I make the same mistake every single year. And that mistake it this: I underprepare. “How is that possible, Hannah?” you may well be asking. “You’re a wine writer with presumably dozens of half-drunk bottles in your flat at any given time?” It’s because I spend Christmas with my parents, who live about two hours away by train, and there’s no way I’m risking the spill of any bottles on EMR.
So, I usually bring up three or so bottles that are always in the recycling bin by Christmas Eve. What I really need to do is not leave things to the last minute, and instead order ahead. And not just for Christmas dinner, either, but for every moment of the day. From the opening of presents to the falling asleep in front of the umpteenth viewing of The Good Life Christmas special, each instance calls for something entirely different to meet the moment.
