5 Great Wines Ideal for Christmas Entertaining that won’t break the Budget
By Axel Ritenis, Wine editor-Sydney Times
Christmas entertaining doesn’t need to come with a premium price tag. This festive season, Aldi has released a clutch of new wines that deliver impressive quality, versatility, and value—perfect for long lunches, seafood platters, and relaxed backyard celebrations. I have been doing a very moderate amount of Tasting this year just to keep up,…so here are my Tips.
“Starting off with a Sparkling wine of course is commonplace during Christmas festivities ,…I recently trid a Croser whilst attending a Waverly Council event at the Bondi Pavilion to launch the Bondi Beach Cultural programme for next year (well before the tragic shooting events at Bondi Beach ) and I was absolutely surprised at the Croser and how refreshing and well balanced it was ,…It was a hot Sydney Day and after sampling a beer I hhad a couple of glasses of Croser thought to myself -this Aussie Methode Champenoise is a gem and right now its more refreshing and suitable than a full blown french champagne which is double the price -it really hit the spot ,..which is why I am recommending this old classic to you this year if you are inclined to Buy Australian,…and you cant afford to drink French Champagne every day -Join the Club!!”
A complex, elegant and creamy vintage Croser with a nose redolent of honey and cashew and an alluring citrus lift. The palate shows wild strawberry Pinot characters alongside a more buttery nectarine Chardonnay. A creamy and complex Petaluma that preserves the dynamic verve of a cool Adelaide Hills season in partial malic acidity, emphasised by low dosage of 7g/l.
Creamy texture and seamless integration are achieved through half fermented in old oak barriques, followed by more than 3 years on lees in bottle. Subtle savoury complexity lingers, but the focus remains on primary pinot noir (60%) and chardonnay (40%).
CORTE CARISTA – Soave CLASSICO 2024 – Veneto RRP $10.99 from ALDI
This Italian Soave from Veneto, a standout bargain offering crisp citrus, white peach and a subtle almond finish. It’s ideal as an aperitif or alongside prawns, oysters and light pasta dishes. When I was a wine retailer in Sydney’s Chippendale in the late 80’s the Soave used to sit in hot warehouses out west and get oxidised very quickly,..and whats more the wine importers had the audacity to sell old vintages when a key requirement with this wine is to drink it fresh.,.. These days its amazing how much the flavour profile and quality of this Italian regional wine has improved. This one has some hints of minerality and good intensity which is what am I looking for. Food wise it pairs well with Anti-Pasti and expecially Prosciutto and Olives or charcuterie in general (Salumi in Italian) But probaBly not so good with Smoked Salmon or Fish FOR WHICH YOU NEED A SAV BLANMC OR A CHARDONNAY,..OR TRY A RIESLING!
Tasmanian Blackstone Paddock Pinot Gris RRP $19.99 AT ALDI
From closer to home, the Tasmanian Blackstone Paddock Pinot Gris brings bright pear, floral aromas and refreshing acidity. Clean and lively, it’s tailor-made for Christmas seafood, summer salads and warm-weather sipping for those who prefer a rounder wine with greater viscosity.
Cool-climate Tasmania delivers again with this refined Pinot Gris.
Expect flavours of ripe pear, nashi apple and subtle citrus, supported by bright acidity that keeps the wine refreshing in warm weather.Whilst this is not my favourite variety,I acknowledge this is a high quality wine and will please Pinot Gris fans.
Blackstone Paddock Chardonnay – WA Margaret River
Aldi has cobbled together an excellent range of premium Blackstone Paddock wines which they started witha crackerjack WA Show Medal winning Blackstone Paddock Chardonnary which regularly knocks off the $50 dollar Premium WA Chardonnay wines in serious Wine Competitions.
Grab some of this to go with the Mixed Seafood like WA Crayfish or Prawns and Oysters all on the platter-its fabulous!.
I can also vouch for some of the other wines in the Blackstone Paddock Range such as the Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon (very remiscent of the Bordeaux style in my book)…but haven’t yet tried the new addition a Pinot Noir which apparently offers excellent balance and restraint, with red cherry, raspberry and subtle earthy spice. according to the various tasting Notes I have looked at . However I would venture to suggest that if ALDI Wine manager Jason Bowyer has ranged this wine it must be pretty damn good. Anyone who sends in a credible Review with a Photo of the consumed wine will be rewarded with a bottle of Croser Brut from Me in gratitude.
According to the Tasting Notes: This wine Light to medium-bodied, it’s well suited to modern Australian Christmas menus—think glazed ham, roast chicken, salmon or mushroom-based dishes. Slightly chilled, it’s a red that even white-wine drinkers will enjoy!
CORTE CARISTA – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ITALY RRP $12.99 at ALDI
For those wanting something richer, and a bit of t southern Italian spice and pepperiness,..this red delivers generous plum, black cherry and soft spice flavours, wrapped in smooth tannins.
It’s an easy-drinking yet satisfying wine that pairs well with the Christmas Roast meats such as Turkey ,Pork and of course Roast lamb, (an by definition with , lasagne and hard cheeses) BUT I reckon its a good Summer red and not too big or heavy ,..You don’t need a Grange with the Christmas Table,believe me ,…thus making it a reliable option for the main event!
Together, these five wines offer flexibility, quality and excellent value—proof that festive entertaining can be relaxed, stylish and affordable, without compromising on what’s in the glass.
Merry Christmas from the Team at Sydney Times and please send us your Wine Reviews and enter our competitions as and when they occur in 2026
