Christmas wines

It can be hard when throwing a party to make sure that the wine actually goes with the food you are serving as well as being suitable to all tastes.

With these handy tips you should be set to hold a semi-sophisticated and cheap party (at least in terms of the wine).

1. For Canapés/Pre-Dinner

As most people serve variety of nibbly treats to start with, it is hard to say whether you should go for a red or a white wine.

Personally I would go for a sparkling wine as it goes with everything and it's always nice to have a bottle of bubbly to begin the night.

The majority of supermarkets stock bottles of Cava for about £3.99 a bottle.

As an alternative to Cava you could try Asti or Prosecco but these tend to cost that little bit extra.

Bucks Fizz is also great to kick an evening off as it rarely costs more than £2 a bottle and it gets everyone in the mood.

2. For Turkey/Nut Roast Dinners

Turkey is a meat that can be served with both red and white wine so everybody can be happy.

For you red wine lovers, try a sparkling Shiraz or a nice Merlot to compliment your bird.

If you have a lot of guests, your best bet might be to buy 3L boxes of wine as they tend to work out cheaper.

Sainsburys do a great box of Chilean Merlot for £12.49.

Also check out your local supermarket for offers on wine as there are loads on right now.

Luckily a Shiraz or a Merlot go equally well with a nut roast.

If you prefer white wine, try an Australian or a Californian Chardonnay.

Asda does a box of Australian Chardonnay for £13.48.

For the nut roast, however, try a rose Zinfandel instead.

3. Dessert

You can't really have a Christmas party without mulled wine and I would serve this with dessert, especially if you are having mince pies or Christmas pudding.

It's warming enough for people who don't want any afters and yet not so overwhelming that it will spoil it for those that do.

There is a great recipe on Delia Online which works out relatively inexpensive and you can make a huge batch of it.