Top Tips For Pairing Wine With Easter Feasts And Treats

Easter is approaching, and it’s a traditional time for feasting and family get-togethers. From a traditional roast lunch to a more relaxed brunch or simply indulging in chocolate, food is an integral part of Easter celebrations. The right bottle of wine can help you to enjoy these special treats all the more! Here are a few wine pairing suggestions. 

Wine pairings for an Easter roast

A Sunday roast is the classic way to celebrate Easter Day. Wine can help to complement the flavours and textures of the food to perfection.

Roast beef or lamb

Rich red meats pair well with bold red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah/Shiraz. The high tannin content in full-bodied red wines helps to cut through the fattiness of the meat, while the deep fruity and spicy flavours stand up well to the strong taste of roast meat.

Roast chicken or turkey

Chicken or turkey has a lighter flavour and texture to red meat, and it can be paired with lighter wines. Chicken is traditionally paired with white wine, but a rosé or light bodied red could work equally well. Turkey is also a versatile choice: if you are going for white, choose a lightly oaked Chardonnay or a Viognier to complement the flavours. 

Vegetarian dishes

Vegetarian food works well with white or rosé wines. If you are having a roast vegetable dish with a creamy sauce, go for a crisp and fruity Sauvignon blanc to provide a pleasing contrast. Nut or mushroom roasts go well with earthy whites with some oak ageing, such as Pinot Grigio or Sémillon Chardonnay. 

Wines to pair with a casual brunch

Brunch calls for some easy-drinking wines that won’t be too hard on the palate in the earlier hours! Savoury nibbles such as quiche and vegetable tarts pair well with crisp whites such as Chenin blanc, which nicely balances out the richness of the pastry and egg combination. 

Classic brunch dishes such as smoked salmon and eggs benedict are the perfect excuse for the first glass of Champagne or Prosecco of the day! The bubbles and acidic texture contrast with the strong flavours without fighting them. Buttery sweet pastries will go well with a sweeter wine such as Riesling or Muscat. 

Wines to pair with chocolate

The pairing of wine and chocolate is not a traditional one, but it can be done successfully! Rich dark chocolate with a high cocoa content pairs well with red wines such as Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Milk chocolate has a creamy sweetness that is offset beautifully by Ruby Port, Merlot, Zinfandel or Muscat. 

White chocolate pairs well with a border range of wines, because it doesn’t contain cacao (raw cocoa), and therefore doesn’t have a high flavonoid content that can make some wines taste rather bitter. Ideal white chocolate pairings include Beaujolais, Gamay, or Reisling. 

If you would like some further help with your Easter wine selection, contact our wine merchants in Great Missenden today!