The woman&home Christmas Food Awards 2026 - best festive drinks
Our food team has been busy testing festive drinks to find the best ones worth adding to your basket
Like many of you, we think Christmas really is the most magical time of the year. Whilst food is often a top priority for many, we think the drinks you serve deserve just as much thought.
Whether you're hosting a Christmas party or the big day itself, we've found the best drinks for every occasion so you know what's worth adding to your trolley. From reds, whites and rosé's to bubbly, cider and non-alcoholic options, we’ve sipped on them all to bring you the very best this Christmas.
So if you're looking for the perfect wine to serve with your Christmas dinner, or the best bubbly to serve with canapés, consider this your ultimate Christmas drinks guide.
Our celebrity judges
The tasting took place at the Woman & Home Test Kitchen in Winnersh, our testing HQ, where plenty of lively discussions decided this year’s champions.
This year our testing was even more rigorous, thanks to the inclusion of our guest judges. TV Presenter Ruth Langsford, entrepreneur Sara Davies, Chefs Nathan Outlaw and Theo Randall, recipe developer Eleanor Wilkinson, Decanter Editor Amy Wislocki, best-selling authors, and w&h columnists, Kathy Lette and Dr Amir Khan.
Our panel also included Group Food Director Jen Bedloe, Food Editor Jess Meyer, Acting Deputy Food Editor Nicola Roberts, Food Writer Lucy Kirkpatrick and Food Assistant Johanna Mentel - all equally passionate about finding those stand-out products that will make your Christmas unforgettable.
The best Christmas drinks 2026
Best festive drink
This oak-aged cider with notes of caramel and mince pies is warmly spiced, mildly bitter, sweet, and refreshing all in the same sip. Great as an aperitif, part of a cocktail, or a post-dinner tipple. Eleanor Wilkinson tells us, “I’ll be having this with my cheeseboard.”
A wonderfully wintry wine full of warming spices and notes of dried fruit. This sits somewhere between a mulled wine and cider, with its scorched appley flavour. Serve with pudding, or as pudding. Jess describes it as "Christmas in a bottle!"
Best festive wines
A crisp wine with a lovely pale gold colour. Chef Theo Randall selected this as his winner, noting that it works brilliantly as a food-pairing wine; think roast turkey and roast chicken, perfect for the big day. It offers crisp apple flavours with buttery undertones and a creamy texture.
Full-bodied and fruity, Theo Randall tells us “This is a beautiful Christmas wine.” with flavours of ripe dark fruits, complemented by a lovely hint of baking spice. A luxurious, dense red, he suggests pairing this with roast duck and chestnuts.
A lovely red that gives exceptional value for money. With generous, ripe black fruit, notes of chocolate and coffee, and a smoky edge from time in oak. Amy Wislocki describes it as, “Great bang for your buck - a blinder with a rib of beef.”
A floral and fruity wine that would be especially good paired with seafood. With notes of green apple and pear, Decanter Editor Amy Wislocki explains, “Douro whites are a great category to explore, and this one is a great introduction.”
Best Festive fizz
Made exclusively for Asda, this bubbly is aged for five years from a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Praised by judges for its distinct apple taste with a hint of creaminess. Jen is impressed: “It stands up so well to other traditional method bubbles”.
It's worth splashing out on this gorgeously creamy fizz over the festive season. Expect bright appley fruit and a rich, toasty depth of flavour. Amy Wislocki said “Whip up some smoked salmon blinis and enjoy the pairing while you prep Christmas lunch!”
Ideal for Christmas morning, served with smoked salmon and cream cheese, this bottle of bubbly showcases the very best of English sparkling wine. "This refreshing wine is delicious," says Lucy. "The fizz isn't too intense either, which I really like." With a subtly creamy aftertaste, the flavour gets even better with each sip. Hints of Granny Smith apple give a refreshing contrast to this lovely fizz.
Pale pink in colour, this fragrant, fresh and well-rounded rosé has flavours of red berries and grapefruit. Kathy Lette is a big fan: “This is absolutely my favourite!” A premium pick, it pairs beautifully with delicate seafood canapés and starters.
Best no and low drinks
Zesty and herbaceous, this pleasantly bitter and Negroni-esque drink will cut through rich Christmas food as elegantly as the real deal. Serve on the rocks with a slice of citrus for the full experience. Alternatively, serve with tonic, ginger ale, or alcohol-free fizz to stretch it further. Johanna points outs "This is such a great non-alcoholic alternative; it's not too sweet like many others we've tried".
This citrus-led bubbly uses a double-fermentation technique to mimic the flavours of traditional Champagne. Jen points out that this sparkling is "able to recreate the body and mouthfeel with a lasting finish that many non-alcoholic and low-alcohol options lack."
A wonderfully pale pink wine with notes of strawberry and hibiscus, it has all the qualities of a classic rosé. Jen says, "As close to the real deal as it gets, this rosé can hold its own with nibbles or a full turkey dinner."
A delicious red with lovely colour, good body, and rich berry flavours. This wine is naturally made with less alcohol at the point of production. "This is a great low alcohol wine," says Nicola. "It's not too sweet like many of the others we tried."
