12 Wines of Christmas: A Sussex Festive Wine Tasting Event

Experience the ultimate Christmas wine tasting at Bolney Wine Estate with our Twelve Wines of Christmas event. Enjoy 12 hand-selected wines, carefully chosen to complement your festive table, in a relaxed, sociable setting. We explain all the details, plus English traditions around the 12 Days of Christmas.

Why “Twelve Wines of Christmas”?

The name Twelve Wines of Christmas is inspired by the traditional 12 Days of Christmas, also known as Christmastide. It’s a festive period running from 25 December (Christmas Day) through 5 January (Twelfth Night), ending with 6 January (Epiphany) when the Magi visited baby Jesus.

The Christian Roots of the 12 Days of Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas originate from Western Christian traditions, including Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant churches.

Festive Traditions Through the Ages

In Tudor England, the twelve days of Christmas were a major holiday period. Work largely stopped, and people focused on feasting, entertainment, and community celebrations. Everyone, rich or poor, would take part in the festivities. People even stopped working for 12 days!

Homes were decorated with evergreens like holly, ivy, bay, and yew to symbolise life and hope during winter. Decorations stayed up for the full twelve days.

Feasting was central. Wealthier households served dishes like roast boar’s head, game pies, marchpane (sweet almond dessert), and generous spiced ale and wine. Even modest homes prepared something special for the season.

Twelfth Night, on 5 January, was often the biggest celebration. A special Twelfth Night cake was baked, sometimes with a dried bean or pea hidden inside. Whoever found it became “king” or “queen” for the evening, leading the games and merriment.

Bringing 12 Days of Yuletide Cheer to West Sussex

Our Twelve Wines of Christmas tasting captures the spirit of the 12 Days of Christmas. Each of the twelve Bolney wines reflects a unique “day” of the season: sparkling wines for celebration, dry whites for festive meals, and rich, winter-warming reds for cosy evenings. Together, they create a tasting as varied and joyful as the twelve days themselves.

A Magical Festive Experience

Your Christmas wine tasting begins with a welcome drink, followed by a guided tasting of twelve exquisite Bolney wines.

• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Price: £45 per person (including welcome drink)

After the tasting, you can purchase the featured hamper of twelve wines, making it easy to stock up for Christmas or share with loved ones.

Event Details

• Launch Date: Friday, 14 November 2025
• When: Fridays at 5.30pm and Saturdays at 11am
• Take Home: A hamper of twelve wines available for purchase at our shop

Book Your Place

Celebrate the festive season with a Christmas wine tasting at Bolney Wine Estate and commemorate the Twelve Magical Days of Christmas. Book now to secure your place — our Christmas events sell out quickly!

Private Bookings

Looking for a unique experience for your team or a special celebration with friends? Private tastings are available for corporate and group bookings. Contact Customer Service on 01444 711 722 to arrange your booking.