Sauvignon Blanc may be the go-to for many a dinner party, but isn’t it time we gave our tastebuds (and our guests) something new to talk about? If you’re looking for new wines to try this Christmas, whether for the big day itself or for parties in the festive season, the world of white wine is brimming with exciting alternatives that deserve a swirl in your glass at the end of the year.
The world of wine can at times feel daunting, so where best to begin? ‘When it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, the thing people really seem to love is the racy acidity and the intense fruit flavours made popular by New Zealand’s wines,’ says Laithwaites wine expert Grant Hedley. ‘To find an alternative, drinkers should look for winemaking regions that get plenty of sunshine but still get a cool temperature drop overnight. Greek Assyrtiko is a great choice, as is Spain’s superstar white Albariño’.
Christmas is a great time to try new bottles – a season of entertaining, pairing great wine with food and choosing an extra special bottle to enjoy during the celebrations. From under-the-radar grapes to bottles with a bit more personality, branching out can elevate your Christmas table from predictable to palate-pleasing. If you’re looking for a gift for a wine lover, a unique bottle they haven’t tried before makes a chic Christmas present too. So, if you’re ready to retire the sauv blanc – just for Christmas! – here are five white wines to impress your guests and add a splash of intrigue to the Christmas dinner table.
For more wine advice, check out 5 on-trend wines to buy in 2025 and 10 wine myths debunked by an expert.
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5 new white wines to try this Christmas
Vignobles Canet Picpoul De Pinet 2024
If you drink a lot of French Sauvignon Blanc, try switching to another bottle from across the Channel instead. Picpoul de Pinet has been steadily increasing in popularity over the last few years, and is a great choice to pair with seafood. This dry example comes from the Languedoc in France and has a crisp, citrussy freshness, with sharp apple and pear aromas.
Available from:
Laithwaites (£12.99)
Barón de Barbón Albariño Rías Baixas 2024
Grant Hedley calls Albariño Spain’s ‘superstar white’, and for good reason. This example comes from the cool hills of northwest Spain, the perfect growing climate for Albariño, with moderate temperatures, clear, sunny days in summer, a strong influence from Atlantic breezes and soils rich in granite, clay and quartz. The resulting wine is rounded, with juicy stone fruit (think ripe peaches) on the nose and palate, balanced by welcome freshness.
Available from:
Laithwaites (£11.99)
Valdorata Fiano 2024
You can get great sauvignon blanc alternatives for under £10. Fiano is a unique Italian grape that grows well in Sicily; it’s a great one to bring out at dinner parties when you want to show off a lesser-known grape variety and try something new. Here it’s blended with another hidden gem grape variety, Grecanico, for a crisp white with notes of fresh fruit and blossom.
Available from:
Laithwaites (£8.99)
Leitz Pinot Blanc 2022
German wine isn’t only about Riesling, there are many world-class white wines to discover at an affordable price. This pinot blanc from the Rheingau is elegant and refreshing, just like a Sauvignon Blanc, but here with warm, rounded stone fruit notes before a crisp, lemony finish. Try serving with chicken or creamy fish dishes.
Available from:
Laithwaites (£9.49)
Jim Barry Clare Valley Assyrtiko 2023
Although Assyrtiko is a traditional Greek grape variety, winemaker Jim Barry (a legend of Australian wine) liked it so much on a trip to Santorini that he started growing it himself back in 2012. His Clare Valley production has yielded a wine full of flavour, with lemon and passionfruit shining through as well as fresh apple – delicious enjoyed on its own as well as an accompaniment to seafood or spice.
Available from:
Laithwaites (£25)
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