All I want from Santa is .....

What 12 industry professionals hope will be under their tree on Christmas morning

I’d be absolutely delighted to find a mixed case of wines from Sugrue South Downs estate in Sussex, plus their Precognition Gin, just for good measure. From the skilled winemaking hand(s) of Dermot Sugrue, there’d be Dear Noodles Rosé to gently ease into the festivities, plus the elegant yet expressive Bonkers V2 Chardonnay and (his first red) Crouch Valley Pinot Noir from the exceptional 2022 vintage, to pair with the Christmas bird – turkey, duck, goose, whatever takes our fancy. And then his excellent fizz, The Trouble with Dreams, would connect the dots all day. And I could happily quaff away in the knowledge that I’m supporting great winemaking just a wobbly hop, skip and jump away from my home near the inspirational South Downs.

Andrew Catchpole is the Editor of Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade Review

I would like to find a case of wine that will be perfect for lunch at 3.00pm. We should open the bottles at about 11.00am. I like the bottle on the table! I am thinking of a divine Pomerol like the Chateau Seraphin 2019 which is made by a great friend and a wine genius and competes with the very best Pomerols at many times the price.

Ranald Macdonald is the founder of the London-based Boisdale Restaurant Group

I’d like Father Christmas to drop off a case of Château du Moulin-à-Vent, Les Verillats, 2022. I’ve fallen in love with its heady perfume of sandalwood and griotte cherries the moment I tasted it. It’s such an elegant wine, and like many of the best Beaujolais, it punches well above its price point. And if I don’t get round to drinking it on Christmas day, those fine-boned, slightly raspy tannins will help it age for at least another decade.

Natasha Hughes is the author of The Wines of Beaujolais (The Classic Wine Library)

This year I was invited for the first (and perhaps only) time to the annual Domaine de la Romanée-Conti tasting at Corney & Barrow. The wines from the superb 2022 were quite overwhelming, without a doubt some of the greatest I’ve ever tasted even at this young age. So please Santa, I’m not asking for Richbourg or La Tâche, just six bottles of Romanée St. Vivant would do. I have been a very good boy.

Henry Jeffreys is the author of Vines in a Cold Climate: The People Behind the English Wine Revolution (Allen & Unwin)

Hmmm. I’ve never been swayed or taken by icons. I’m always on the search for the unique and as such I’d like a trio of wines: two Spätburgunders: a Bernhard Huber Malterdinger 2022 and Bürgstadter Berg 2022 from Rudolf Fürst, is grown on iron rich soil, developing flavours of iodine and maybe a bloodiness that sits well with game birds. Both are unashamedly what they are and go great with venison or duck (or anything that flaps actually). They are underpriced and good to cellar. The third choice, I’m going to ask Santa for a 2018 Bottazzi ‘Monterosso’ Derthona Colli Tortonesi from Piedmont. It is in my opinion the ultimate aperitif white wine to pair with salmon, other rich fish and vol-au-vents. Merry Christmas.

Merlin Ramos is head of wine at Town on Drury Lane

I’d be delighted to find a case of any of Lismore Estate’s top wines, particularly the compellingly savoury Estate Reserve Viognier or the brooding Sheltering Sky Syrah 2023, which was released for this year’s Cape Winemakers Guild auction. Owner-winemaker Samantha O’Keefe produces wines that have fruit, structure and precision without ever feeling over-polished. There’s a textured, handmade quality to her work.

Jason Millar is a former wine merchant and buyer. He is now an independent wine writer, judge and consultant

As you might expect, it’s a producer in the BWC portfolio, Ferraton Pete et Fils and it is their Ermitage Les Dionnieres 2021, a beautiful single vineyard, 100% Syrah, which is elegant vibrant floral and way better value than Burgundy or Bordeaux at the same quality level. I plan to stock up on it, so maybe Santa can start the ball rolling.

Emma Dawson is head of buyer at Berkmann Wine Cellars

I think you might be surprised by my wish list, especially with its reputation for producing clumsy inelegant wines in the past, but one of the standout wines of the year, discovered while judging with South Africa’s legendary Beyers Truter in Paarl earlier this year, is his single vineyard Kriekbult Pinotage 2022. Exactly 100 years after Professor Perold created this variety, by crossing Cinsault with a clone of Pinot Noir, he has produced this sublime, velvety red, packed with cherries, mulberries with just a hint of chocolate. Merry Christmas! Try it with a venison loin.

Joe Wadsack is a brand consultant, drinks expert and broadcaster who likes to champion the path less trodden

If I were being relatively modest, I’d ask for a case of Gavin Quinney’s Château Bauduc Crémant de Bordeaux 2021: made from semillon, it’s a beautifully-polished sparkling wine with hints of wildflower honey and I know I’d enjoy opening bottles for casual aperitifs with friends. Going up a notch, a mixed case from Langham Wine Estate in Dorset, an exceptional English wine producer whose sparkling wines are thrilling and delicious. I particularly love the depth, spice and sinew of the 2019 sparkling barrel-aged pinot noir. But I’ve got to admit my true love is Nebbiolo and would be thrilled to have a mixed 12 from Piemonte (perhaps with one or two Australians, for fun) including if I were very lucky names such as Trediberri, Massolino, Chiara Boschis and Fratelli Alessandria.

Victoria Moore is a columnist for the Daily Telegraph; author of the award-winning wine and food bible, the Wine Dine Dictionary, and co-host of the Get Yourself a Glass podcast.

I’m a sucker for white Rhônes. They’re rare (only about 10% of Rhône production is white), famously food-friendly and such a refreshing change from boringly ubiquitous Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Top of my wish list is the 2024 Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes Hermitage from brothers Antoine and Maxime Graillot of Domaine Alain Graillot, is my current favourite, a creamy, apricotty, peachy blend of Marsanne (mainly) and Roussanne (a bit) which is just that little bit different and hits the spot just so. Although so enjoyable when drunk young, I’ve tucked a couple of cases away to tide me over the next 12 months, but can always use more.

Jonathan Ray is drinks editor of The Spectator