Port, Sherry and Fortified Wines that are Perfect for Christmas

Hailing from the famous Douro region of Portugal, Port is a rich fortified red wine that’s essential for the festive season.

First up is the Kopke Ruby Port. Established in 1683, Kopke is one of the oldest Port houses around, and has been producing award-winning Port ever since. This ruby Port has smoky notes on the nose, followed by layers of dried fruits. On the palate you can expect full, fruity flavours, with deliciously smooth tannins. This Port makes the ultimate match with a cheese board after your Christmas dinner.

From one award-winning Port to another, the Fonseca Bin 27 Fine Reserve is a favourite amongst Port fans around the world. This one is full of sweet, rich plum and damson fruit flavours, with a sweet milk chocolatey kick to it. Another perfect match with cheese – particularly the smelly ones – or even great with Christmas pudding. This is a real crowd pleaser and certainly deserves a place in your drinks cabinet this winter.

With an abundance of different sherries available, varying in style and character, this fortified wine is truly versatile and a classic Christmas tipple.

One which is an absolute must for the festive season is the Fernando de Castilla Classic Pedro Ximenez from Jerez, southern Spain. Packed with sticky prune and raisin flavours, this is a truly indulgent fortified wine, however plenty of freshness comes through too, which is a sign of an expertly crafted sherry. This is a match made in heaven with indulgent chocolatey Christmas desserts and Christmas pudding. Or, if you fancy something a little different, a drizzle of this over vanilla ice-cream creates the ultimate dessert in itself!

If an Amontillado sherry is more your thing, then the Bodegas Hidalgo Napolean Amontillado Seco is just as sensational. An inviting mahogany hue entices you in, where you will find rich hazelnut and vanilla aromas, followed by a full, long and refined finish on the palate. This one is best served slightly chilled and enjoyed neat. This is also a great addition to some classic cocktails – although not the traditional way of drinking it, a new wave of sherry drinkers are championing its versatility by using it as a cocktail ingredient. Try adding a splash to a Bloody Mary for an extra kick.

If you fancy trying something a little different, and you’re a lover of Malbec, then the Familia Zuccardi Malamado Malbec has got to be on your radar this Christmas! This rare and intriguing fortified Malbec is the ultimate way to impress guests at the end of an extravagant meal. The guys at Zuccardi have supercharged their flagship variety, Malbec, to create an even richer version that’s full of dark fruit, prunes, quince and cinnamon flavours. It doesn’t get much more festive than that! Enjoy on its own or pair with a rich chocolate torte this Christmas.

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