J’AIME DECEMBER 2021

F O O D & D R I N K
Which wine this Christmas?
MAKE THE HOLIDAY SEASON EXTRA SPECIAL WITH DRINKS THAT PERFECTLY MATCH YOUR FESTIVE
FARE. KATY EDGINGTON GETS ADVICE FROM STAFFORDSHIRE WINE EXPERT BERT BLAIZE
WINE EXPERT BERT BLAIZE SHARES
HIS FESTIVE PAIRING TIPS
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and you’ve
put enormous effort into stocking the fridge, freezer
and cupboards with the festive fare to match. But
when it comes to choosing what drinks to pair with
each occasion, many of us have only the vaguest
idea. We end up reaching for a familiar name or a
bottle we’ve enjoyed before.
Born and raised in Staffordshire, Bert Blaize is a
sommelier, wine writer and consultant who learned
the ropes at La Belle Epoque in Manchester and
Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons,
before taking the reins at The Clove Club in
Shoreditch - the UK’s top-ranked restaurant in
‘World’s Best 50 Restaurants’ for two years running.
In 2018, Bert was named the UK’s Top Young
Sommelier by Flint Wines. He now takes care of the
wine at Serge et le Phoque in Fitzrovia and opened
his first shop in London in 2020. It’s safe to say he
knows a thing or two about pairing wine and food
Bert’s book Which Wine When, co-authored with
his friend Claire Strickett and published in 2019, has
lots of easy-to-follow advice on choosing wines to
serve alongside all of your festive fare in a chapter
dedicated to ‘going the extra mile’. With roast turkey,
they recommend a zesty, fresh white like an Albariño
or a textured white like a Chardonnay or Chenin
Blanc. If you’re going for rich, dark duck or goose,
try a fruity, spicy red like a Northern Rhône Syrah or
Austrian Blaufränkisch. A vegetarian main like whole
roast celeriac is complemented to perfection by an
aromatic white Rhône blend.
There’s another whole chapter on wines to pair with
cheese - ideal if you’re taking on board our pointers
from the November issue on building the perfect
cheese board. Bert and Claire suggest Pecorino to go
with Pecorino, for example, and a Chilean Cabernet