French Wines at Christmas, Part One - Reds

Which French wines would be best to serve at Christmas?

Many people get in a tizz about which wines to serve over the holiday season, and the huge choice on offer can seem mind-boggling, especially if you are buying by the case for parties and family get-togethers. Buying French wines can be a little more confusing than new world wines which have easy-to-understand labelling. French wines are rarely sold by their grape variety, unlike in California, South Africa or Australia, for example, where you might find a 'Shiraz' or 'Cabernet Sauvignon'.

Let us introduce a few French ideas for serving with your Christmas meal:

Cheers at Christmas

A red wine for roast turkey?

A Burgundian Pinot Noir or Gamay from the Beaujolais are two great options for serving alongside roast turkey, if you prefer to steer away from white. A medium-bodied red, pinot doesn't overpower the white meat but can have the structured tannins that complement the different flavours on your plate! In France, it's the Burgundy region that is home to wonderful pinot noirs - it's the single grape variety of all those famous names from the Côte D’Or and Côte de Beaune. 

If you're boggling at the price tag of some of those iconic vineyards, then it's good to know that you can look a little further south in the region to get great value. Try Mâconnais or Côte Chalonnaise for upcoming regions whose wines reflect Burgundy's terroir but not the eye-watering pricing. Take a peek at our Burgundy Wine Explorer tour to see which of these vineyards we cycle around, including Buxy co-operative, a wonderful spot for finding good value wines.

Prefer white with your turkey? Head here for our recommendations...

Choosing a red wine for the cheeseboard

If you're looking for a good, hearty, warming red wine for the cheeseboard, you can safely narrow your choice down to the south of France. The Côtes du Rhône and the Languedoc regions both specialise in wines that the French would describe as ‘costaud’ which loosely translates as ‘beefy’ or ‘powerful’ and can equally be used to described men – a Rugby player might well be described as ‘costaud’!

The signature grapes of the region are Grenache and Syrah (Shiraz) often with a touch of Mourvedre. Of course if French wines are prohibitively expensive where you are, wines made from these grapes will have similar qualities, and you can also keep an eye out for wines from hot climates, as it is the sun that results in the high sugar content and hence the high alcohol content!

The doyenne of the southern Rhône reds is the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe, which in addition to its Syrah Grenache foundation can include up to 11 additional varieties. When choosing Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe, there can be considerable variation between wineries, so it is best to stick to one of the prestige brands, like Beaucastel or Vieux Télégraphe, or if your budget is slightly less rarified, Château Mont-Redon which we visit for a delightful tasting on our Provence Roman Heritage cycling tour.

If your budget is a little more modest, steer clear of the cheaper Châteauneuf and go for a Côte du Rhône Villages appellation. Cairanne, Gigondas, Lirac are all names to watch out for, being villages close to Châteauneuf but not commanding the price premium. Further west the Languedoc region has even more reasonably priced wines – Saint-Chinian, Faugères, Corbières are typical of the region, although as you travel further west into the Corbières you will find Carignan grapes coming into the mix which add a more tannic edge if that is your preference. Our Mediterranean and Midi bike tours have plenty of vineyard visits and tasting opportunities if you want to do some in depth research!

cheeseboard
Might you have room for all this cheese after your Christmas dinner?!

Best for making mulled wine?

Mulling over the idea of a vin chaud?! No need to blow the budget if you are warming the wine, adding orange slices, sugar, cinnamon and cloves! Again, look to the South of France for good value red that will stand up to the extra flavours - that sunshine the grapes receive in the summer month mean plenty of natural sweetness and fruity flavours: try a Bergerac or Cahors if you want to make a French version of mulled wine.

Wine tasting in France

If you have always dreamed of a wine tasting holiday in France, then head over to our Tour Dates page and browse our upcoming guided cycle holidays in a region you’d like to explore by bike, or contact us to find a route and dates that work for you and your group: