In this year’s special Christmas case, I’ve come up with a selection of wines that will tick every box and occasion this festive season.

Including four reds that have taken Ireland by storm this year:

• I Filari Nero D’Avola 2020 - a dark and brooding red made by Federico Cerelli, one of Italy’s finest winemakers. It’s classically Italian with vibrant dark fruit and aromas of tea leaves and dried herbs, with an added splash of Sicilian sunshine
• Mauricio Lorca Poético Malbec 2021 - a powerful red from Mauricio’s special Los Arboles vineyards high up in Mendoza. 100% 5/5 ratings so far from your fellow members is all you need to know!
• Chiara Condello Predappio Sangiovese 2022 - if Federico is the present of legendary Italian winemakers, then Chiara Condello is very much the future. The previous vintage was 'absolutely electric' and 'a superb find' according to none other than Jancis Robinson
• Domaine Jones Fitou 2022 - Katie’s flagship wine, this a charming French red from precious old Carignan, Grenache and Syrah vineyards around the village of Tuchan. After years of working together during my time in the UK, I’m so happy to be selling Katie’s wines in Ireland at last.

You’ll also get three classy, food-friendly whites and a brilliant fizz to get the party started:

• Domaine des Berthiers Pouilly Fumé 2023 - the seriously underrated little brother of Sancerre - the vineyards are based on silex (flint), which brings out a piercing, mineral and almost smoky expression of Sauvignon Blanc - you don’t get this anywhere else in the world! This will make anything with goat’s cheese absolutely sing
• A Coroa Godello 2023 - from the magical Valdeorras region of Galicia, this was my white wine discovery of last year and it’s showing no sign of slowing down. Albariño and Chablis lovers rejoice
• Stepp Pfalz Chardonnay 2023 - from Germany’s most exciting emerging wine region, and aged in grand cru oak barrels from Burgundy to make it extra luxurious… because you deserve it!
• Balma Brut Nature Reserva 2017 - the new vintage of this customer favourite, it’s a rich, complex and refreshing fizz, and perfect for grazing on those completely addictive festive nibbles. It’s good enough to be served in Michelin-starred restaurants around Catalonia, which is absolutely good enough for me.

And three more of our most popular reds, bound to be a hit with even the fussiest of guests:

• Luís Louro Alento Tinto 2020 - from one of Portugal’s finest winemakers, this is exactly what a great Alentejo red should taste like and will transport you back to the Algarve in a single sip. It’s rich but it has a freshness that makes it oh-so drinkable, and it’s great with food
• César Márquez Parajes Bierzo 2022 - from one of Spain’s greatest young winemakers, César takes small parcels from all over the region to make this Pinot Noir-style red - including some hillside sites which sell for big prices elsewhere. The perfect wine to have on hand if you fancy an easy-drinking, lighter red over Christmas
• Tim Smith Bugalugs Shiraz 2022 - a classic Aussie Shiraz - ripe, bold and powerful, with plenty of sweet dark fruit and a savoury edge. It’s brilliant value because Tim declassifies fruit from his top Barossa wines into this blend - this is for the big red drinker in your life!

And last but not least, I’ve got my hands on the showstopper of all showstoppers for the Christmas table this year - a 1.5L magnum of Terre des Dames La Diva 2019.

It’s the perfect red from Saint-Chinian in the Languedoc - a blend of Syrah, Grenache and a special 100 year-old parcel of Alicante Bouschet. 

It spends 12 months in the highest quality Burgundy oak barrels, which gives the wine a lovely softness but preserves all the amazing aromas from the fruit.

And five years of ageing means it’s destined to be absolutely singing at around 4pm on 25/12/2024.