Mary is bundled against the cold when we chat. Ideally, we’d be strolling through a sparklingly frost-filled morning at the vineyard, but - for now - the more prosaic chill of our wine warehouse will suffice. I want to plunder Mary’s effortless expertise for which bottles which will encapsulate her Christmas
At this special time of year, we want every detail of our celebrations to be thoughtful, carefully curated and to spark joy.
As a winemaker, it's not surprising that Mary puts a huge amount of care into choosing the bottles she plans to open - or to give - at Christmas. Naturally, when she's hosting, guests expect a sensational lineup. And as a guest, she knows the bottle she brings will be more than usually scrutinised.
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
So, where do we start? A wine for the season. Something to transport us into the scents, flavours and feelings of Christmas.
“Oak Reserve 2019,” Mary says without hesitation. “Think chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” she says. “Honestly, that’s all you need to know.”
New to the range, Oak Reserve is one of our most distinctive wines: deep, powerful, intensely textural. Its smoky, nutty, creamy profile sits naturally alongside the one moment in the year when chestnuts return to the kitchen – folded into pastry, crushed into stuffing, slipped into Boxing Day pies. The wine’s rich, charred oak character mirrors those flavours with ease.
This is a wine for the unhurried days. Long afternoons with nothing to do except sit by the fire and let a wine evolve in the glass. For Mary, it’s a perfect winter bottle – bold, slow, indulgent, a little decadent.
Gusbourne Rosé 2019 for friends and food
“All I want for Christmas is Rosé 2019,” Mary says, only half joking. This is a bottle she chooses when she wants absolute certainty. “If you don’t know what to open, open Rosé 2019. It won’t let you down,” she says.
The 2019 vintage is expressive and wonderfully food friendly. Red berries, citrus brightness, fine structure and a refined savouriness give it the range to stand up to bold Christmas flavours. It’s a wine that catches people by surprise: not the breezy summer rosé they expect, but something deeper, more complex, more quietly serious.
Mary has just returned from Norway, where the wine appeared on a Michelin-starred pairing menu. “It was taken so seriously. Every match was thought about down to the last moment,” she says. It’s a reminder that Rosé 2019 has become a modern classic – confident, precise and exceptional with food.
For Christmas morning, Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2018, in magnum
Every family has its rituals. For Mary, Christmas morning always begins the same way: smoked salmon, buttery scrambled eggs and Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs.
“It’s a guaranteed presence on the breakfast table,” she says. “We either bring a bottle or a magnum, depending on how thirsty everyone is!” This year she’s leaning towards a magnum of 2018 – a wine the team recently tasted and loved for its mineral purity, toasty depth and the way the larger format has rewarded patience.
There’s something joyful about starting the day with a magnum – a sense of generosity, celebration and abundance. And with Blanc de Blancs’ lifted citrus, fine mousse and elegant weight, it turns even the simplest breakfast into something memorable.
Celebrating in true Gusbourne style, Fifty One Degrees North 2016 in magnum
If Christmas morning belongs to Blanc de Blancs, the evening belongs to Fifty One Degrees North.
Mary opens a bottle each year to track its evolution. “We’ve been tasting the 2016 for a while now,” she says. “Seeing it change has really highlighted just how special it is.” It’s a wine of richness and poise which, with time in the cellar, develops ever more layers of texture and savoury depth.
And if ever there was an excuse to open a magnum, especially something as luxurious as our newly released Fifty One Degrees North 2016, it’s Christmas. Mary laughs: “If you’re going to celebrate, really go for it.”
Boxing Day and beyond, Gusbourne Guinevere 2023
For something quietly luxurious – a wine for Boxing Day afternoons, Romney Marsh wool blankets, leftovers and total relaxation – Mary chooses Gusbourne Chardonnay Guinevere 2023.
“It’s a wine you can take time with,” she says. “It opens up slowly and beautifully.” With its subtle oak, ripe orchard fruit and savoury, honeyed depth, it’s the perfect white to enjoy as you graze.
You can enjoy all these wines with free UK delivery this Christmas. If you're gifting a bottle, why not include a complimentary gift box, too.
