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THURSDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2026

New Year’s Eve wine pairing

Choose the wine for dinner before choosing the midnight bottle. Sparkling wine can do both jobs, provided its sweetness and weight suit the food.

Wine and food on a linen-laid dining table

Start with the appetisers and main course. Keep sparkling wine chilled, but check the style rather than assuming bubbles mean dry. Work out quantities for your planned pours, including the toast if you are serving one.

01

For crisp, salty bites

A fresh sparkling wine is worth trying with fried calamari or another salty bite. Account for the dipping sauce too: sweetness or chilli can change how the wine tastes.

Adapt the pairing to your menu
02

For a dinner before the toast

If you prefer still wine with dinner, choose it for the main dish and sauce. Keep the sparkling bottle for the toast rather than compromising the meal to use one style throughout.

Adapt the pairing to your menu
03

For something sweet at midnight

A sweet dessert can make dry sparkling wine taste more acidic. Choose a sweeter style for the dessert, or separate it from the toast so each can be enjoyed on its own.

02Groot Constantia Grand Constance
Groot Constantia

Grand Constance

Constantia, South Africa

  • Its sweetness is a more suitable starting point for dessert
  • A pairing recorded for this food family
View wine profile
Adapt the pairing to your menu

Published 31 October 2026. Date reference: US federal holiday calendar.

For adults of legal drinking age. Enjoy responsibly.

New Year’s Eve wine pairing | WineVery