Marcus Ellis
Mewstone Wines Hughes & Hughes Riesling 2025, Tasmania
The 2025 Hughes & Hughes Riesling will be my go-to at Christmas. Riesling is always a festive wine for me – refreshing, versatile at table and it can take a deep chill – and this does everything I want it to, with a burst of citrus and orchard florals underpinned with river-stone mineral notes, plus a beautifully balanced palate, sugar a quiet ballast to the thrilling acid line.
Shanteh Wale
Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon (Magnum) 2025, Hunter Valley
Semillon, semillon, semillon – both young and mature. Beginning with a magnum of 2025 Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon which is perfect for our Aussie Christmas weather and fresh seafood. Its lower alcohol will also ensure most of the family will make it through to pudding before the food coma hits. And, of course, it’s unmistakably, delightfully Australian.
Jeni Port
Ever since my grandparents brought out the tawny port on Christmas Day to serve with the plum pudding, I associate the holidays with sweet treats. Cue Rutherglen Classic muscat (average age six to 10 years) to partner the plum pudding (hot or cold), the home-made pan forte, the rich fruitcake, the Florentines or the decadent vanilla ice-cream. I’m thinking of Chambers, Morris or Campbells who consistently overdeliver in the Classic category combining a stunning raisin-y richness and complexity with spirit freshness. Too hot for muscat? Try muscat on the rocks – nothing better.
Jane Faulkner
Yangarra Estate High Sands Grenache 2023, McLaren Vale
Part tribute to the late Pete Fraser from Yangarra yet one of my favourite wines is High Sands Grenache 2023, the finest to date and I’ll be drinking it when I can. A backup is Yangarra’s skin-contact roussanne, Roux Beauté. Thanks for the beautiful wines, Pete.
