Best Wines To Celebrate Christmas and New Year

As the season of giving sets upon us, planning events and gatherings can feel stressful and overwhelming.

Lucky for you, we’re here to alleviate some of your workload by taking wine selection off your big list of things to do.

This carefully curated wine list works whether you are on holiday hosting duties, looking for the perfect wine to gift, or just happily drinking and celebrating in the presence of your favourite people.

Our picks for the best wines to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year

With these selections ready to go in your cellar, fridge or esky, you’ll be spreading a little extra cheer and prosperity this festive season.

Sparkling Wine

The stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve is synonymous with a collective chorus of cheering, happy embracing, and the unmistakable sound of popping bottles. While Champagne is the traditional choice for ringing in the New Year, there are wonderful Australian expressions of Sparkling Wine, Moscato and Prosecco that equally evoke a bubbly feeling of joy and abundance.

We suggest you try:

Tempus Two Copper Prestige Cuvée: A zesty, vibrant and fruit-driven sparkling wine made with a blend of grapes sourced from premium vineyards in South Eastern Australia. The perfect bottle to pop at the start of the New Year.
2022 Tempus Two Varietal Blanc de Blancs Sparkling: A refreshing extra dry sparkling wine with enticing fruit flavours of peach, passionfruit and green apple. This is one to have on high rotation all summer long.
2021 Tempus Two Copper Prosecco: A true Italian-style brut Prosecco, its palate has a fine, creamy bead complemented by green apple and citrus flavours. It makes a delicious Mimosa to kickstart your Christmas morning and is also fantastic served alongside an antipasto grazing board.
2022 Tempus Two Copper Moscato: Made in the true Italian Moscato di’Asti style, Tempus Two Copper Moscato has notes of pear and tropical fruits balanced by generous sweetness and vibrant acidity. It’s often described as a glass of fruit tingles. Serve it as an aperitif or with your summer pavlova or fresh fruit platter. It also pairs beautifully with fragrant and spicy Asian or Indian dishes.

White Wine

What’s more Australian than enjoying a chilled glass of crisp, refreshing white wine outside in the summer sunshine? Here are our picks for white wines that are sure to impress your guests this Christmas and New Year’s.

We suggest you try:

2021 Tempus Two Varietal Sauvignon Blanc: Citrus notes of lime with a crisp and refreshing finish. It's an excellent all-rounder and matches a range of summer dishes, including seafood and salads. Its versatility makes it a solid choice to have on hand while entertaining during the warmer months.
2022 Tempus Two Copper Pinot Grigio: Light, crisp, and fruity with mineral and citrus notes, this easy-drinking wine is perfect with summery dishes like salad, barbecue chicken, or seafood pasta.

Rosé Wine

Crafted using red grapes, but made to drink like white wine, an ice-cold glass of pale pink Rosé epitomises socialising al fresco on a sunny day. Rosé all day, we say!

We suggest you try:

2020 Tempus Two Fleur Rosé: Packaged in a gorgeous bottle, this approachable and fruit-forward Rosé has an elegant mouthfeel showcasing rose petals and strawberries with a crisp, dry finish. Essential for outdoor entertaining this festive season.
2022 Tempus Two Copper Rosé: Vibrant in colour and flavour, this Rosé is layered with juicy red summer fruits and apple peel, leading to a crisp, refreshing finish. Delicious paired with Christmas turkey or ham.

Red Wine

Red is the quintessential colour of Christmas. And even on warm Aussie summer days and nights, there is nothing like a luscious red to enjoy with a traditional lamb or beef roast, or a juicy barbecued steak.

