Six affordable party wines to see you through Christmas week

Getting together with friends over the coming days? Of course you are. Whether you’re dusting off the extra panels to extend the dining table or simply curling up in front of the fire with your favourite book/child/dog, we think you deserve a glass of something delicious to add to the moment.

The run up to Christmas is a special time of year for so many reasons – getting to see friends and family that you’ve missed, enjoying the gleam of excitement in pre-teen eyes, and just savouring the glow that seems to seep into everything in the lead up to the 25^th.

There are few everyday things more disappointing then a bad cup of coffee or a poor glass of wine, so with that in mind, we have called on one of Ireland’s foremost experts in wine – Lynne Coyle, Master of Wine and Wine Director at O’Briens wines – to choose six superb wines to see you through Christmas week in style, without destroying that already aggrieved credit card.

Wildflower Pinot Grigio, Romania

A light and refreshing easy to drink white

Newly introduced to Ireland this year, this Romanian Pinot Grigio offers exceptional value for money. An excellent example of this grape variety, the Australian wine maker has crafted a dry refreshing style with nuances of ripe fruit and a hint of spice.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Green apple and pear fruit with a subtle hint of spice

WAS €13.95

NOW €8.95

Wildflower Pinot Noir, Romania

A silky smooth crowd-pleasing red

Also newly arrived in Ireland this year from Romania this stylish, silk-smooth Pinot Noir is bursting with ripe cherry and raspberry fruit flavours, it’s also great value for money and is a great one to have tucked away in the wine rack for welcoming guests over the festivities.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Crisp and dry with fragrant, aromatic juicy red berry finish

WAS €13.95

NOW €8.95

Gérard Bertrand La Vieille Capitelle, Languedoc, France 

A stylish, well-executed blend of Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah from Gérard Bertrand, this award-winning Southern French family owned winery is renowned for making fruit-driven accessible wines that authentically reflect their vineyards.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Crunchy plum and red fruits to the fore with a subtle white pepper finish

WAS €14.95

NOW €9.95

RIZZARDI PINOT GRIGIO, VENETO, ITALY

Pinot Grigio with personality

Made by Giuseppe Rizzardi, this is a family-owned single estate Pinot Grigio. With notes of almond, white pear, apple and a little bit of citrus, it is stylistically on the dryer side so will work equally well as an aperitif or with food.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Refreshingly crisp and dry with rich pear and green apple fruit

WAS €14.95

NOW €10.95

PORTA 6, LISBOA, PORTUGAL

The perfect festive party wine

This Lisbon family winery uses a blend of the local Aragonês, Castelão and Touriga Nacional grapes to make this fruity red. Easy drinking, juicy and refreshing, there are both red and black fruit characters and a delicious hint of warming spice.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Packed with ripe bramble fruit for a juicy and smooth palate and plummy, spiced finish

WAS €12.95

NOW €9.95

Duffour Père et Fils, Côte de Gascogne, Gascony, France

Best in class for the best price

Michel Duffour and his son Nicolas run both the vineyards and winemaking at their family estate in Gascony. The highly aromatic aromas of the Colombard grape along with the fresh and zingy flavour profile are its hallmarks.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Ripe tropical aromas with crunchy red apple flavour and a refreshing citrus finish

WAS €12.95

NOW €9.95

Mito Frizzante

Brilliant Bubbly

New to Ireland this year, Mito Frizzante closely resembles the aromas and flavours of Prosecco. Its screwcap makes it easy to open and store and its refreshing and delicately frizzante style make it perfect for sharing with friends.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Florally aromatic with hints of pear and apple on the palate with a delicate refreshing finish.

6 for €50 or €8.95 each

O’Briens are an Irish family-owned drinks retailer with 34 stores across Ireland and online www.obrienswine.ie

Prices are correct at time of publication but are subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing see any O’Briens store or obrienswine.ie

Featured image by Henry Fournier, Unsplash