Ultimate Low Calorie Christmas Wine Pairings

Christmas eating is an exercise in excess — which makes the wine you choose more important than ever. Here's a guide to the best lower-calorie wine pairings for each course of your Christmas meal, using the current DrinkWell range.

Smoked salmon starter

Smoked salmon needs a white wine with enough acidity to cut through the fat, and enough citrus or mineral character to complement the smoke. Avoid heavy, oaked whites — and definitely avoid reds, whose tannins will clash. The best matches: dry Sauvignon Blanc, crisp Pinot Grigio, or a dry Cava Brut Nature.

• TRACES Sauvignon Blanc — 78 kcal, 0g sugar, 11% ABV, £9.99. Classic grassy, citrus profile.
• Piattini Pinot Grigio — 82 kcal, 0g sugar, 12% ABV, £10.99. Zesty and crisp, perfect with fish.
• Mas Macia Cava Brut Nature Reserva — 78 kcal, 0g sugar, 11.5% ABV, £14.99. Elegant sparkling, salmon-perfect.

Turkey main course

Turkey is a mild, lean meat — it needs a wine with enough flavour to complement it without overpowering it. A lighter red works beautifully, as does a structured white. Avoid very tannic or very heavy reds.

• Escena Rioja — 90 kcal, 0g sugar, 13% ABV, £12.49. Tempranillo's soft tannins and red fruit are a classic Christmas combination.
• Ancora Sangiovese IGT Puglia — 88 kcal, 0g sugar, 12% ABV, £11.49. Light, bright, cherry-driven red.
• Southern Lights Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc — 85 kcal, 0g sugar, 12% ABV, £15.49. For white wine lovers at the Christmas table.

Nut roast dinner

Nut roast has dense, herby, spiced character. Choose wines that are also herbaceous and have some body to match it. Vegan-friendly options are essential for this course.

• Viña Mariposa Tinto — 88 kcal, 0g sugar, vegan, £12.49. Garnacha/Tempranillo, bright and food-friendly.
• Running Duck Organic Merlot — 88 kcal, 0g sugar, vegan, organic, £12.49. Soft, fruit-driven, naturally low sulphite.

Christmas cheese board

Match wine strength to cheese strength. Soft, fresh cheeses like goat's cheese: dry Sauvignon Blanc. Aged cheddar: structured red. Blue cheese: sparkling or a bold, sweet-adjacent wine. Camembert: Rioja or Pinot Noir style.

• TRACES Sauvignon Blanc — goat's cheese pairing, 78 kcal, 0g sugar, £9.99
• Escena Rioja — mature cheddar/camembert pairing, 90 kcal, 0g sugar, £12.49
• Skinny Witch Prosecco Brut DOCG — Gorgonzola/blue cheese pairing, 80 kcal, 0g sugar, £16.99

Shop Christmas wine

• Mixed wine cases — free delivery over £99
• Full low calorie wine collection
• Sparkling wine cases

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