Sure, the festive season offers a much-needed excuse to gather with loved ones and share food, drink, and good company. While many of us honed our wine-pairing skills during the pandemic, often becoming adept at matching wines with savoury dishes, dessert pairings still tend to perplex us. Which wine is best to accompany your holiday sweets? Should we stick to sweet wine only? Mulled wine?
To answer this question, we turned to a seasoned sommelier, eager to share expert tips and a few standout pairings for the season. These insights will elevate your celebrations and inspire fresh approaches to your seasonal greetings table.
As the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” and what better way to make it even more memorable than with the perfect wine to complement your festive desserts?
First, though, let’s meet the expert behind these invaluable tips.
Tanapong “Mark” Vongsuwan is a top-tier sommelier with over a decade of experience in Thailand’s fine dining scene. He currently heads the wine programme at Le Normandie, the one MICHELIN Star French institution in The MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025, at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (which earned three MICHELIN Keys in 2024). Vongsuwan’s expertise is second to none. He’s been behind the hotel’s iconic wine list since 2014 and has gained international recognition from his stints at Mezzaluna (two MICHELIN Stars, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025) in Bangkok and the UK’s Sukho Group.
Now, he’s sharing his pro tips on pairing wine with festive Christmas treats – just in time for you to impress your guests this season.
“When it comes to pairing wine with desserts, there are two main principles to consider,” says Vongsuwan. “First, match the sweetness levels: the wine should be slightly sweeter than the dessert to avoid flat flavours. Secondly, it should enhance the wine’s characteristics, especially its fruit notes. These should complement, not clash with, the dessert’s flavour.”
Here are some pro tips to help you pair wine with holiday treats this season:
- Match sweetness levels: The wine should be as sweet as or sweeter than the dessert to avoid the wine tasting bland.
- Enhance flavours: The wine’s fruit aroma and character should complement the dessert’s flavours, not overpower them.
- Pair by region: Try matching wines and desserts from the same region. While not always the case, this often leads to harmonious pairings.
- Match profile intensity: Choose a wine with a flavour profile and intensity similar to the dessert.
- Contrast or harmony: Explore whether the pairing enhances or clashes with the flavours, and find a balance.
- Festive aromas: Pick a wine with seasonal spice aromas like Christmas spices to capture the festive spirit truly.
Still unsure? Don’t worry—here are Vongsuwan’s favourite festive sweet treats and wine pairings, so you can leave the stress behind and just enjoy the flavours.
Panettone with Moscato d'Asti
The delicate bubbles and subtle sweetness of Italy's sparkling white Moscato d'Asti, with aromas of pear, peach, lemon, and mandarin, perfectly enhance the fruity notes and smooth sweetness of panettone. This Italian festive bread, a symbol of celebration, pairs beautifully with the wine for a truly indulgent treat.
Christmas Stollen with Sweet German Eiswein
Pairing Christmas Stollen with sweet German Eiswein is a match made in festive heaven. The bold aromas of orange, honey, peach, and dried apricot in the German Eiswein will complement the dried fruit, butter, and nuts in this half-cake, half-bread Christmas treat perfectly. A pairing that's guaranteed to transport you straight to a cosy German Christmas market.
Hazelnut cake with Tawny Port
With its rich aromas of dried fruit, toffee, and spices, Tawny Port from northern Portugal makes the perfect match for the delicate, creamy flavour of hazelnuts in the cake. It’s a festive pairing that embodies the warmth and joy of the season.
Christmas fruit cake with Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
The sweet, floral notes of this Muscat from France’s Côtes du Rhône region pair beautifully with a classic fruit cake. Its lively acidity and tropical flavours enhance both the fruits and spices in the cake, while the smooth texture of the wine adds a touch of luxury to every bite.
Madeleines with Coteaux du Layon
The fragrant notes of quince, pear, flowers, honey, and spices from the sweet white wine Coteaux du Layon, hailing from the Loire River region, beautifully complement the honeyed richness of the iconic French shell-shaped madeleine. The wine’s slight acidity adds a refreshing lift, making this pairing a beautiful balance of elegance and indulgence.Put these tips and examples to use when pairing wine with your favourite treats. Or, if a year of relentless toil has left you yearning for a moment of respite, allow Vongsuwan and his team to weave their magic at Le Normandie.
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