A very Sherry Christmas

The sheer variety of sherries is dazzling - I don’t think there is one moment over Christmas when you can’t find a sherry to match the occasion or the dish. I certainly got an enthusiastic response when I spent a busy day doing radio interviews about sherry for Christmas recently. Over 24 radio stations called in to talk about the subject, many with on-air tastings of sherry across the airways. We discussed all aspects of the drink but perhaps the most inspiring was the way in which sherry is now being embraced as a ‘gastronomic’ wine - one which is extremely food-friendly. (The Spanish have always known this, but perhaps we Brits have been slower on the uptake.) It’s certainly one of the most relevant subjects at Christmas. So I wanted to distil the food and sherry matching tips that I gave out over the radio day into a few quick tips. Here, then, is the low-down on how to pair sherry up with your favourite food over the festive season. 

Cheers all - have a very sherry Christmas!

Susy Atkin's guide to enjoying Sherry at Christmas

* Fino and manzanilla sherries - the pale, dry styles that you must serve chilled make simply superb palate-wakening aperitifs. Fresh, lemony with a slightly salty, green-olive bite, they pair up well with dainty canapés, and with salted, toasted nuts or plain crisps, olives and tapenade. I always keep a bottle on the go in the fridge over Christmas for a refreshing drop, and find these bone-dry sherries also segue through nicely to the dinner table, partnering a first course of fish or seafood, including mild smoked salmon.

* Amontillado sherry - dry amontillado is the sherry I have with cold meats, charcuterie, jamon, also chicken, turkey and pork. I especially like its nutty, fresh, orangey-tinged character with a Boxing Day spread of cold meats and salads. Its intense flavours means it can even stand up to pickles and chutneys.

* Dry oloroso - for me this is the one for the festive cheeseboard, together with a selection of nuts and dried fruit. The dark mahogany hue and rich raisin and walnut flavours are just spot on for savouring as to pick your way slowly through the cheeses, yet the dry finish of the sherry works so well with savoury food.

* PX - the very sweet, dark, sumptuously sticky Pedro Ximenez sherries, tasting of raisins, spices and black molasses, are glorious with Christmas pudding, mince pies and other hot desserts like treacle tart or steamed puddings. PX also triumphs with salty blue cheese and if you’re feeling lazy, just pour a shot over fine vanilla ice cream. Keep a bottle on the go all through the Christmas feasting season - it should last well for a week or two once opened.

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