Seasonal buys: December 2023

In store from November in time for Christmas and New Year festivities, this is the pick of Aldi's sparklings – and £2 cheaper than the Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne. Brisk acidity carries Chardonnay-led flavours of fresh green apple through a creamy lemon posset finish.

One for Prosecco haters, this brut iteration of the ubiquitous Italian fizz surprises for its chiselled structure and zesty lift. Pear peel, clementine, lime zest, wild fennel and aniseed mingle on the palate, carried by lively acidity. A hint of mineral freshness adds elegance and nuance. Makes for an alluring, sophisticated aperitif but will also pair well with seafood, risotto or poultry.

At just £7 and 7% abv, this sweet, lightly sparkling wine from northern Italy is a delicious, traditional and wallet-friendly aperitif that's ideal for the festive season. You could even try serving it with a starter of seared scallops for a real treat. Soft white peach and mango flavours are balanced by good acidity and a prickle of petillance, and its 90g/l of residual sugar is barely apparent.

Lay & Wheeler’s own-label range is mightily impressive, featuring wines from top-class producers at affordable prices. Don’t miss this complex, refined Chenin from Swartland superstar Adi Badenhorst, with its beeswax and lanolin aromas and palate full of concentrated lemon rind and stone fruit. It’s rich with macadamia nut, apricot kernel and grapefruit rind and a long, spicy finish.

<p>Delicately floral, showing classic Sauvignon Blanc notes of elderflower, gooseberry and lime. There’s a handsome weight to the palate, without being cloying, and it’s driven by a pronounced citrus and wet stone character, tangy and refreshing. Calm, drinkable and delicious.</p>

One for the hardcore NZ Sauvignon fans, this explodes with tropical aromas of guava, mango, lime and pineapple. Top notes of freshly cut grass and gooseberry, plus lemony acidity, bring refreshment. The memory of fresh pineapple stays etched on the palate.

Refined yet unpretentious this has nutty intensity, mineral assertiveness and fruit juiciness in equal measure, showing the different faces and full potential of the Hungarian grape. Orange blossom, peach and kiwi are topped by fresh almonds and camomile. Lively, long finish.

Bonny Doon and founder Randall Grahm were pioneers in the production of Rhône varietal wines in California's Central Coast region. Grahm sold the winery in January 2020, but stayed on as head winemaker. This complex and food-friendly blend of mainly Vermentino, along with Grenache Blanc and a dash of Clairette, was produced biodynamically and is unoaked. Ripe and juicy, this has pronounced notes of sweet peach fruit and a waft of jasmine, hawthorn fragrance. It's rounded but with good freshness, slightly waxy and almost Rhône-like in character, with a touch of warm leesiness. A steal at this price.

Such is his elevated reputation that leading Chilean winemaker Ignacio Recabarren is now producing wines under his own name, from vineyards in one of the coolest parts of the already cool-climate Casablanca Valley. The flavour profile is green (pyrazine) rather than tropical (thiol), with intense, vibrant notes of blackcurrant leaf and green pepper. The wine spends six months or so on lees, giving it an attractive textural quality, and the alcohol is modest. Great typicity and very easy to like.

A classic Clare Valley Riesling with petrol and flinty minerals on the nose, in addition to waxy green apple, lime and a touch of earthiness. Green fruits and a hint of beeswax on the bone-dry palate, with salinity and a solid streak of acidity as the backbone. A reliable pairing partner for seafood and light salad.

Smokey, savoury nectarine and creamy citrus on the nose. More creamy salinity and lemon zest on the concentrated palate, with a textured mouthfeel and ample but rounded acidity (5.9g/l) due to malolactic fermentation. Ripe peach and melon depth lingers on the salivating finish. Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks, the 2021 vintage is produced by Union des Viticulteurs de Chablis for Morrisons.

There’s a lovely transparency to this 100% Roditis with its well-defined aromas of pear, peach and white grapefruit which opens beautifully in the glass. A fine layer of sweet spice and firm acidity complete the nuanced framework. Fleshy, mouthwatering quality to the long finish.

From Albert Jané’s old Xarel.lo vineyard in Montsant, fruit is vinified and the wine aged on the lees for 10 months in large oak barrels (20%) and stainless steel tanks. It’s round, very saline, pithy, peachy and herbal, with lovely freshness and a creamy finish.

Intense citrus aromas with herbaceous notes and candied lemon peel. Juicy palate, with lively acidity and super freshness; three months on lees in concrete adds depth and texture. Layers of citrus, white peach and a chalky minerality, with a persistent finish. Great value!

The white wines in M&S's new Expressions range are a strong line-up. It was a tough choice alongside the equally good Roero Arneis, Pecorino and Organic Falanghina, but this wine tips it, being £2 cheaper. Previously under the Found range, it boasts bright flavours of crunchy nectarine, fresh herbs, grapefruit pith and an appealing almond skin texture.

When you think of Fiano, you might typically think of Campania, however this example is from further south in Italy, in Puglia. Bold and honeyed, it showcases apricot and tropical aromas then a good intensity of peach, pineapple and yellow plum flavours allied to fresh acidity. Yum! Available from 30 November.

The perfect treat you need to finish a festive meal. Candied citrus peel, marmalade and orange blossom on the nose. With sugar sitting at 140g/l, it boasts a richly concentrated palate of apricot jam, dried mango and honeyed citrus, with bright acidity for freshness (8.5g/l). Dried citrus zest on the finish, luscious but by no means cloying. Crafted by De Bortoli with 100% Semillon.

<p>It’s unbelievable that a wine of this complexity is priced at just over a tenner for a 75cl bottle – testament to the fact that Sherry <i>still </i>has image problems. Perfect for the festive season, when a glass, slightly chilled, would be delicious beside the fire, with some nuts. Rich, powerful and nutty in character, with aromas of coffee, sultanas and dark chocolate. Mellow and dry with a streak of salinity, it has a finish that goes on forever. So good.</p>