The final course of a holiday feast presents a prime opportunity to elevate the meal with a thoughtful wine pairing. While a classic tawny port is a reliable choice, the world of dessert wines offers a wealth of exciting alternatives to complement your Christmas pudding, chocolate torte, or fruit-laden tart.
For those seeking a rich, traditional companion, fortified wines remain a cornerstone. Beyond the ubiquitous ruby and tawny ports, consider a Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) port, whose extended barrel aging offers a nuanced complexity that pairs beautifully with dark chocolate and robust cheeses. Sherry, particularly the intensely sweet and raisiny Pedro Ximénez style, is another superb option. Its concentrated flavours, achieved by sun-drying the grapes, make it a natural partner for Christmas cake, and it can even be used as a marsala substitute in desserts like tiramisu.
Venturing further, sweet red wines from Italy provide a captivating alternative. Recioto della Valpolicella, crafted from dried grapes, delivers pronounced notes of dried cherry, brown sugar, and baking spices, evoking the essence of a fruitcake in a glass. Its richness also creates a stunning contrast with salty blue cheeses, effectively rounding out a dessert course.
From France, the naturally sweet fortified wines of the Roussillon region deserve attention. Rivesaltes, a blend of local white grapes, and Banyuls, made from Grenache, both offer lush, sun-drenched profiles of dried and tropical fruits. They stand up wonderfully to the dense, spiced flavours of traditional puddings and are a sublime match for any chocolate-centric dessert.
Finally, do not overlook the potential of sparkling wine. Demi-sec Champagne, with its higher residual sugar (typically 32-50 grams per litre), provides a brilliant, effervescent counterpoint to desserts featuring fresh fruit or citrus, such as lemon tarts, pavlovas, or berry compotes. This style is increasingly mirrored in English sparkling wines, offering a local twist on the concept.
The perfect post-prandial pour is one that delights the palate and complements the dessert. This festive season, consider looking past the familiar to discover a new favourite.