Deciding what to pair with a multi-course, Christmas dinner is never an easy task, so that’s why we’ve passed the buck to a professional. Our Chief Winemaker, Paul Dawick, grew up surrounded by the vineyards of Hawke’s Bay, and has spent over 26 years cultivating them to bring New Zealand some spectacular, award-winning wines. Maybe a few of his suggestions will make your Christmas table this December.
Starter
We’re kicking things off with an antipasto platter and an assortment of seasonal fresh fruit, making sure there’s pineapple, strawberries, mango and blueberries on the board. I’ll be serving this the Leveret IQ Premium Brut and Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2022, both trophy winners.
The IQ Brut has that beautiful champagne-quality autolysis, giving you rich brioche bun aromas, and subtle hints of marmalade and savoury flavours. The Pinot Gris has delicate peach and apricot with a touch of lychee that will complement the summer fruits. Both wines are elegant, not too heavy and cleansing for the palate.
Main
Roast lamb spiked with rosemary and pomegranate-glazed ham with cranberry stuffing balls. For the sides, we’re having gourmet, new potatoes and prosciutto-wrapped baby carrots. Adding a dash of green, we also have a basil, tomato, mozzarella, and sourdough crouton salad. This deconstructed Margherita pizza has been a hit with my family and friends and it’s certainly the right colour palate for Christmas.
In our glasses, there’ll be the Mills Reef Hawke’s Bay Elspeth Chardonnay 2020 and Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. The Cabernet will marry well with the lamb and stuffing balls, while the Chardonnay will suit the ham and salad. Both wines offer elegance, yet richness. The Cabernet with its dark fruits and deft oak provides a beautiful, savoury character. The Chardonnay, with its creamy texture, oak and tropical fruits brings freshness and elegance.
Dessert
Pavlova with a chocolate swirl cream, topped with strawberries, blueberries and cherries. And a fun, raspberry and white chocolate trifle. With these scrumptious options, I’ll be serving the Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022. With its creamy texture, hints of strawberry and subtle blue-fruit flavours, it will highlight the fresh fruit and texture of the desserts.
A Special Something From the Cellar
We hope that gets you excited about what you’ll be serving this Christmas. We know it can be a hectic time of year, so we’ve curated a range of Christmas Wine Boxes which were hand
We hope that gets you excited about what you’ll be serving this Christmas!
We know it can be a hectic time of year, so we’ve curated a range of Christmas Wine Boxes which were handpicked by our winemakers to make things easier. We’re offering 15% off our Christmas Boxes until New Year’s Eve and free delivery on North Island orders over $200. Not sure which box is right for you? Pop into our Cellar Door, and our knowledgeable and friendly team will be happy to assist.
SHOP › Shop Christmas Wine Boxes
We are an independent, family-owned company that has full control over our entire winemaking process, enabling us to bring you some of the finest, award-winning wines in New Zealand. We’d be proud to be presented at your Christmas celebrations, and wish you and yours all the best this festive season.
Hours of Operations:
The Christmas tree is up in our Cellar Door in Katikati! We are open 9:30 AM to 5 PM, seven days a week (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). See directions and contact info.
Delivery:
For delivery, if you’re in the local area (Waihi to Te Puke) we aim to have your order to you by the end of the next business day and orders over $200 qualify for free delivery. For more rural locations and places outside of the local area, call us (+64) 7 552 0795 and we can speak to you about delivery options and times.
From our sunny vineyards and cellar door to your Christmas table, let us know how we can help you have a wonderful festive season.
– The Team at Leveret Mills Reef
