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Easter wines…

A typical Easter Sunday lunch of lamb, roasted with garlic and flavoursome herbs such as thyme and rosemary need some feisty wines to complement them is often the choice for Easter meals. Why not seek out some quirky wines to go with a traditional dish.

A great favourite of mine at the moment is a Spanish white wine made from the Godello grape in Galicia. The Lagar de Xestoza Godello has  a refreshing taste that is quite mouthfilling with ripe soft textured fruit. Alternatively, why not try an aromatic Argentinian Torrontes or an Albarino for circa £15 from Spain or a Gruner Veltliner such as that from Seifried Estate in New Zealand. All of these are deliciously refreshing white wines with fruity flavours that complement roast meats.

If you prefer a richer style try blended wine such as oaky Chenin Blanc from South Africa made by the characterful winemaker Jeremy Borg. It is a full flavoured wine made from Chenin Blanc has a lovely textured mouth feel, there is a red wine partner to this, a Pinotage, and has the same appeal of soft velvety fruit that has been carefully oak aged too. The Family Reserve Chenin Blanc from Kleine Zalze is delicious too. Carefully oaked Chardonnay with it’s lovely texture and long flavours such as a Gran Reserva from Chile will be delicious too.

Red wines that should be tried include Rioja, though other Spanish regions produce fantastic wines like the Aurkitu Garnacha  from Navarra, south of Rioja, which is a wonderfully intense wine with bright red fruits, hints of spice and beautiful texture. Barbera from Italy that makes very light refreshing reds such as the great value Ceppi Storici Barbera for or more try a Puglian Primitivo such as the Visconti della Rocca. Still thinking of Italian grape varieties try a Sangiovese Cabernet blend like those from Banfi – the Col di Sasso with lovely savoury cherry notes balanced with blackcurrant Cabernet.

All chocolate including Easter eggs is notoriously difficult to match with wine but there are some that have the same rich smooth mouth coating characteristics that will enhance the flavour of both. Layers of soft textured notes can be found in Australian Cabernets that have been carefully oak-aged, like Ringbolt Cabernet or the fortified Malbec from Zuccardi called Malamado.

If you like the smooth notes of subtle fresh red berries, nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon typical Rioja    then you might like to try Ribera del Duero. The dominant grape variety of these wines is also Tempranillo with additional hints of chocolate and coffee….

Some of the best chocolate and wine matches are made with naturally sweet red dessert wines such as the Rasteau from Domaine de Beaurenard which is one of my favourites or a fortified Pineau des Charentes from Domaine de Beaulon.

Delicious with quality chocolate Easter eggs and coffee at any time not just to round off Sunday lunch!