Casillero del Diablo shares a practical guide to planning the wine for Christmas Day.

From finding space in the fridge to working out how many bottles will keep the table topped up, planning the Christmas drinks can quickly become another job on an already lengthy festive to-do list. This Christmas, Casillero del Diablo has created a simple Christmas Day Wine Plan to help hosts decide what to buy, when to chill it and what to serve throughout the day.

An affordable way to stock up without compromising on choice. The full Casillero range is available at £7 in Tesco between 6th and 12th October before reverting back to the standard £7.50 promo price across all retailers.

The Christmas Day Wine Plan

9 am: Put the turkey in and the white wine in the fridge

Make space for the white wine first thing so it has time to chill before lunch. If fridge space is tight and the weather is suitably cold, a pre-chilled cool box or secure back doorstep can provide useful temporary storage.

Aim to serve white wine at around 8-12°C, depending on the grape rather than ice cold, to allow its flavours to come through.

11 am: Start with an alcohol-free Bucks Fizz

Casillero del Diablo Sparkling Zero, available at Sainsbury’s, can be mixed with orange juice for an easy alcohol-free Christmas morning Bucks Fizz.

It offers all the ceremony of a festive cocktail while helping guests pace themselves across a long day of celebrations.

1 pm: Take the white wine out of the fridge

Remove the Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from the fridge around 20 to 30 minutes before serving; the ideal temperatures are as follows: Sauvignon Blanc should be 8 degrees, Chardonnay at 12°C.

1.30 pm: Christmas lunch

Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay is a versatile festive all-rounder, while Cabernet Sauvignon provides a crowd-pleasing red option that works well with a traditional Christmas lunch. Sauvignon Blanc offers a fresh, crisp alternative to pricier New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. Chile’s cold Humboldt Current helps to create the refreshing style consumers know and love,
while delivering excellent value.

Rosé can also earn its place on the Christmas table, providing a lighter option for guests who prefer it.

4 pm: Cheeseboard and board games

As lunch moves into the afternoon, bring the Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon back to the table to enjoy with the cheeseboard and the inevitable round of board games.

6 pm: Save the unopened bottles for Boxing Day

Check what remains before opening anything new. Seal and refrigerate opened white and rosé wines, and keep any unopened bottles ready for Boxing Day entertaining.

Christmas Wine Maths: How Many Bottles Do You Need?

A standard 750ml bottle provides approximately six 125ml glasses. For a long Christmas lunch, allow around two to three glasses per drinking adult:

● 4 adults: 2 bottles
● 6 adults: 2 to 3 bottles
● 8 adults: 3 to 4 bottles
● 10 adults: 4 to 5 bottles
● 12 adults: 4 to 6 bottles

Rather than automatically buying equal quantities of red, white and rosé, consider what guests actually enjoy and adjust the mix accordingly. Alcohol-free choices should also be included for non-drinkers, designated drivers and anyone choosing to moderate their alcohol intake. For larger gatherings, keep an extra bottle chilled but unopened as a reserve, rather than
opening everything at once.

At the promotional price, four bottles for eight guests would cost just £30.

Claire Raine, Head of Brands Marketing at VCT Europe, says: “Christmas wine shopping is often based on guesswork, which can mean spending more than you need to or ending up with lots of open bottles. Start with the number of people who are
actually drinking, consider what they enjoy and plan from there.

“Having a simple wine plan means you can buy smarter, spend less and waste less. If you’re the head chef, delegate the wine plan to someone else in the family so they’re responsible for chilling, opening, glasses and refills while you get on with the turkey and trimmings, preferably with your own glass in hand too.”

The full Casillero range is available at £7 in Tesco between 6th and 12th October before reverting to the standard £7.50 promo price.

The Christmas Line-up

Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc

A fresh and vibrant white wine with citrus and tropical fruit flavours and a crisp finish. A great-value alternative for drinkers who enjoy New Zealand-style Sauvignon Blanc.
RRP: £8.50
Festive promotional price: £7.50 from the 6th to the 12th October
Available from: [Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Ocado]

Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay

A crisp Chardonnay packed with tropical fruit flavours and subtle hints of vanilla. Medium-bodied with good balance and a fresh finish. A versatile option for festive food and Christmas lunch.
RRP: £8.50
Festive promotional price: £7.50
Available from: [Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Ocado]

Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

A smooth, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with cassis and black cherry flavours, complemented by hints of coffee and dark chocolate. Ideal for Christmas lunch, the cheeseboard and relaxed evening entertaining.
RRP: £8.50
Festive promotional price: £7.50
Available from: [Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Waitrose]

Casillero del Diablo Rosé

This fresh Rosé allows for lower calories and stands out for its aromas of raspberry and strawberry. Rosé need not be reserved for summer.
RRP: £8.50
Festive promotional price: £7
Available from: Sainsbury’s, Morrisons

Casillero del Diablo Sparkling Zero

Casillero del Diablo Zero Sparkling is a gently dealcoholized, low-alcohol sparkling wine made from 100% early-harvested Chardonnay grapes from Chile. Serve on its own or mix with orange juice for an alcohol-free Christmas morning Bucks Fizz.
RRP: £6
Festive promotional price: £5
Available from: Sainsbury’s

All wines are available here