

Desserts

Christmas Pudding/ Mince Pies – By this point you're teeth may well be crying for mercy. But it’s time to get out a bottle of liqueur Muscat. You could also hunt down some good quality Port. It'll may well be academic by this point, though.

Veined Cheese – For those of you unable to take the Christmas pud, then you can at least share the dessert wine or port if you go for the blue cheese. As with the pâté, the combination of the salty and the sweet wine is superb.

Red Cork is a young and dynamic internet wine retailer that offers award-winning New World wines through case sales and wine clubs.

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 Photos credit: It's Holly; roblisameehan; paulaloe

Copyright Expatica/  Mike Croall