Taittinger Brut Réserve Magnum

Let’s start with a classic shall we? Pricey vintages are all well and good for serious celebrations but, if all you really want is to curl up in front of The Holiday with a glass of something delicious that doesn’t demand too much attention, you can’t really go wrong with a bottle of Tatt. A blend of 35 Grand or Premier Cru parcels, it sports an aroma of hawthorn, acacia and vanilla brioche with notes of peach and apricot and a long biscuity finish on the palate. A quintessential champagne that can make even the most low-key of evenings feel glamorous – especially when drunk from the magnum.

Perrier-Jouet Blanc de Blancs

With its clear bottle, elegantly artistic Belle Époque label and golden hue, there’s just something incredibly sophisticated and grown-up about Perrier-Jouet’s Blanc de Blancs champagne. Made, as the Blanc de Blancs name requires, from white grapes alone, the flavour profile is crisp and refined with notes of lilac, apricot and elderflower balanced with a hint of Sichuan pepper. You’ll find few better companions for your Christmas canapes.

Moët & Chandon Collection Impériale Creation No. 1

Okay, so you might not actually save any money if you swap an evening in the pub for a bottle of Moët & Chandon Collection Impériale Creation No. 1 but, trust us, you’ll be getting a lot more bang for your buck. Released to mark the 280th anniversary of the champagne house, and the first of three ‘cuvées d’exception’ that will be created in the run-up to Moët’s 300th birthday, this rare, multi-vintage prestige cuvée is a real collector’s item.

In the bottle, cellar master Benoît Gouez has blended seven different vintages, with the final product drawing on the unique advantages of each. From the freshness of 2013 and liveliness of 2000 to the boldness of 2006 and the legendary elegance of 2012, this brut nature champagne is truly a work of art. Get yours before they’re gone.

Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé limited edition

What’s better than a bottle of rosé champagne? A bottle of rosé champagne that looks this pretty. Lively and fresh on the palate with a gorgeous aroma of freshly-picked berries, Laurent-Perrier has dressed its classic cuvée rosé up for the festive season in a bottle that’s almost too beautiful to pop open. Almost.

Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Second Skin 2010

Ruinart champagne has long been favoured both for what’s inside the bottle and the unique wraps outside it. In celebration of its 2010 Blanc de Blancs vintage, Ruinart has taken the innovation one step further, recasting its classic wrap in 100 per cent paper chalk. Drawing inspiration from the chalk cellars at the Ruinart vineyards in Reims, the geometric design is completely free from plastic and will look utterly striking on any home bar.

Lanson Le Rosé Création

Prefer your fizz to be of the rosé variety? Often slighter sweeter than their brut counterparts, take care to make sure your chosen tipple doesn’t stray into demi-sec territory. The Lanson vineyard has been producing elegant, easy-drinking champagnes since 1760, boasting a wealth of expereince and expertise that has made it one of the region’s leading wineries. Its Le Rosé Création champagne is brimming with fruity elegance. Delicious.

Krug Grande Cuvée 170ème Édition Magnum

When the party gets too noisy or boring or aromatically unpleasant (there’s always someone spraying their freshly gifted aftershave about with far too much abandon) then retreat to the master bedroom, wedge a chair up against the door, turn the lights out and travel to a softer, kinder, generally more life-affirming place with the help of Krug. Having long celebrated a connection with life’s more artistic pursuits, there is perhaps nothing better to get lost in a good book with than a glass of this effervescent vintage.

Veuve Clicquot Brut NV with puffy bottle holder

Champagne always makes a great gift but the good folks over at Veuve Clicquot have taken it one step further this season. Putting the house’s signature Yellow Label Brut centre stage, instead of a destined-for-the-bin gift box, it comes housed in a padded bottle holder complete with zipped compartments and a shoulder strap perfect for picnics and decadent Boxing Day walks.

Pommery Brut Royal

Add a regal touch to your wine cabinet this Christmas with Pommery’s Royal Brut. Capturing the essence of the French maison’s refined style, this bottle has been crafted with chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes handpicked from 40 selected villages in the Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims and other areas in the Champagne region. As the world’s second largest champagne house and Europe’s leading wine grower, Pommery is a fail-safe serve to sip this Christmas – and the gorgeous royal blue packaging makes it a gift guaranteed to impress too.

1086 by Nyetimber 2013

Nyetimber, the West Sussex vineyard that put English sparkling wine on the map, is celebrating its heritage with this ode to perhaps the most famous moment in British history. A 2013 vintage, it’s one of the absolute best in show for UK sparkling whites with a supple body, achingly smooth texture and a fresher mouthfeel that makes it a perfect pre-dinner tipple. Absolutely outstanding.