Panettone, nougat, and spiced biscuits. Sweet treats reign supreme on Christmas tables, but choosing the right wine to accompany them isn’t always straightforward. For many, a classic sparkling wine might seem like the ideal choice for toasting from appetisers to dessert, but this mistake could compromise the quality of the bottle and the meal's grand finale. In sommelier manuals, the rule is simple: sweet calls for sweet. But during the festive season, it’s also time to relax, have fun, and experiment with pairings. So why not: a sweet wine for aperitifs? Absolutely. For savoury starters? Even better. For first and second courses? Why not (find our favourite pairings here). Some rules, of course, must be followed, with serving temperature topping the list (though this applies to all wines).
Although in recent years passito wines, botrytised wines, and late harvests seem relegated to niches of enthusiasts—with production decreasing year after year and bottles struggling to find their place in business budgets, as the market prefers other styles—there are still those who believe in sweet wines, investing in attractive packaging and leveraging wine tourism to promote them. Producing them remains a heroic act (as we’ve discussed before): drying the grapes requires time, resources, and expertise.
If the idea of gifting a bottle of sweet wine for Christmas intrigues you, fear not. Following our advice on which red, rosé, white, and macerated wines to choose, here’s a handy guide to the best sweet wines to gift this Christmas, without feeling like you’re sitting your final Master of Wine exam.
Sweet wines to gift at Christmas
The following list features some of the best wines reviewed in the Vini d’Italia 2025 and Berebene 2025 guides by Gambero Rosso.
VdA Chambave Moscato Passito Prieuré 2021 – La Crotta di Vegneron
The area around the commune of Chambave is among the most prestigious for high-quality wines in the Aosta Valley, where viticulture is predominantly considered heroic due to altitude, steep slopes, and low yields. Proof of this is the awards won by wineries working in these challenging territories, such as the Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso 2025 prize awarded to the Chambave Moscato Passito Prieuré 2021. This wine elegantly showcases aromas of citrus peels and dried apricots, with a saffron-infused finish; its palate is equally elegant and harmonious. Behind the largest cooperative in the Aosta Valley, La Crotta di Vegneron, lies a vast group of producers contributing the fruits of their labour. While managing such a collective is no small feat, the company remains focused on innovative projects. Their latest initiative involves ageing certain labels in a mine, a marketing-inspired idea that turned out to have substantial qualitative benefits.
Canelli Sant’Ilario 2023 - Ca' d' Gal
The Canelli Sant’Ilario '23 boasts aromas of anise and sage, combined with floral notes, peach, and white fruit, offering a palate of great harmony and balance. Ca' d’Gal is a winery that has always focused on Moscato d’Asti (though their production also includes Barbera, Freisa, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir), partly thanks to its location in Santo Stefano Belbo, in the heart of the denomination, with sandy, light soils that lend elegance and drinkability. The Boido family is so committed to this grape variety that they conducted a zonation study to produce a wine from vineyards over 70 years old, consistently achieving fascinating results.
Brachetto d'Acqui 2023 - Ca' Bianca
This Brachetto d’Acqui '23 features a light ruby colour with orange highlights, intense floral aromas, and notes of wild berries. It’s fresh, highly drinkable, and relatively long on the finish. Ca' Bianca, part of the Gruppo Italiano Vini network, was established in 1952. Since the 1980s, it has been based at Cascina Spagna in Alessandria province, a property with roots tracing back to the Spanish-French-Venetian conflicts in the early 1600s.
Canelli Casa di Bianca 2023 - Gianni Doglia
Despite being born in a scorching vintage, Casa di Bianca '23 showcases extraordinary energy and expressiveness. This winery, nestled in the idyllic Annunziata hamlet of Castagnole delle Lanze, is a family-run operation helmed by the talented and complementary duo Paola and Gianni Doglia. Positioned at the top of the Moscato d’Asti denomination, they also excel in Barbera production with impeccable interpretations. With this pedigree, now internationally recognised, every winery visit is rich with interest. Their Casa di Bianca represents the epitome of a grape variety and its terroir.
FCO Verduzzo Friulano 2022 – Valchiarò
The Valchiarò Winery, located in Torreano di Cividale, benefits from a cool, breezy climate ideal for aromatic wines. Founded in 1991 by six small producers from diverse sectors, the company has made significant strides, including the opening of a modern winery in 2006. Their Verduzzo Friulano '22 is rich and complex, with notes of ripe fruit like peach and apricot that merge with honey and barley candy in the finish.
Pass The Cookies! 2023 – Cantina di Lenardo
Massimo di Lenardo’s winery is known for its creative wine names, and Pass the Cookies '23 is no exception. This wine comes from grapes harvested early to preserve freshness and then dried on racks for three months. The result is a convivial delight with aromas of ripe yellow-fleshed fruits and acacia honey.
Colli Euganei Fior d'Arancio Alpianæ 2020 - Vignalta
The Alpianae '20 by Vignalta Winery is an exuberant passito with dynamic and seductive aromas. Over four decades since its founding in Arquà, Padua province, the passion remains evident in every activity. Vignalta boasts 35 hectares of vineyards scattered across the southern area of the Euganean Hills Park, with prestigious exposures like Monte Gemola, where even Chardonnay has shown promise in recent years.
Romagna Albana Passito 2016 - Podere La Berta
Spectacular is an understatement for the Albana Passito '16, featuring a deep golden hue, opulent aromas of panettone, candied fruit, apricot, acacia honey, and resin. On the palate, its sweetness is balanced by vibrant acidity, creating harmony and elegance with a seemingly endless finish. Since 2009, the Poggiali family, represented by brothers Giovanni, Nicolò, and Domenico, has carried forward a journey begun in the 1970s, focused on biodiversity, experience, and territory. Podere La Berta is more than a winery: nestled in the Lamone Valley of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, it’s surrounded by ravines and forests, hosts a restaurant, and transforms into a scenic event venue in summer.
Orvieto Cl. Sup. V.T. Muffa Nobile 2022 – Cantina Palazzone
Complex on the nose with notes of apricot jam and acacia honey, Muffa Nobile '22 from Palazzone Winery offers breadth and volume on the palate, with sweetness balanced by a delightful savoury vein. Giovanni Dubini, a skilled and passionate winemaker, leads this authentic and distinctive Orvieto winery. The emphasis is on traditional grape varieties, ideal for showcasing the Umbrian terroir. Over the years, Palazzone has proven the extraordinary potential of Orvieto wines in terms of quality, longevity, and craftsmanship.
Pantelleria Passito Sentivento 2017 - Abraxas
Finally, the Scudieri family winery impressed with an outstanding lineup during tastings for the Vini d’Italia 2025 guide. Particularly noteworthy was their Sentivento '17, an elegant passito with nuanced aromas of figs, apricot, and dates. It’s fresh, sweet, and delightfully iodised.
Nostalgia for the ruthless critic: nobody writes scathing reviews after dining out anymore
The quiet bar that changed a piece of Rome: the story of Tuba, a beacon of civility and feminism
A Calabrian wine triumphs in the New York Times: among the best of 2024
The 13 best Sauvignon wines from Alto Adige chosen by Gambero Rosso (with the White Wine of the Year)
Loved by the Savoy and frequented by Gozzano: the historic Turin café that grew within a gallery
