There's no denying that holiday celebrations are synonymous with indulging yourself in some of the finest tasting wine you can get your hands on.

If you're looking to step up your wine drinking game, then you might want to keep reading to learn more about the best wine and food pairings revealed by an Australian winemaker.


Howard Park Wines owner, Jeff Burch, shared the ultimate guide to the perfect wine and food pairings for a hot Aussie Christmas, claiming that matching the “flavour and intensity” of the wine with the dish is the best way to come up with a topnotch combination.

Jeff said: “Christmas food and wine pairings can be tricky to navigate, especially as there are usually many different dishes on the table at once and many different tastes to cater to.”

“The boldest flavour in the meal may not be the most obvious - like the meat - it could be the sauce, the cooking method, or a garnish. Your best bet is to match according to the most powerful flavours in a dish.”

“Don’t simply match the meal to the most obvious varietal."

“It’s a great place to start, but there are also things like body, weight, sweetness, acidity and texture of the wine to think about too."

“A hearty cabernet will overpower a delicate seafood dish. On the other hand, a strong cheese will drown out a light-bodied wine.”

However, the winemaker warned that there is no one wine that "fits all".

“When there are many dishes on the table, it calls for a delicious menu of different wines,” he said.


For those of you who are wondering, what wine does a master winemaker enjoy the most, Jeff revealed that Australian sparkling and champagne are his favourites.

Jeff shared: “In our family, it’s Australian sparkling and champagne that gets us into the Christmas spirit."

“Our méthode traditionnelle Howard Park Jeté Brut NV is a real crowd pleaser. It works perfectly as a stand-alone sip, and pairs beautifully with seafood, dessert, or the lighter dishes in your Christmas lunch.”

So, what exactly are the perfect food and wine pairings?

Below is the list of the best pairings:

1. Christmas ham and pinot noir: The medium-bodied, fruity pinot noir will complement the saltiness of the dish without compromising on the delicate, juicy texture of the meat.
2. Roast turkey and sauvignon blanc: The delicate, herbaceous notes of the drink perfectly complement both the turkey and whatever stuffing, sauces and sides are going with it.
3. Roast chicken and chardonnay: The sumptuous flavours and texture of the classic roast chicken are best paired with the buttery notes of chardonnay.
4. Roast lamb and cabernet sauvignon: The drink's pepper or spice notes enhance the texture and flavour of the lamb meat.
5. Seafood and Australian sparkling: The freshness of the seafood blends perfectly with the tight acidic balance of the sparkling.
6. Oysters and Riesling: This food and wine pairing feature a beautiful minerality and acidic energy, which gives your palate a lively feel.
7. BBQ meats:
   1. Dry rosé - This drink is a good all-rounder for poultry, seafood, and veggie-based BBQ.
      [*]Australian shiraz - The spicy, tannic and robust flavour of this drink does not get overpowered by the flavours of red meat, making it an excellent choice.
      
8. Pavlova:
   1. Sparkling rosé - If you're looking for the perfect balance of sweetness, then this drink is the perfect pair to your pavlova as it complements the berry flavours well.
      [*]Moscato - This drink also compliments the sweetness and mixture of the fruit toppings of your pavlova.
      

Do you know any other top-notch food and wine pairings? Share them with us in the comments below so other members of the SDC can try them too!