The perfect drinks to match your Christmas lunch

Douglas Blyde has the perfect pairings for your Christmas feast

Smoked Salmon and Pink Champagne

Smoked salmon pairs perfectly with pink champagne (Shutterstock / Viktor1)

Steal: Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé NV

Perrier-Jouët champagnes were historically drunk by Queen Victoria, Napoleon III and Oscar Wilde, who managed to secure the 1874 vintage in his prison cell. The Blason Rosé is best savoured with food and brings buttery flavours and citrus hints to smoked salmon. £59.99, at ocado.com

Splash out: Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé 2006

Belle Epoque is the pride of Hervé Deschamps, the seventh chef de cave to have worked at Perrier-Jouët since 1811. It’s a tightly focused champagne with uplifting pomegranate, raspberry and pink grapefruit flavours. £195, at ocado.com

Turkey and Pinot Noir

Douglas gives his ideal pinot noirs to serve with the Christmas turkey (Shutterstock / Bochkarev Photography)

Steal: Fortnum’s Pfalz Spätburgunder

Awkward to pronounce but easy to sip, Spätburgunder is German for Pinot Noir, a grape that the country has cultivated since the fourth century. This example from the Rheinland Pfalz is complex, balanced and just enough to not overwhelm the big bird of Christmas. £17.50, at fortnum​andmason.com

Splash out: Bollinger La Côte Aux Enfants 2014

From the legendary champagne producer comes a fabulous still wine which is beautifully ripe and crunchy. This rare cherry, blackcurrant, cocoa and clove-scented red is so delicious that, even given the price, it still feels good value. £65, at thedrinkshop.com

Christmas Pudding and Port

Port and Christmas pudding - a match made in heaven (Alamy Stock Photo)

Steal: Graham’s Quinta Dos Malvedos Vintage Port

From a vineyard deep within the Douro valley comes an opulent, juicy, old-school port which brings spirit and drama to Christmas pudding — it’s also rather good with Stilton. £23, at tesco.com

Splash out: Dow’s 1985 Vintage Port

Dow’s 1985 displays the perfect balance between still-present fruit and imminent maturity. Showing just a little patina of age, with blackberry, fig and festive spices, this will bring Christmas dinner to an elegant close. £99.95, at thewhiskyexchange.com

Mince Pies and Beer

An ale or porter beer goes hand in hand with a mince pie (Alamy Stock Photo)

Steal: Icelandic Toasted Porter

This darkly charred porter features a waft of coffee alongside super-savoury Bavarian hops — it’s a rich cocktail which dovetails happily with quality mince pies. £2.52, at masterofmalt.com

Splash out: XXXK Vintage Ale 10%

Crafted by master London brewer Derek Prentice, this sumptuous, shareable bottle of ale bears the letters ‘XXXK’, forewarning of its bold alcohol content. Cosy and warming, with festive hints of marmalade. £20, at wimbledonbrewery.com

Panettone and Cognac

Sip on cognac with your panettone this Christmas (Alamy Stock Photo)

Steal: Frapin 1270 Premier Cru Grande Champagne Cognac

Nodding to the year the Cognac house was founded, this modern take is perky enough to flatter the mighty panettone — ideally a chocolate one. £39.95, at thewhiskyexchange.com

Splash out: 40-year-old Hermitage Grande Champagne Cognac

With notes of walnuts, vanilla and tangerine peel, this blend of four decades’ worth of spirits is available exclusively at Mayfair’s Hide restaurant and its supporting drinks boutique, Hedonism. £285, at hedonism.co.uk