The Seasonal Scene
Christmas is nearly here, and she’s gonna be a cracker. This festive online auction is packed with wines that sparkle with personality, stretch the imagination of your summer table, and add a bit of mischief to the stocking. A bonanza of bottles ready to be opened, gifted, cellared, or stashed away for a special moment! Better yet, this cracker of an auction has a reduced Buyers Premium of just 12.5%!
The holidays bring long evenings, full tables, and a steady parade of friends arriving with good cheer. To match the rhythm of the season, this auction is built for generosity, curiosity, and easy enjoyment. You will find festive treasures for every taste and budget, from bright summer sippers through to the kind of classics that make the serious collectors lean in.
The Wines
We open on home soil, first with classic kiwi Bordeaux blends that show quiet ease and confidence. Cabernet Sauvignon shows its hand first, offering dark berry fruit, gentle spice, and that unmistakable cool-climate freshness that brings drinkability even in the warmest weather. Merlot follows in a softer, plumper rhythm, shaped by red plum, cocoa, and the kind of roundness that works happily with glazed ham, barbecued lamb chops, or a long lunch that wanders into the late afternoon. Highlights include multiple bottlings from Te Mata, Providence and Destiny Bay.
Pinot Noir takes its rightful place next. From bright, cherry-lifted Marlborough examples to more savoury, structured expressions from Central Otago these wines carry the sort of charm that makes people lean in for another pour: fine tannins, supple fruit and blissful drinking. If you have nuptial or anniversary celebrations coming up, why not splurge on a large format bottle from Quartz Reef or Rippon!
As always, Pinot is followed by Syrah with deep purple tones, peppery aromatics and generous texture.
Whites keep pace beautifully, with Chardonnay leading the way packed with citrus, orchard fruit and neatly integrated oak… perfect for seafood feasts or roast chicken. Aromatic whites step in with classic kiwi purity… precise Riesling, seductive Pinot Gris and barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc shine through.
Australia features next… Cab Sav from the Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale bring depth, power and elegance while classic Shiraz is the ultimate wine match for a Turkey with all the trimmings on Xmas Day! Look out for multiple vintages of Jim Barry’s classic The Armagh and the super limited (bottle 627 of 1080) Taylors ‘The Legacy’ Cabernet.
As we travel into the old world, we have wonderfully precise cellar aged Rieslings from German superstars like Egon Muller and Willi Schaefer alongside classic Spanish from Rioja and Ribera de Duero including the legendary Vega Silica. Likewise, Italy adds its own flourish with large format jewels like a 3l ‘08 Masetto, Sassicaia in 3 and 6l formats and 3l Ornellaia. These are joined by classic reds from Tuscany, Piedmont and Sicily alongside textured whites and festive Prosecco.
We end our tour of the wine world in France, with a world-class selection including a range of Champagne styles, classic Loire whites and powerful, spicy Rhone reds from names like Pegau, Guigal and Yves Cullieron. Burgundy brings elegance and pedigree… look out for wines from Armand Rousseau, Georges Roumier and AF Gros. Our Bordeaux selection runs the gamut from great value sub-$100 drinking to heavyweights like Cheval Blanc, Latour and the legendary 1945 Laffite.
And we round off the auction with a stunning range of vintage ports, world class scotch and some great value gin, ideal for sunny Sunday sipping.
Perfect Timing For The Festive Season
This Christmas Cracker auction has been timed to ensure your holiday hospitality is absolutely on point. The Auction ends at 8pm on Monday 15 December and will be invoiced and shipped the following day so you have your purchases in the cellar before the holiday break!
And for the impossible-to-buy-for person in your world, do not forget our old school gift certificates. They never fail to delight and they give the lucky recipient the pleasure of choosing their own bottle of joy.
A Note on Provenance and Storage
As always, we champion cellaring conditions that protect the integrity and future value of every bottle. Many of the wines in this catalogue have been stored in purpose-built, climate controlled environments. If you are planning to grow or safeguard your own collection, our team would be delighted to talk through storage options at The Wine Storage Room, we are currently offering one month free storage if you sign up before the end of the year… We’re expecting a warm summer and it pays to protect your investment.
Online Bidding Is Open!
The sale closes Monday 15 December at 8.00 PM. Settle in, explore the lots, and fill your boots with the wines that will carry you through the Christmas season in seriously fine company.
