11 best red wines to savour this Christmas and beyond

This is a classic Tuscan wine made from the sangiovese grape. From old vines sitting in the Tuscan countryside, the grapes are barrel-aged in new oak for two years, resulting in a dense and impressive wine that is made to be shared. This is a sumptuous and special choice of wine with rich, delightful flavours of espresso, chestnuts and concentrated berries. A bottle that needs to be experienced with others, it can also be decanted an hour before serving, which can bring in an element of theatrics – open this up on Christmas Day and you’re sure to impress.

A warm and elegant tempranillo that is light but structured, this Spanish wine is from Ribera Del Duero. Known for its high-altitude vinos, it’s a region worth keeping in mind when it comes to looking for wines to drink this Christmas. A great supermarket find, this bottle from Morrisons features a combination of freshness and savoury notes. A big wine at 14.5 per cent ABV, too, it has been aged a little bit, which has little helped to mellow it out.

Saint Julien is an appellation based on Bordeaux’s left bank, in the Medoc region, known for its merlot-led wines. This bottle from the Wine Society is a classic Bordeaux, made with equal parts merlot and cabernet sauvignon, resulting in a balanced, full-bodied wine, with plenty of spice, vanilla and baked fruits.

The 2018 vintage is softer and ready to drink, preferable to younger Bordeaux. This is a nice example of how good traditional Bordeaux can be for Christmas.

Malbec is one of the fullest-bodied grapes, known for its power and structure. The Mendoza region in Argentina has some of the best malbecs, including this one from the sub-region Altamira.

Argento’s wines are robust yet smooth, perfect with red meat and strong winter dishes. An exciting wine with flavours developing with every sip.

Pasqua wines from the region of Valpolicella are known for their generous Amarone styles. The passimento is a blend of corvina and croatina grapes, which are handpicked and left to dry in the sun on a wooden crate, resulting in a sweeter wine, similar to ruby port, full of dried fruit, cinnamon and nutmeg. The wine is delicious with savoury dishes, but this red pairs really well with Christmas cake, too.

Hailing from a small region in the Southern Rhône, known for affordable red wines, this red is a structured blend of southern French staples grenache, syrah and mourvèdre. A rustic wine with brambles and chalky soft tannins, it features an acidity that could cut through most rich dishes. Though not a fancy style, it is rustic and approachable, letting food and other parts of Christmas dazzle. A delicious and reliable red wine.

This is an exciting discovery from Selfridges Selection, which has paired up with a duo of Spanish winemakers in Herencia Altes, to produce a velvety red, bursting with flavours such as cherry, plum and fresh berries. There’s also some liquorice and velvety tannins.

This is an energetic wine that would pair well with most food. It would work brilliantly with nut roasts and vegetarian dishes such as spiced braised cabbage, too.

Pinot noir is always a good idea during the festive season. Made in Lodi, one of California’s largest wine areas, this bottle is a fun and interesting pick.

Toast & Honey is aptly named, too, as sweet honey notes melt into the cranberry flavours. Plus, there’s a light touch of toastiness, giving the wine some dimension and depth. While this wine is delicate, it’s still good enough for pairing with the rich dishes we love indulging in at Christmas (and beyond).

Made in Portugal, from a blend of indigenous grapes such as touriga nacional and tinta roriz, the Sao Luis is big and fruity, while the blackberries and leather notes make this a great wine for pairing with food. Plus, the weight and richness of reds from the Douro region make them a brilliant choice of wine to serve at Christmas time.

The Priorat area in Spain consistently produces delicious full-bodied reds. In the case of this one, the blend of inky carignan and fruity grenache from Rocafosca makes a velvety smooth red full of Christmas flavours such as clove, liquorice and allspice.

Priorat always delivers on flavours and concentration, and this vintage has a softness to it, so it can be enjoyed alone or even with a cheeseboard.

Chapoutier’s grenache-led belleruche is a good all rounder. It’s not too fruity or sweet and features robust flavours, medium structure and a savoury earthiness, making it an ideal wine to pair with a roast turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas Day.

An uncomplicated wine, it possesses a small amount of herbs, adding interest and woodiness, which works nicely with the southern warmth. A class Rhône wine that will be suitable for pairing with most Christmas dishes come the big day.