Wondering where to buy wine, Champagne or Prosecco for your Christmas party?
From budget-friendly bubbles to splurge-worthy vintages, we’ve rounded up over a dozen bottles that are perfect for your holiday season soirée.
Red wines
Castello Di Cigognola Per Papa 2012
Bursting with floral aromas and notes of red fruit, this medium-bodied red is made with Italy’s most prestigious grape, Nebbiolo, at a family-run castle estate in Lombardy, Italy – where there’s a long history of growing this challenging vine, dating back to the 15th century. The beautiful label is based on paintings in the 13th-century castle and the angel works perfectly as a dedication to the winemaker Angelo Moratti. $85 (or $69 for Bacco members) from baccowines.com
Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016
This New Zealand red was recently awarded in the 2017 Decanter Asia Wine Awards, so it’s one that’s needed on the table come Christmas dinner, or under the tree for the pinot lover in your life. It’s a powerhouse red, with distinctive earthy flavours and pops of berry that will leave you wanting more. $299.40 for a case of six ($49.90 per bottle); available at vinomofo.sg
Chiappini Guado de Gemoli 2009
If you’re looking for something to pair with your Christmas roast dinner, this complex Bordeaux blend from the prestigious Bolgheri area of Italy is a great option. Soft with a long finish, this 2009 vintage has hints of ripe red fruits, vanilla and spices, with later notes of liquorice, tobacco, cedar and cinnamon. $199 (or $129 for Bacco members) from baccowines.com
Journey Pinot Noir 2017
This pinot from Victoria’s Yarra Valley is a solid favourite of the Vinomofo team, who describe it as “light and crunchy, but full of chirpy characters, and moreishly aromatic.” Juicy and light, this wine features notes of bright cherry, red plum, sage, spices, bubblegum, strawberry and mint, with 2017’s distinctive raspberry lolly, lavender and Damson plums playing in the background.
$251.40 for a case of six ($41.90 per bottle); available at vinomofo.sg
Ferraris Opera Prima 2010
This full-bodied red is made with Ruche, one of the world’s rarest grapes, grown in just a very small area of north Piedmont and vinified by only a handful of dedicated estates. The nose is highly aromatic and the palate hints at ripe raspberry and cherry, with soft tannins reminiscent of a fine red burgundy. Enjoy a glass with hearty dishes like beef, braised meat, roasts and pastas.
$79 (or $69 for Bacco members) from baccowines.com
iLauri Salto Sangiovese
Terre di Chieti – Produced in Abruzzo (central Italy near the Adriatic Sea), this vibrant red has a violet colour and an intense bouquet of ripe red fruit, finely framed with spices. It pairs particularly well with cured meats, poultry and hearty stews, and its price point makes it a great choice for festive dinners with friends! $32 from Through the Grapevine (ttgwines.com)
White wines
Walnut Block Collectables Organic Sauvignon Blanc
This certified organic sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand stands out from the crowd for its elegance and intensely fruit-driven vibrancy. Perfect for pairing with seafood, white meat and salads, this wine’s a super refreshing one to sip as you celebrate year-end festivities in humid Singapore! $35 from Through the Grapevine (ttgwines.com)
Colle Corviano Pinot Grigio DOC
Particularly nice with white meats and salad, this dry, crisp, refreshing and beautifully balanced pinot grigio is by the Di Tonno family in Verona, Italy. Their wine-making philosophy is not a question of how many bottles one produces, but the authenticity and pleasure delivered by the wine in the glass. $25.95 from Through the Grapevine (ttgwines.com)
Sparkling, Prosecco & Champagne
Amore di Prosecco DOC NV
Perfect to have pre-dinner, post-dinner or in a Spritz, this Prosecco is a “Jack of all trades”, and a great Italian bubbly to crack open on Christmas Day. It’s light-bodied and elegant, and also a bit creamy with hints of apple and peach. $143.40 for a case of six ($23.90 per bottle); available at vinomofo.sg
Ombra Di Pantera Prosecco 2017 Superiore DOCG
Perfect to enjoy during the festive season (not to mention a great gift idea!), this dry, light and well-balanced Italian prosecco is from Ombra di Pantera – a buzzy new brand built on genuine craft, provenance and heritage. This sparkling wine’s DOCG classification – the highest for Italian wines – signifies controlled production methods and guaranteed quality, thanks to thousand-year-old winemaking methods and the region’s steep hills, which require harvesting by hand. $49 from Through the Grapevine (ttgwines.com)
Mimi Flamingo Chardonnay 2016
A collaboration wine from Vinomofo and Oakridge in the Yarra Valley, this medium-bodied white is nutty, creamy and textured, and epitomises everything Vinomofo holds dear: good wine, made by talented winemakers that tell great stories. $240 for a case of six ($40 per bottle); available at vinomofo.sg
Ombra di Pantera ROSÉ Edizione Speciale Brut (NV)
This limited-edition sparkling rosé from Veneto, Italy is dry and fresh with a finely balanced taste and memorable, fruity finish – a beautiful bubbly to accompany any celebration! $49 from Through the Grapevine (ttgwines.com)
Nicolas Maillart Brut Platine 1er Cru NV
This champagne isn’t just great for toasting but for enjoying throughout an entire meal as well. Featuring apple, blossom, honeyed characters and a bit of a toasty note, this bubbly goes particularly well with fish, oysters, scallops and other seafood. If you’re having seafood on Christmas Day, this is the perfect accompaniment. $330 for a case of six ($55 per bottle); available at vinomofo.sg
Tasi Prosecco
This refreshingly dry and elegant Prosecco is the flagship product from a unique winery that was once a quarry and has now been lovingly restored by three passionate young vintners of Tasi in Veneto, Italy, using biodynamic practices. $40 (or $35 for Bacco members) from baccowines.com
Where to get your wine
Bacco Wines
Specialising in “healthy” Italian wine, this boutique wine specialist and online shop has an extensive collection of wines sourced exclusively from family-run, small-production wineries that embrace organic farming and natural winemaking practices during the entire soil-to-bottle process. Bacco holds twice-monthly tastings at its space in Robertson Quay (#02-09 The Herencia, 46 Kim Yam Road) and quarterly Boutique Italian Wine Fairs with over 20 wines to taste, plus special promotions. For more details, call 6635 5747 or visit baccowines.com.
Through the Grapevine
Passionate about introducing beautiful wines from vineyards that set themselves apart from mass-produced products, this online wine retailer offers sustainable and organic wines sourced from family-run vineyards around the world – from Italy, France and Portugal to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Through the Grapevine offers free delivery for orders of six bottles or more. Order online at ttgwines.com or via WhatsApp at 9114 4542.
Vinomofo
Set up by two wine-loving Aussies on a mission to deliver quality wine at great prices, this wine retailer offers reds, whites, roses and sparkling wines from all over the world. Bottles are sold in cases of six – either as six of the same bottle or a mixed selection of various varietals – so you’ll never have to worry about running dry! The cases are shipped for just $5, or for free on orders over $200. Designed as “a place where wine is fun and the world is full of flavour,” the Vinomofo site also features loads of articles and serves as a community for like-minded wine-lovers who want “epic deals.” Order online at vinomofo.sg.
Like this? Read more at our wine and dine section
3 bubbly brunches for the weekend!
12 restaurants to get your steak fix
How to make adorable cake decorations
This article first appeared in the December 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
