What We’re Drinking This December
December at Vagabond is many things. Loud. Joyful. Slightly chaotic. Fuelled by good intentions and better bottles.
So we asked a simple question of the team behind the wines you drink in our bars: what are you actually opening this Christmas? Not the theoretical best. Not the most correct. The wines you want on the table, in the fridge or quietly poured when everyone else has gone to bed.
Here is what came back.
Colin Thorne, Wine Buyer
NV Fontanafredda Moscato d’Asti Spumante
Christmas Day is the only day of the year where breakfast wine is not only acceptable but actively encouraged. At around 7%, this is light, gently sparkling and softly sweet, with aromas of apricot, bergamot, fresh grape juice and elderflower. It always takes me straight back to childhood Christmases and the first illicit sip of Schloer. Nostalgic, refreshing and impossible not to love.
2021 Zuccardi Fósil San Pablo Chardonnay
Chardonnay from Argentina still raises eyebrows, but Sebastián Zuccardi’s high altitude vineyards are in a real sweet spot. This is flinty, chalky and confidently mineral, with pear skin, wild herbs and tangerine on the nose. Young, energetic and eager, it is brilliant with seafood and particularly good at cutting through rich starters.
2022 Sindicat La Figuera Montsant
Garnacha finally feels like it is getting the recognition it deserves. This Catalan example, grown in the harsh mountain landscapes of Montsant, sits in a beautifully balanced middle ground. Fermented in large concrete tanks with minimal interference, it lets the grape’s juicy black cherry and damson character shine. Glossy and rich but without aggressive tannin, it is the kind of wine that can handle anything you throw at it across the Christmas table.
Freddie Cobb, Head of Drinks
2010 Breaky Bottom English Sparkling Seyval Blanc
What better way to start Christmas Day than with English bubbles. This bottle also feels like a moment of reflection. The wine world lost a true original this year in Peter Hall of Breaky Bottom, and this feels like a fitting tribute. Packed with umami, green apple crunch and depth, it is superb with smoked salmon and blinis.
2022 Château Grand Boise Liberté Chérie Clairette (Magnum)
This is a wine that does a lot of work for you. The bottle alone will distract from any looming political debates at the table. Clairette is an ancient grape, rarely allowed to shine on its own, and here it is fermented in cement to create a rich, textural wine with baked apricot and wild Provençal herbs. Conversation starter guaranteed.
2024 Vagabond Urban Winery English Pinot Noir
This is pure festive fun. Crunchy cranberry, wild strawberry, sour cherry and a subtle green tea edge. It might not stand up to the heaviest Christmas Day dishes, but it absolutely comes into its own on Boxing Day with turkey sandwiches and leftovers. Party starter energy.
José Quintana, Winemaker
Langham Corallian Classic Cuvée NV
This wine somehow gets better every time I open it. Tommy Guppy at Langham is making some of the most exciting sparkling wine in the UK right now, and this classic blend is deep, focused and energetic, with the precision of a blanc de blancs. It does not tiptoe into Christmas. It kicks the door down.
Vagabond x AA Badenhorst Skin Contact White 2024
An early release from a collaboration where the Vagabond team has a democratic say in how the wine is made. Grenache Blanc and Palomino, fermented on skins, creating a textured, saline and deeply moreish white. It has enough grip to handle a full Christmas plate and enough freshness to keep you reaching for another glass.
Exopto La Mimbrera 2022
A modern Rioja that feels worlds away from the dusty vanilla stereotypes. Predominantly Tempranillo, this is rich and vibrant with deep fruit, purity and lift. A special occasion wine, ideal for settling into a sofa, a fire and an inevitably awkward family discussion.
If there is a common thread running through all of these bottles, it is this: December is not about perfection. It is about wines that bring people together, survive long lunches, start conversations and make the good moments even better.
Drink what you love. Drink generously. And if in doubt, pour one more glass.
