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Wine Inspiration for Easter

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. Well known grape varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier produce some possible accompanying wines but there are also many others that are really worth seeking out.

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 look for a great value Pecorino (same as the cheese) from Italy such as Caparrone Pecorino, Chilean unoaked Chardonnay such as Viu Manent Reserva for only £9.99, Spanish Lusco Albarino for circa £15 or a Gruner Veltliner from Seifried Estate in New Zealand. All of these are deliciously refreshing dry white wines with fulsome 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.

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 that is traditionally used to produce Chianti but go for the Australian version. It still has the lovely savoury cherry notes with some acidity but with an enveloping roundness from the riper grapes that Coriole for example use to produce their Sangiovese in McLaren Vale.

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, a great example is the Wirra Wirra RSW and Ringbolt Cabernet.

It’s World Malbec Day on Easter Sunday and the Malamado fortified Malbec is great with chocolate and thus a must for Easter! As are many of the delicious Argentinian Malbecs found on the wine shelves. They offer great value too, as do wines based on the Bonarda grape that are increasingly available. Some of the best chocolate and wine matches are made with naturally sweet red dessert wines such as the Rasteau from Domaine de Beaurenard 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!

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