10 Must-Have Wines for Christmas

Selecting wines to gift your loved ones and enjoy during this festive season shouldn’t be a daunting task. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you by selecting 10 of the best South African must have wines this Christmas.

ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2015

Dark intense plum red with savoury dark fruit notes, Cedarwood, spice and Dark chocolate with a hint of minerals on the nose. Deep, rich and intense dark fruit flavours with a great balance between structure and finesse on the palate with fine-grained tannins. Excellent enjoyed on its own or served with steak, lamb, stews and casseroles. Available from: Jays Wines Cellar254.com Price: Ksh. 4,000

NEDERBURG MANOR HOUSE SHIRAZ, 2016

Deep ruby red with Aromas of ripe dark berries and black pepper. On the palate, dense ripe black fruit, cigar box and wood spice with a firm structure, velvety tannins and a long finish. Excellent with richly flavoured casseroles, grilled beef, roast lamb, venison, duck, quail and dishes served with a generous sprinkling of fresh cracked black pepper. Available from: Jays Wines Price: Ksh. 2,450

DURBANVILLE HILLS COLLECTORS RESERVE PINOTAGE, 2017

Dark ruby with a purple tinge in colour, it has a well-integrated wood feel with ripe notes of strawberry, raspberry, plum, dark chocolate and Christmas fruitcake. An elegant full taste with silky tannins, concentrated sweet fruit with hints of cinnamon that lingers on the after-taste. Pairs well with red meat. Available from: Jays Wines, Cellar254.com Price: Ksh. 3,000

ALTO 1693, 2016

A blend of Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Dark ruby red in colour with aromas of Lead pencil shavings, crushed red fruit and a hint of chocolate. Elegant red fruit flavours on the palate, backed-up by soft, elegant tannins. This is a stylish princely wine with excellent ageing potential. It is excellent on its own or served with simply flavoured red meat, game and duck dishes. Available from: Chandarana FoodPlus, Jays Wines, Tots Liquor, Carrefour supermarket, Cellar254.com Price: Ksh. 2,500

NEDERBURG WINEMASTERS CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2017

Ruby red with aromas of sweet red fruit and blackcurrant, with a hint of spice and well-integrated oak. A rich and full-bodied wine with ripe fruit, blackcurrant and delicate oak spice flavours, velvety tannins and a lingering aftertaste. Excellent with robust dishes such as pâtés and steaks, stews and casseroles, roasts and mature cheeses Available from: Chandarana FoodPlus, Jays Wines, Tots Liquor, Carrefour supermarket Price: Ksh. 1,750

DURBANVILLE HILLS COLLECTORS RESERVE THE CABLEWAY CHARDONNAY, 2018

Rich straw colour with green tint followed by a combination of pineapple, lime, citrus blossom and apricot flavours. A full-bodied wine with all characters following through on the nose. It ends with a fine fresh acidity, which adds focus to the wine. Pairs exceptionally well with chicken, quail, turkey and game dishes, as well as prawns with a buttery sauce and mussel soup. Available from: Jays Wines Price: Ksh.3,000

NEDERBURG WINEMASTERS CHARDONNAY, 2018

Lemon green in appearance with aromas of stone fruit and citrus with vanilla oak notes in the background. Refreshing with citrus and apricot flavours and a creamy texture on the palate. Excellent served with Thai and other oriental dishes as well as smoked salmon, grilled fish and dishes with cream-based sauces. Available from: Chandarana FoodPlus, Jays Wines, Tots Liquor, Carrefour supermarket Price: Ksh.1,520

DURBANVILLE HILLS MERLOT, 2017

Ruby red with a combination of blueberries with hints of mint and vanilla followed by a sweet wood spice on the nose. A mediumbodied wine with sweet berry fruit on the palate rounded off with silky tannins and a full, lingering mouth-feel. This wine is excellent on its own and pairs perfectly with a leg of a lamb served with Rosemary. Available from: Chandarana FoodPlus, Jays Wines, Tots Liquor, Carrefour supermarket Price: Ksh. 1,500

NEDERBURG MANOR HOUSE SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2017

Brilliant with green tinges and an abundance of citrus, lime and lemon aromas with nuances of asparagus on the nose. A refreshing wine with intense fruit flavours on the palate and a lingering finish. Excellent with light meals, seafood, salads and Thai dishes. Available from: Jays Wines Price: Ksh. 2,450

DURBANVILLE HILLS SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2018

Brilliant lime green in appearance with an explosion of passion fruit, guava, grapefruit and pineapple on the nose. It is a Medium based wine with a mix of a bowl of tropical flavours, citrus and ends with a lingering freshness. Enjoy on its own, slightly chilled, or served with grilled fish, tomato based-soup, green salad or selection of cheeses. Available from: Chandarana FoodPlus, Jays Wines, Tots Liquor, Carrefour supermarket Price: Ksh.1,500