Food & wine · Christmas
By Vinogrande · 8 min read
Some say any wine goes with salt cod. It does not. But with the right bottle, Christmas Eve becomes even more memorable.
The Portuguese Christmas table is one of the most generous of the year, and one of the hardest to pair. On the night of the 24th (the consoada), boiled salt cod reigns, with cabbage, potatoes, egg and a generous drizzle of olive oil. On the 25th come turkey, kid goat or octopus. And in between there are always rabanadas, sonhos, aletria and bolo-rei.
There are no absolute rules, but some simple principles help. This is our guide, dish by dish.
At a glance
— Salt cod with all the trimmings: whites with body and good acidity (Encruzado, Bical, old-vine whites).
— Octopus and oven-baked cod: structured whites or light, fresh reds.
— Turkey and kid goat: structured reds with fine tannins, such as Baga or Dão.
— Christmas desserts: Moscatel, Tawny Port or Madeira. The wine should be at least as sweet as the dessert.
The night of the 24th
Salt cod with all the trimmings
Boiled salt cod is a dish of clean flavours, but with two challenges: salt and olive oil. A white with good acidity refreshes the palate between bites, and a white with some body stands up to the texture of the fish and the richness of the oil.
That is why whites from the Dão, Bairrada and the high-altitude Douro work so well. Encruzado, Bical, Arinto and old-vine blends have the right freshness and structure. Avoid very aromatic whites or those with a lot of new oak, which compete with the dish.
01
Caminhos Cruzados Reserva Encruzado 2023
Encruzado from the Dão, full and creamy with vibrant acidity. A lot of wine for the price.
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02
Niepoort Tiara branco 2024 — excecionalmente fresco, mineral e elegante
Old-vine Douro white from vineyards at around 600 metres. Fresh, mineral and elegant.
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03
Quinta das Bágeiras Pai Abel Branco 2023
Classic Bairrada, traditional in style and built to age. For a festive salt cod.
View in shop →With salt cod, the wine's acidity plays the role of lemon: it refreshes, cleans and invites the next bite.
What if you only drink red?
There is a solution. Choose a light, fresh red with soft tannins, served a little cooler than usual, at around 14–16 °C. Very full-bodied, tannic reds tend to leave a metallic taste with fish.
The 25th
Octopus, turkey and kid goat
At Christmas lunch, the dishes get heavier. Octopus à lagareiro calls for a structured white or a light red. Stuffed turkey is more versatile than it seems: it welcomes an elegant red with good acidity. And roast kid goat is the territory of structured reds with fine tannins.
Bairrada Baga and Dão reds are classic choices for this table: fresh, food-friendly and with tannins that match roast meats without weighing them down.
04
Sidónio de Sousa Garrafeira 2017
Old-vine Bairrada Baga: wild berries, herbs and fine tannins. For the kid goat.
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05
Quinta da Pellada Casa Tinto 2018
Dão by Álvaro Castro, with purity, minerality and freshness. Excellent with turkey.
View in shop →| Dish | Wine style | Serve at |
|---|---|---|
| Salt cod with all the trimmings | White with body and acidity | 10–12 °C |
| Oven-baked cod or octopus | Structured white or light red | 12–14 °C |
| Stuffed turkey | Elegant, fresh red | 15–16 °C |
| Roast kid goat or lamb | Structured red | 16–18 °C |
| Rabanadas, bolo-rei, aletria | Moscatel, Tawny Port, Madeira | 12–14 °C |
Dessert
Rabanadas, sonhos and bolo-rei
With desserts, the rule is simple: the wine should be at least as sweet as the dessert. If it is less sweet, it will taste bitter and sharp. Portugal's fortified wines were made for this moment.
A Moscatel de Setúbal is perfect with rabanadas (Portuguese French toast) and aletria (sweet vermicelli), with its notes of orange and honey. An age-dated Tawny Port goes with bolo-rei and dried fruit. And a Madeira is a great choice for anyone who prefers something less sweet.
06
Horácio Simões Moscatel Roxo Excellent
Moscatel Roxo from the Setúbal Peninsula. Dense and aromatic, sweet but never heavy.
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07
Poças 10 Anos Tawny Porto
10-year-old Tawny with dried fruit and raisins. Serve at 12–14 °C with bolo-rei.
View in shop →Practical details
Quantities, temperatures and timing
- How many bottles? A 75 cl bottle serves about five glasses. For a long dinner, allow around half a bottle per adult, across whites, reds and fortified wines.
- Temperature: take whites out of the fridge 15 minutes before serving. If the room is warm, reds benefit from 15 minutes in the fridge.
- Aerating: young, structured reds gain from 30 minutes in a decanter.
- Order in time: the recommended order date for Christmas is 16 December.
You will find more ideas in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner collection, and you can always ask our Food & Wine Pairing tool.
FAQ
What people ask us most
Which wine goes with salt cod on Christmas Eve?
A white with body and good acidity, such as a Dão Encruzado, a Bairrada Bical or an old-vine Douro white, served at 10–12 °C.
Can I drink red with salt cod?
Yes, as long as it is light, fresh and low in tannin, served at 14–16 °C.
Which wine goes with bolo-rei?
An age-dated Tawny Port or a Moscatel de Setúbal.
Is shipping free?
From €80 to mainland Portugal, €120 to the Azores and Madeira and €150 to mainland Spain.
✦
Table set, candles lit, glasses full. Merry Christmas.
Shop Christmas Eve winesPlease enjoy responsibly.
