Which wine to serve as an aperitif at Christmas?

The Christmas aperitif is where it all begins. Canapés and petits fours are on the menu... and especially the wine. You have to satisfy everyone's tastes, between mother-in-law who prefers white wines, father-in-law who prefers structured red wines, and the cousin who has converted to ecology and who swears by wines from ethical and sustainable viticulture.

Our must have: a red wine with no added sulphite

Sulphites are included in the list of allergens and some people are particularly sensitive to them, including sulphites in wine (sulphites are present in other foodstuffs, such as dried fruit for example).

Our cooperative Les Vignerons de Buzet has developed genuine know-how in winemaking of wines without added sulphites. These wines with no added sulphites exist in sulphite-free white wine, sulphite-free rosé wine and sulphite-free red wine. The first wines without added sulphites vinified by Les Vignerons de Buzet are the 2012 vintage. These were red wines with no added sulphites.

The red wines without sulphites AOC Buzet are particularly fruity, with also nice length in the mouth. They are perfect as an aperitif. These red wines with no added sulphites are also a must to try with vegetarian dishes!

No added sulphites wine : our tip

Tenjoy all the naturalness of a sulphite-free wine, taste these wines in their youth. If you need to keep the bottle open, use a vinolok type glass stopper. This specific stopper will preserve this wine sensitive to oxidation.

Our original : a fruity red wine

Choosing a fruity red wine as an aperitif breaks the codes of classic food and wine pairings! A light, fruity red wine opens up a rich tasting palette. The blends of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grape varieties reserve some nice surprises in the genre, with all the finesse of Cabernet Franc!

Cabernet Sauvignon can also work wonders, as a single grape variety (Oniric, Les Vignerons de Buzet) or in blends.

With grapes picked when ripe and of good quality, with juices vinified with finesse by the oenologist, these common grape varieties of the South West give wines rich in red fruit aromas. These fruity red wines go well with foie gras (cold or hot), dried duck breast, etc...

Fruity red wine in aperitive : our tip

Try a fruity red wine on your veggie appetizers (hummus mini-toasts, guacamole verrines...)! These fine wines with their ripe fruit and red fruit aromas are the perfect accompaniment to veggie dishes!

Our classical : a dry white wine

White wine remains a classic aperitif! Prefer a dry but lively white wine. Blends of Semillon and Sauvignon grapes give very appreciable wines, with fruity citrus fruit aromas. Semillon gives the dry white wine nice volumes in the mouth. The freshness and vivacity of these dry white wines goes wonderfully with toasts and aperitif verrines. A Sauvignon-Sémillon white wine will go particularly well with cheese puff pastry and verrines based on goat's cheese or smoked salmon.

Depending on how the oenologist works with this type of dry white wine, the result can also give wines with toasted and spicy nuances. This is the case, for example, with Baron d'Ardeuil white wine, which is matured for a few months on the lees. These wines combine freshness and richness of aromas, with notes of spices, and are perfect for tasting with foie gras toasts.

This choice of wine for your Christmas aperitif will suit the majority of your guests. And if some of your guests swear by red wine, offer them a glass of the wine you have selected for the meal. When it comes to wine pairing, sometimes you have to bypass expert conventions!

A dry white wine : our tip

Pay attention to the serving temperature of the dry white wine: to be appreciated, a dry white wine should be served at 10°C... not too cold! The ideal is to put it in the fridge, corked, the day before your aperitif and to open it about ten minutes before foie gras toasts and verrines.

The bad idea : a sweet white wine

A sweet or mellow white wine as an aperitif should be avoided. Indeed this type of wine, very sweet, at the beginning of the meal reduces the palate. Your taste buds will be less able to appreciate all the flavours and subtleties of what will be on the table... including other wines. That would be a shame! These sweet and mellow wines are to be reserved at the end of the meal, or even with your little square of chocolate.