SELECTING the right drop to pair with your Christmas feast elevates the experience for yourself and your guests.
Wine expert Paul Phillips, owner of Shepparton’s Phillips Cellars and Regional Wine Centre on Corio Street, has shared his top picks for both red and white wines this Christmas.
According to Paul, it’s easy to celebrate local winemakers throughout the rich, grape-growing region with some of the suggested drops coming from the Goulburn Valley and surrounding areas.
The red wines Paul has named as his top picks all pair well with red meat dishes such as rich casseroles and steaks. When pairing wine with red meat recipes, the wine should stand up to the richness of the food. A good rule of thumb is to pair red meat with red wine.
White wine pairs well with lighter dishes such as seafood, appetisers, salads, cheeses and poultry.
Paul’s top six picks:
Three outstanding whites, ideal for your Christmas seafood and white poultry meats:
- The Victorian 2022 Riesling $22
- Longleat Zingari Garganega 2023 $25
- Monichino 2021 Sauv Blanc $20
- Three outstanding reds, ideal with your red meats, steaks, fillets:
- Hennings Shiraz 2021 $30
- McPhersons Pinot Noir 2018 $22
- Longleat Ragazzone 2021 $60
