What to drink ... on Christmas Day
The food has been fussed over and the sweets prepared but don't forget to enjoy a special drop on the big day.
UP TO $25
O'Leary Walker Winemakers Polish Hill River Riesling 2012, $20
THE 2012 rieslings from the Clare Valley are fantastic and many are keenly priced. Personally, riesling is perfect on any day, especially on Christmas Day. Why? It's a fine drink on its own but matches well with seafood and pork, including rillettes. On a warm day, it's very refreshing. For the price, O'Leary Walker is tops because it's zingy fresh, steely and while the acidity is crisp, the palate does have some texture. From Nick's Wine Merchants.
UP TO $40
Campari Bitter, $36
WARNING one: Negroni is a very stylish and addictive cocktail. Warning two: It packs a punch. That's because it's a mix of Campari, vermouth rosso and gin. Campari offers the bitter twist, vermouth lots of aromatics and a slinky texture then gin, which has all the spice and dryness to bring the blend together. In a tumbler full of large ice cubes pour 20 millilitres of vermouth, 30 millilitres of Campari and 40 millilitres of gin and finally add a splash of soda. Garnish with a twist of lemon. Negroni can be made in advance: make it in a large jug, minus the soda, and keep in the fridge. Available from Vintage Cellars.
$40 AND OVER
Hoddles Creek Blanc de Blancs2010, $40
FRANCO D'Anna makes superb chardonnay and now it seems a sparkling wine, too, all from that grape, hence blanc de blancs. Sparkling wine is an essential drink at Christmas - well, it is at my house - and as this is Hoddles Creek's inaugural one, it's fitting to pour this to welcome friends and family. It's a superb drink full of candied lemon peel, white stone fruit with toasty and just-baked bread aromas, and while still tight, it's also subtly creamy. The acidity is fine and long. Very stylish. Serve with blinis, oysters or roast chicken. From Boccaccio Cellars.
SPLURGE
Delgado Zuleta Goya XL Manzanilla en Rama, $62
LOVERS of manzanilla, as in spine-tingling dry sherry, will know Delgado Zuleta, an outstanding producer in Sanlucar de Barrameda. This is the only place this style is made. The en rama has only just arrived in Australia and it's going to thrill fans and win more along the way. En rama, as in ''raw'', means the sherry has been taken straight from barrel and is at once delicate yet ultra complex considering it's about 10 years old. A stunning aperitif, manzanilla is also perfect with seafood, especially oysters and grilled prawns. From Randall's The Wine Merchant.