Christmas Crossword 2018: solution and winners

The Bubble Brothers Christmas crossword 2018 was good fun all round. We enjoyed setting it, and the word on Wine Street is that it was an enjoyable challenge—just about right.

Thanks to everyone who joined in and had a go. We've drawn a winning entry as in the past, using a random number generator, from the fully correct crosswords received before the deadline last night.
  • The bottle of André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut goes to: Caoimhín Vallely
Congratulations! We'll be in touch shortly to make arrangements for that very nice bottle of champagne.

One for everyone in the audience…

It was a bit more difficult than last year to fit wrong answers into the grid, though some entrants managed it. So there were one or two not entirely correct solutions submitted. But humbug! to Scrooge. Everyone who entered in the appropriate spirit will receive an e-mail with a voucher for five euro to spend in our shops. And in case you've been wondering, here are the answers. If any of them still don't make sense to you, get in touch and we'll gladly supply an explanation. solution to Bubble Brothers 2018 Christmas crossword competition
  • ACROSS
  • 1. A confused feat of cheesemaking (4)
  • FETA
  • 3. I've Mr Dipso in a muddle: it's made up as you go along (10)
  • IMPROVISED
  • 10.Taverns (9)
  • ALEHOUSES
  • 11. Alkaline—it's elementary (5)
  • BASIC
  • 12. Town on the Vienne river, famous for Cabernet Franc (6)
  • CHINON
  • 13. Galician white wine, and its grape (8)
  • ALBARINO
  • 15. No diphthong for this wine expert (9)
  • ENOLOGIST
  • 16. Roasting not far from Ballincollig? (5)
  • OVENS
  • 17. A kind of anticipatory breath (5)
  • BATED
  • 19. Evidence of reindeer? (9)
  • HOOFMARKS
  • 23. So jammy—keep a lid on it (8)
  • CONSERVE
  • 25. Irish province otherwise known as mac (6)
  • ULSTER
  • 27. I hear Carol's are Christmas ones (5)
  • HYMNS
  • 28. Roughly speaking, a great place for German wines (9)
  • RHINELAND
  • 29. Derry rebel turns out to be senior fruit (10)
  • ELDERBERRY
  • 30. One of eight under the goldie fish (4)
  • BELL
  • DOWN
  • 1. She said yes (7)
  • FIANCEE
  • 2. O, strive! for the home of Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG (7)
  • TREVISO
  • 4. An agglomeration at midnight (4)
  • MASS
  • 5. About the answer? It's on my list for the New Year (9)
  • RESOLUTION
  • 6. A trembling in the voice, maybe in 27 across (7)
  • VIBRATO
  • 7. Japanese rice dish (5)
  • SUSHI
  • 8. They have their PhD (7)
  • DOCTORS
  • 9. Sounds like Santa—what a laugh! (2,2,2)
  • HOHOHO
  • 14. Light, fresh wine from northern Portugal (5, 5)
  • VINHOVERDE
  • 17. Ecstatic followers of the wine god (7)
  • BACCHAE
  • 18. Shows off ware, or wear when snappy (7)
  • DRESSER
  • 20. The Côt or Auxerrois grape, by another name (6)
  • MALBEC
  • 21. What you sometimes do with your steps (7)
  • RETRACE
  • 22. D'result can be sugar-coated if carefully mixed (7)
  • STRUDEL
  • 24. One of the Qashqai or Tuareg (5)
  • NOMAD
  • 26. Sounds chilly in Co. Offaly (4)
  • BIRR