The best wines for New Year's Eve 2024/2025: from Champagne to raclette wine. Concrete recommendations for every budget and every course of your New Year's menu.
New Year's Eve is just around the corner and you are wondering which wine suits the occasion? Whether for the midnight toast, raclette with friends or as an elegant companion to a festive menu — the right wine selection makes the difference between a good and an unforgettable New Year's night.
In this guide I will show you which wines go with which New Year's classics, give you concrete recommendations for every budget and share insider tips for a perfect start to the new year. Because one thing is certain: with the right wines, your New Year's Eve party will be the highlight.
Let's make sure not only the fireworks but also the corks go off with a bang!
The midnight toast is more than just a custom — it is a ritual symbolising community and hope. In the 19th century, Champagne became the global drink for special occasions. Between 1850 and 1900, Champagne consumption in the USA quadrupled, and by the end of the 19th century it was served at almost every party.
Why sparkling wine? Originally Sekt and Champagne were only affordable for the wealthy. Average earners could only afford these fine wines on special occasions — like New Year's Eve. This tradition has persisted to this day, even though excellent sparkling wines are now available for every budget.
When midnight comes and rockets light up the sky, people around the world are united in the hope for a better year. The sparkling wine is more than just a drink — it is a symbol of joy and new beginnings.
You do not need to dig deep into your pockets for good sparkling wine. In this price range you will find excellent alternatives:
Prosecco:
Cava:
German sparkling wine:
This is where things get really interesting. For this price you get quality that impresses even connoisseurs:
Champagne:
German estate sparkling wine:
Crémant de Bourgogne:
For those who want something truly special for the new year:
Champagne:
Prestige estate sparkling:
For pregnant guests, drivers or anyone choosing not to drink:
Raclette and fondue are the quintessential New Year's Eve dishes. But which wine goes with cheese, meat and all the accompaniments?
The traditional choice with cheese is white wine, and for good reason: the acidity cuts through the fat and makes everything more digestible.
Swiss classics:
German recommendations:
Rule for cheese dishes: choose light, fruity wines without barrique ageing and with moderate acidity. They should have enough acidity to balance the fat, but not so much that they overwhelm the cheese.
Concrete recommendations:
If your raclette includes plenty of meat, or if you are serving a meat fondue, fruity reds with low tannins are ideal:
Important: Avoid heavy, tannic reds and heavily oaked wines. They dominate and make the combination feel heavy.
Concrete recommendations:
If you opt for a multi-course dinner instead of raclette, here is the wine pairing:
Start with a sparkling wine to welcome your guests:
After many years of New Year's Eve celebrations, I have learnt a few tricks:
Tip 1: Store cool, not ice-cold The ideal serving temperature for sparkling wine is between 6 and 12 degrees Celsius. The simpler the sparkling wine, the cooler it should be. Premium Champagne develops its full aroma at 8 to 10 degrees.
Tip 2: Open properly without a bang For the midnight toast a pop is fine, but when serving before dinner you should open the bottle quietly. Hold the cork firmly and turn the bottle — not the other way around. A gentle hiss is ideal.
Tip 3: The right glass Forget the flat Champagne coupes — they let the bubbles escape too quickly. Tulip-shaped glasses or flutes preserve the perlage and concentrate the aromas.
Tip 4: Quantity planning Per person I calculate:
Tip 5: Wine for New Year's Day Plan a light wine for New Year's Day. After a late night, a Riesling Kabinett or a light rosé is perfect with a recovery brunch.
Tip 6: Avoid mixing Stick to one direction: either sparkling wine all evening or switch completely to still wines after midnight. Constantly switching back and forth between sparkling and still wines leads to a headache more quickly.
When to buy:
Where to buy:
Budget suggestion for 10 people:
Mistake 1: Serving Champagne too cold Even the finest Champagne loses its aroma if it comes from the freezer. Two hours in the fridge or 20 minutes in an ice bucket is enough.
Mistake 2: Sparkling wine with raclette Bubbles and cheese do not mix well. Switch to still wine after the toast.
Mistake 3: Not buying enough More is drunk on New Year's Eve than expected. Better two bottles too many than too few.
Mistake 4: Opening all bottles too early Sparkling wine loses its bubbles quickly once opened. Open bottles only just before serving.
Mistake 5: Wrong glass Small shot or liqueur glasses for sparkling wine? Please no. Invest in proper sparkling wine glasses — they make all the difference.
After the party comes the clear-up. Here are a few eco-friendly tips:
The perfect New Year's Eve wine does not exist — it depends on your plans:
For the big party: Go for solid basic sparkling wines and Prosecco (€6 to €10) in larger quantities. Quality does not have to be expensive.
For an intimate dinner: Invest in 2 to 3 special bottles (€20 to €40). A good estate sparkling wine or Crémant de Bourgogne makes more of an impression than mediocre Champagne.
For the midnight toast: This is the moment for something special. A genuine Champagne (€30 to €50) or premium estate sparkling (€20 to €30) makes the moment unforgettable.
With raclette: Swiss Chasselas or German Silvaner/Pinot Gris (€10 to €15). Fruity, fresh, without oak.
My personal New Year's Eve favourite? A good Crémant de Bourgogne for the toast (€12), a fruity Pinot Gris from the Palatinate with the raclette (€12) and at midnight a bottle of Lanson Black Label Champagne (€38) shared with my nearest and dearest. That is how you start the new year in style!
Cheers and a very Happy New Year! May 2025 be filled with great wines and even better moments.
Classically, a sparkling wine for the midnight toast: Prosecco or Crémant from 10 euros, German Winzersekt, or Champagne such as Lanson Black Label (approx. 38 euros) for the big moment. With raclette afterwards, it's best to switch to a fresh still wine.
In the budget class, Doppio Passo Prosecco (approx. 10 euros), Crémant d'Alsace Wolfberger Brut (approx. 10 euros), Cava from Penedès, or German Sekt such as Fürst von Metternich Riesling (approx. 8 euros) impress. So good sparkling wine doesn't have to be expensive.
With melted cheese, drink white wine with moderate acidity and no barrique: Swiss Chasselas, Franconian Silvaner, Grauburgunder, or Weißburgunder (10 to 15 euros). The acidity cuts through the fat. With plenty of meat, fruity, low-tannin red wines such as Spätburgunder or Zweigelt work well.
6 to 12 degrees Celsius is ideal: the simpler the sparkling wine, the cooler. Premium Champagne unfolds its aroma at 8 to 10 degrees. Don't serve straight from the freezer, as that destroys the aroma. Two hours in the fridge or 20 minutes in an ice bucket is enough.
About 2 glasses of sparkling wine (0.3 litres) per person for toasting, plus around 0.5 litres of wine with the meal. Always plan for a reserve, because more is drunk on New Year's Eve than expected. For 10 people, the budget is about 130 to 190 euros.
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