Easter Wine Pairing Guide
This article was originally posted in April 2020.
Pairing wines with an Easter meal can seem daunting. The table often features lighter meats like honey-baked ham, roast chicken, or lamb and a wealth of bright spring vegetables alongside heartier fare like mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. Throw in the fact that many of us take our big Easter Sunday celebration as a brunch or lunch, and choosing a wine that feels both seasonally and palette appropriate can be downright tricky.
To help ease that Easter anxiety, we searched out the best bottles to serve at your celebration—no matter what's gracing the table.
Lamb
Roasted or grilled, lamb is great with a rich Cab or a big Zinfandel. Lamb is strong in flavor and supports tannic, full-bodied red wines. Whether it is a mild spring day or a little bit chilly, these styles are a great option.
Glazed Ham
Ham calls for a Pinot Noir. Glazed ham is synonymous with sweet-and-sour flavors, and we love a red wine with low tannins and high acid. If it has cherry fruit on the nose and a little spice on the palate, then it will leave liberty for whatever garnish you offer.
Roasted Chicken
A lighter style of red wine could be appropriate, like Gamay, but a great white wine would be nice, too. Chardonnay has the perfect balance of toasty notes and crisp freshness. It’s a very good example of a white wine that holds up to roasted poultry.
Roasted Veggies
A few clean white grape varieties come to mind: Verdicchio, Vermentino, Albariño and Grüner Veltliner. You’re looking for a crisp, clean white.
Lemon Tart or Lemon Meringue Pie
You’re looking for a Muscat full of zippy citrus, vibrant acidity, and something that will support the lemon creaminess.