Festive Chardonnay Saucefor a Christmas Feast

This holiday season, elevate your Christmas table with a luxurious Chardonnay Sauce made with our Winmark Single Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay. Perfect for drizzling over roasted salmon, prawns, or even a festive vegetable medley, this sauce adds a touch of elegance to your holiday spread. With its rich, velvety texture and the bright, nuanced notes of our Chardonnay, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the season.
Ingredients
2 onions, finely chopped
25 g butter
400 ml Winmark Single Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay
400 ml fish stock
½ small bay leaf
3 black peppercorns
400 ml cream
Pinch of salt and pepper
Small bunch of chives, chopped
Method
1.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the finely chopped onions and sweat them until soft and translucent. This step creates a fragrant base for the sauce.
2.
Pour in 400 ml of Winmark Single Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay and add the bay leaf, black peppercorns, and half of the chopped chives. Let it simmer gently, reducing by a third, allowing the Chardonnay’s festive citrus and oak notes to shine.
3.
Stir in the fish stock and continue simmering until the liquid reduces by another third. This step enhances the sauce's depth, perfect for complementing your holiday seafood dishes.
4.
Pour in the cream and simmer until the sauce thickens, reducing by a third again. The creaminess balances the wine's acidity, creating a rich, indulgent texture.
5.
Blend the sauce gently to crush the softened onions, then strain it through a fine sieve for a silky finish. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6.
Stir in the remaining chives just before serving, and for a holiday twist, garnish with fresh cranberries or pomegranate seeds for a pop of Christmas colour. Serve the sauce hot.
This sauce pairs beautifully with seafood, such as roasted salmon or prawns, and is equally delightful over seasonal vegetables like roasted Brussels sprouts or asparagus. Best enjoyed with a glass of Winmark Single Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay, the vibrant notes of the wine harmonise with the sauce’s richness, making your holiday meal truly special.