But all kinds of seafood call for Champagne. Oysters are a classic with a bone-dry blanc de blancs. My choice is the saline and feisty Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV. With a luxurious seafood platter, juiciness and purity are everything: thus, I recommend the succulently delicious Louis Roederer Brut Nature Rosé 2015. For grilled scampi or lobster thermidor it is time to bring out the big guns, and I have a tough time choosing between the ultra-refined Rare Champagne Vintage 2013 and the decadently toasty Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection 2009.

Fatty fishes like gravadlax or cold smoked salmon are best friends with fresh yet toasty Champagnes. The textured but mineral Thiénot x Penfolds Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 2013 elevates the experience. While warm smoked salmon calls for a more substantial Champagne and why not colour coordinate it with a rosé Champagne? The delicately spicy Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé 2014 or the firm and vinous Bollinger Rosé NV would both be a match made in heaven.

For the classic Christmas feast of turkey or ham, Pinot Noir’s depth and sweet fruity richness are in demand. The complex and structured Henri Giraud MV 19 NV based on the top year 2019 could well be described as a red wine lover’s Champagne in all its voluptuous and spice-laden vinosity. Another wine worth its premium place at the table is Philipponnat’s yeast-complexed Cuvée 1522 2015. Mature vintages surely add to the festive mood of the meal, and Castelnau’s rich and sumptuous Vintage 2006 is taking the test of time remarkably well. Oak-complexed wines even in a Chardonnay-driven style can make a merry match. For bigger crowds or tighter budgets, the spicy, oak-born Alfred Gratien Brut Classique NV is a trusted, superb value choice.

READ MORE: THE CHAMPAGNE REPORT 2024

Of course, Champagne is a great gift to any wine lover. For someone interested in cellaring, go for the age-worthy Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millènaires 2014 or the soulful Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé 2015. For immediate impressiveness, select the silky round and concentrated Bruno Paillard N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra 2009. For connoisseurs with interest in organic bottles or the Meunier variety, I’d gift the fragrant and energetic Leclerc Briant Blanc de Meuniers Brut Zéro 2016. Meanwhile, special one-off cuvées are always a treat for Champagne aficionados, and the vanilla-laden and tropical Ayala Le Blanc de Blancs A/18 2018 is an apt testament to its sunny vintage year.

Looking further ahead to New Year’s Eve, why not say thank you and farewell to 2024 with Pommery’s Nouvel Apanage 1874 NV or Lallier’s elegant Réflexion R.019 NV in magnum. To welcome in the New year, go for a vintage ending with five: the classy Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 or the exuberant Henriot Rosé Millesime 2015 are very fine examples indeed. Cheers to a happy and bubbly Christmas time!

Top Champagnes to drink for Christmas 2024