We suggest you try:

2020 Tempus Two Fleur Grenache: Approachable and fruit-forward with lifted floral aromatics, this easy-drinking Grenache comes packaged in a beautiful bespoke bottle and can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature. Perfect for casual summer gatherings, especially if pizza or pasta is on the menu.
2021 Tempus Two Copper Pinot Noir: Layered with notes of summer berries to create an elegant and luxurious palate, this Pinot Noir is the ultimate summer red wine due to its versatility. It’s a fantastic match for red meat dishes, and its light body and fruit-forward flavours also pairs well with ham, turkey, chicken and mushroom dishes.
2021 Tempus Two Pewter Cabernet Sauvignon: If you plan on having lamb or beef as your Christmas lunch or dinner centrepiece this year, this truly special Cabernet Sauvignon is an excellent choice. With grapes sourced from a single vineyard in Coonawarra, this elegant wine is aged for 15 months in oak barrels and displays aromas of blackcurrants, mint, chocolate and spice. During the season of giving, this Cab Sav makes a great host gift as well.

Low Alcohol Wines

If your New Year’s resolution is to moderate your alcohol intake, our Tempus Two Lighten Up range is a step in the right direction. With four standard drinks per bottle, these wines are lower in alcohol and calories but big in flavour, so you can stay in the moment longer this festive season.

We suggest you try:

2020 Tempus Two Lighten Up Prosecco: The perfect accompaniment to any occasion, the delicate bubbles mingle with notes of citrus and pear for a lasting, crisp finish.
2021 Tempus Two Lighten Up Pinot Grigio: Prominent apple and tropical fruit flavours finish with a subtle and balanced persistence.
2020 Tempus Two Lighten Up Rosé: Elegant and refreshing with notes of red apple peel, strawberry and maraschino cherry.
Tempus Two Lighten Up Pinot Noir: An delicious mouthfeel displaying rose petal and strawberries with a crisp, dry finish.
Tempus Two Lighten Up Cabernet Sauvignon: A medium-bodied, luscious fruit-driven wine with well-integrated oak and long, velvety tannins.
Tempus Two Lighten Up Shiraz: Upfront fruit flavours and hints of black pepper and spice lead to a smooth, textural finish.

No Alcohol Wines

With more people adopting a mindful approach to their alcohol intake, having an inclusive selection of non-alcoholic wine while entertaining this festive season is a considerate touch. Our Tempus Two Zero range looks like wine and tastes like wine but contains no alcohol - the perfect way to accommodate guests who have chosen to abstain from booze.

We suggest you try:

Tempus Two Zero Prosecco: Lifted citrus and pear floral notes make this wine fresh and fruity, with lively bubbles and a zesty finish.
Tempus Two Zero Pinot Grigio: The same citrus and green apple aromas and zippy spiced pear palate you would expect to taste in a full-alcohol Pinot Grigio.
Tempus Two Zero Spritz Rosé: With fresh strawberry, citrus and tropical aromas, this beautiful, pale pink wine has sweet fruit and floral flavours with a crisp and spritzy finish.
Tempus Two Zero Red Blend: Delicious aromas of ripe red fruits, raspberries and dark cherries with hints of chocolate and spicy vanilla oak, this bold and full-flavoured wine finishes with soft drying tannins.

Cocktails Ideas To Celebrate Christmas and New Year

Looking to add a little extra merry to your festivities? Why not try out these delicious cocktails this silly season?

Tempus Two Memorable Moments Mimosa: A time-honoured tradition for Christmas brunch and New Year’s Day, a Mimosa is the best way to kickstart the holiday festivities.
Tempus Two Easy-Peasy Peach Bellini: Pimp up your Prosecco with a Bellini. Mixed with deliciously sweet and thick peach purée, this simple cocktail is a fizzy and refreshing treat.
Tempus Two Lighten Up Frosé: While this Frosé recipe works just as well with a full-alcohol Rosé, this slightly more virtuous version uses Tempus Two Lighten Up Rosé as the star ingredient.
Tempus Two Christmas Gin-spiration cocktail recipes: These five must-try Christmas gin cocktail recipes are sure to get your taste buds tingling this holiday season.
Tempus Two and Tanica low alcohol cocktail recipes: Tempus Two and Tanica recently teamed up to develop a range of delicious cocktail recipes that are lower in alcohol but still big in taste.
Tempus Two Non-Alcoholic Fruit Punch: Nothing sparks an air of splashy celebration like a giant glass bowl of sunset-coloured punch. This non-alcoholic fruit punch caters to everyone - regardless of age or lifestyle choice.