Saturday, December 24, 2016

Katie's Christmas Wines

If you are thinking of opening a bottle of Jones this Christmas then here are some handy food pairing tips!


A sumptuous off dry white reminiscent of ripe pears and honeysuckle, which makes it the perfect partner to roast turkey with chestnut stuffing.  It will also pair well with sweet root vegetable such as carrots and parsnips.  

Les Perles de Jones Macabeu can be served as an aperitif with devils on horse back or with a starter of garlic sautéed prawns or a classic prawn cocktail.  It can also cope with slightly spicy food such as a turkey curry or a Thai green curry.

If you don’t finish off the bottle by the time you get to the end of the meal, then this wine also makes for a great alternative to a red with the cheese board.


Vintage 2013/2014

The fresh, crispness of the rare Carignan Gris grape makes it a very versatile wine on the Christmas table.  It will go with a wide range of dishes including Whitby oysters, wild mushroom paté, or fish dishes such as sole with a lemon butter sauce or pan-fried scallops with a squeeze of lime.  Les Perles de Jones Carignan Gris will also cut through heavier creamy dishes such as fisherman’s pie.



Vintage 2013/2014

This is a definite must with the traditional Christmas turkey.  The wine has a subtle herbal side to it, which will complement herb stuffing.  Domaine Jones Grenache Gris will also go extremely well with smoked salmon especially if there is a béarnaise sauce or a sprig of fresh dill.   The wine is made in an area of France called the Fennouilledes as wild fennel can be found in the hedgerows surrounding the vineyards.  There is a subtle hint of fennel in the wine, so if you have slow roasted fennel on your Christmas menu this is a must.



The bad boy grape of the Languedoc from our 100 year old vines makes a fantastic alternative to more traditional red wines such as Chateauneuf du Pape.  This wine with its fresh lively energy will be perfect with roast duck.  On Christmas Eve it will be perfect with a hearty beef stew, boeuf carottes or beef wellington.  This wine will also partner venison steaks and other powerful game dishes such a pigeon pie. 



Vintage – 2010 – 2014

The silky tannins and soft, spicy fruit in this wine will complement roast beef with parsnips and carrots, Yorkshire pudding and lashing of gravy.  It is the perfect wine for roast duck with redcurrant sauce or a more unusual cherry and red wine sauce.  Traditionally Fitou is drunk with wild boar so all game dishes such as game pie, venison and pigeon would go down a treat.

A glass of Domaine Jones Fitou will also go down extremely well with the cheese board and especially the more mature hard cheeses.


Vintage 2009 - 2014

This red wine comes into its own with lamb especially with a herb crust of rosemary and thyme.  Equally as good with a Boxing Day turkey curry or Christmas Eve pork pie and charcuterie. If you were having roast goose with spicy red cabbage this Christmas then this would definitely be the perfect wine.