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Whether you’re hosting friends, entertaining family, or simply enjoying a quiet glass to recover from all the festivities, wine expert Michael Pope says a few small tweaks can make all the difference to your festive drinking experience this Christmas season.
“Temperature, glass choice, and food pairing can transform an everyday wine into something truly special,” says Pope. So don’t panic if you know nothing about wine, how to serve it or what to pair it with – Michael has teamed up with Black Tower wine to give his top tips for enjoying a glass this Christmas.
- Temperature Matters – But Not How You Think
“Room temperature” for red wine can mean very different things in winter, depending on your home’s heating. Pope suggests using this simple guide:
- Light whites and rosés: 7–10°C
- Full-bodied whites: 10–13°C
- Light reds: 12–13°C
- Full-bodied reds: 15–18°C
“A light chill can lift a red’s freshness, and letting a white warm slightly will reveal more complexity. Temperature can make or break a wine,” he adds.
For a festive crowd-pleaser, Black Tower Fruity White is bright, refreshing, and easy to serve perfectly chilled. And if you prefer something pink, Black Tower Rosé brings lively red fruit notes and a touch of sweetness that pairs beautifully with party bites or Boxing Day leftovers.
- Keep It Fresh – If you’ve opened a bottle and have some left, don’t let it go to waste – no matter what colour the wine.
“Store it in the fridge – it slows oxidation and keeps it fresher for longer,” advises Pope. “Reds can come out about half an hour before serving to come up to temperature.”
- Glass Half Full – and the Right Glass Helps – While the perfect glass shape isn’t essential for enjoying a good bottle, it can subtly change how wine presents itself.
“Bigger bowls help reds open up, while narrower glasses keep whites fresher. But ultimately, comfort and cleanliness matter most – it’s about enjoyment, not rules.”
- How to Serve (and What to Skip) – Avoid ice cubes, Pope says – melting water changes the wine’s balance.
“A trick I love is freezing grapes and using those instead. They chill the wine without diluting it. And if you fancy something lighter, there’s no shame in a splash of soda – it’s all about enjoying what’s in your glass.”
- Festive Food Pairing Made Simple – The secret to great pairing? Start with the wine. “Once you’ve tasted it, think about what foods will complement it. Sweet dishes can make wine taste sharper, while protein-rich or fatty foods can soften tannins and round out richer styles,” says Pope.
Black Tower Fruity White’s gentle sweetness and soft fruitiness balance spicy party nibbles, turkey and cranberry, or even festive trifle. Meanwhile, Black Tower Rosé’s juicy berry notes shine with smoked salmon, charcuterie, or roasted vegetables.
This Christmas, Black Tower Fruity White and Black Tower Rosé offer a fun, vibrant, and easy way to toast the season – bringing a little sparkle (and plenty of smiles) to festive celebrations. Black Tower Fruity White and Black Tower Rosé are available nationwide from major supermarkets and online retailers, RRP £5.35.
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