The festive season is fast approaching and we are all looking forward to sharing (at last) moments of conviviality with our loved ones. That said, let us be mindful and moderate our alcohol consumption. But let us make no concessions on pleasure. Even without alcohol, the drinks that accompany your meals should follow a certain order. You should always start the aperitif with bubbles, just to wake up the palate! Then move on to a well-chilled dry white wine for the starter, followed by red wine for the main course, and finish with a sweet, more sugary wine at dessert time. These timeless rules apply equally to the alcohol-free wines we suggest you discover over a festive meal.
"It is possible to experience drinks in a different way — one that does not pit alcohol against non-alcoholic options, but draws the best from both so you never have to choose."
Which wine for the aperitif?
With or without alcohol, bubbles are an essential way to start a festive meal. The aperitif, a cherished and convivial moment, often precedes a hearty dinner and must absolutely remain light. Its role is to whet the appetite. Sparkling wines are therefore particularly well suited.
Without alcohol, sparkling wines allow everyone to enjoy the sense of conviviality around a glass. They offer fine, delicate bubbles and you will appreciate their freshness and their notes of flowers and fruit.
For their liveliness, opt for a blanc de blancs or a chardonnay-dominant wine that will delight your palate without "weighing it down".
Sparkling rosés can also find their place at the aperitif. Their subtle, fresh aromas and soft, silky texture make them a formidable partner to accompany serrano ham, aperitif breads, cubes of comté, or parmesan, for example.
You could also be tempted by the spiced and fruity aromas of an alcohol-free sparkling muscat. This sweet sparkling wine will perfectly accompany dishes that play on the contrast of sweet and savoury flavours, such as brioche toasts with raisins, foie gras toasts, cheese gougères with goat's cheese…
Which wine with oysters?
A Christmas evening without oysters is very rare. So if you want a starter that hits all the right notes, let us pair our oysters with an alcohol-free wine that suits their briny character — and more…
The classic choice is undoubtedly a dry white wine. The Appalina Sauvignon or the Équilibre zéro Viognier Sauvignon from Domaine de l'Arjolle will do the job perfectly, whether we enjoy our oysters with just a little pepper, a squeeze of lemon or a shallot vinaigrette.
If you fancy a change and want to treat your guests to warm oysters, La Côte de Vincent Effervescent for example, will add a real zing and acidity to your starter!
For beer lovers, a good dark stout or bock style will be a perfect match with plump, fleshy oysters. It is little known, but the briny flavours of the oyster blend perfectly with the roasted and lightly bitter chocolate notes of these beer styles. A true classic not to be missed.
Red or white with seafood?
White wine is particularly celebrated during Christmas meals where seafood takes centre stage as a starter. But if you are not especially fond of white wine, what do you do?
Even though it is true that the tannins in red wine are not really recommended with the briny character of seafood, we can still try pairing our prawns and whelks with a light, fruity alcohol-free red wine, such as the Petit Bérêt alcohol-free Pinot Noir or the Petit Etoilé Cabernet Sauvignon, for example.
Which wine with turkey?
At Christmas, white-meat poultry is often the star of the Christmas Eve dinner: whether it is chestnut-stuffed turkey or stuffed capon, it is always a treat! But which wine should you choose to perfectly showcase your poultry?
For red wine lovers, opt for alcohol-free wines that are rather fine, slightly tart and stripped of their tannins, so that the wine does not clash with the poultry. Fortunately, without alcohol, the organoleptic qualities are concentrated on the roundness of the fruit and will pair perfectly with white meat. For example, let yourself be surprised by the alcohol-free Merlot Grenache from Domaine de l'Arjolle. A frank, aromatic and generous nose. A round, flavourful palate with a gentle structure. A divine surprise
Appalina Cabernet Sauvignon and Pierre Zéro Prestig Rouge will also be suitable.
For white wine lovers, opt for a grape variety that is not too sweet, offering a minimum of body and depth, such as the Petit Bérêt Chardonnay made from grape varieties from the south of France.
Which wine with cheese?
Cheese is almost part of French culinary tradition to eat with a good red wine. Yes, but… In reality, a good lightly fruity white wine will work wonders with the end-of-meal cheeseboard!
- Pierre Zero Chardonnay
- Petit Etoile Chardonnay
Well, if you are a red wine lover and cannot conceive of eating cheese with a white wine, fair enough. Alcohol-free red wine is rather gentle and will enhance the cheese rather than overpower it. Pierre 0% Rouge will be a great ally. It boasts a deep ruby robe with brilliant highlights and a nose of intense red fruit aromas. Its freshness, youthful character and balance will delight you.
Which wine with foie gras?
The great classic of festive tables pairs wonderfully with a sweet, fruity wine. But contrary to popular belief, to fully appreciate this pairing we recommend serving it at the end of the meal, before dessert. Simply because if you start with a sweet wine from the very first course, your palate will become overloaded.
To accompany this moment we offer you an alcohol-free sweet wine crafted from a late harvest of Chardonnay. Dressed in a golden yellow robe with brilliant highlights, Pierre 0% Prestige Blanc reveals a nose with aromas of peach and white flowers. Its generous richness on the palate offers scents of apricot, vanilla and honey, elevated by an infinite softness.
The pairing with foie gras will be remarkable. And if the bottle is not finished, you can very easily continue your meal with this wine at dessert time.
Which wine with a red fruit Yule log?
To pair the red fruit Yule log with an alcohol-free wine, we recommend the Pierre 0% Rosé sparkling, which you may have already uncorked at the aperitif. An alcohol-free sparkling wine, dressed in a pale pink robe with brilliant, salmon-tinted highlights. With fine, delicate bubbles, its nose releases muscat, floral and fruity aromas of redcurrant and raspberry. On the palate, the pink mousse is full of softness, freshness and persistence to end your meal on a sparkling note. And if you want to try another pairing, the Appalinat Pinot Noir Effervescent will also be a fine match. You will appreciate its pleasant bouquet of small red fruits and its beautiful robe revealing fine, delicate bubbles. It presents a very beautiful fruity, fresh and balanced harmony on the palate.
As you will have gathered, alcohol-free wines have their role to play in the smooth running of a festive meal. Their fruity, tangy or sweet notes will pair perfectly with a great number of dishes for your utmost pleasure. And the advantage of alcohol-free is that you will remain in control, able to look after your own wellbeing and that of your loved ones.
We wish you many enjoyable moments.
