Rutherglen Estates general manager Marc Scalzo said sparkling shiraz complemented Christmas fare and suited the warmer weather.

“Sparkling shiraz is really growing in popularity as the drink of choice this year for Christmas lunch,” he said.

“The Italian white varietals are also becoming really popular such as the arneis, fiano and pinot grigio.

“And you can’t go past Classic Muscat with dessert for its richness.”​

King Valley winery La Cantina winemaker Peter Corsini said their most popular wine variety ahead of Christmas was saperavi.

He said wine lovers had favoured their rosato – a sangiovese rose – this summer.

“People are looking for pinot grigio or rosato, something lighter in style and chilled in the warmer weather,” he said.

Scion Wines winemaker Rowly Milhinch said fortified wines complemented traditional Christmas fare but delicate, white wine styles had been popular.

“We’ve seen a huge demand for dry, delicate, white wines,” he said.

“For us it’s been our rose and our Blonde (dry, aromatic white muscat).”