Our Favourite New Zealand Wines Perfect For Christmas Lunch

Leftfield wines encourages revellers to unleash their inner creatures and embrace the creative side of wines. Leftfield wines is part of the Te Awa Collection, located in the heart of Hawke’s Bay’s globally regarded Gimblett Gravels before taking root across New Zealand. Taking inspiration from the literal left side of the vineyard and using a variety of fruits, Leftfield wines was born. Start your Christmas feast off with a classic prawn cocktail with a glass of Leftfield Albarino, with hints of juicy peach and melon; it’s the perfect partner to fresh fish, oysters, white meats and hard cheese. Treat yourself to something new and unique this Christmas with Leftfield’s The Hatchling wine, made with multiple types of grapes; this delicious red is a velvety smooth creation that’s sure to delight the taste buds.

Villa Maria started right in Auckland’s backyard, setting down roots in Mangere before spreading to Gimblett Gravels and Marlborough. The iconic New Zealand wine made a name for itself many years ago; the insane range of wines available are perfect for every occasion. In the silly season, we like to indulge in the outstanding Gimblett Gravel Hawkes Bay Grenache; for those of you who are new to this drop, it’s absolutely divine and exceptionally rare in New Zealand. The tasting notes include exotic cherry, spice and violet characters – the supple tannins allow the wine to be enjoyed upon opening; the flavour will mature and become further complex with careful cellaring. Pair your Grenache with Christmas ham for the ultimate tasting experience.

Welcome to Esk Valley, located in Hawke’s Bay, famous for its classic wine style. Esk Valley wines are highly regarded amongst New Zealand’s finest. Having forged a reputation for its innovative and quality wine, it comes as no surprise that Esk Valley is a go-to drop for special occasions, especially Christmas. The warm climate and gravel-based soils make the perfect recipe for high-quality reds and fuller white wines. For those of you who like a juicy ham on Christmas day, we suggest pairing it with the Artisanal Hawkes Bay Syrah. The soft yet generous red has flavours of red berries and jam.

From the beautiful and pristine South Island comes Mud House; this vineyard produces award-winning wines from New Zealand’s best grape growing soils. With vineyards in Marlborough, Central Otago and Wairarapa Valley; Mud House has an incredible range of wine with complex and intricate flavours that pair amazingly with every type of cuisine. For the jolly season, we recommend The Narrows Pinot Noir; the bouquet of cherry and dark berry is complemented by subtle oak spice and has a lingering finish; this medium-bodied red goes wonderfully with turkey. If you prefer a glass of white wine, opt for the Mud House Chardonnay; with citrus and stone-fruit aroma and a hint of toasty oak, it’s a great companion to turkey.

Cloudy Bay vineyards can be found between two emblematic wine regions; with varying climatic and geological diversities. Cloudy Bay was one of the first five winemakers to venture into Marlborough in 1985; over the years, the techniques and skills required to create the Cloudy Bay wine have been tweaked and perfected; every glass and bottle is the nectar of the Gods. Kick-off your Christmas celebrations with a sophisticated and crisp sparkling aperitif; the Cloudy Bay Pelorus is an exciting and flavourful wine that combines fresh and fruity Chardonnay notes with rich and savoury hints of Pinot Noir.