Pairing wine with your holiday meal, whether it be traditional fare or your own twist, is always a challenge. Ham or lamb are traditional choices for Easter meals, but there are always variations. Do yourself a favor and skip trying to pair wine with the sickeningly sweet dishes that end up on the table – nothing works with them, so forget about it.
Do not stress about finding the perfect food-and-drink pairing — the biggest concern is the eclectic crowd. You and a few others are wine or beer fans, but many of your friends and family are timid drinkers. Others may be guzzlers — as long as the pours keep coming, what’s in the glass is of secondary importance. So resist the temptation or sense of obligation to go with the big-price-tag items to celebrate the Easter meal, and stick to modestly priced items with greater crowd appeal. If you ignore this advice, you, too, can enjoy the pleasure of watching your vintage Bordeaux poured over ice with an orange slice. If by some stroke of luck your family is great wine and drink lovers like yourself, break out your best wines or beers, as this is why you save these bottles.
Serving Beverages with Your Easter Meal – Wine
I always look for something fresh and vibrant, avoiding wines that are heavy in alcohol or oak influence, with moderate to no tannins, which are great choices with ham. Lamb, on the other hand, can stand up to sturdy and bold reds.
White Wine – These whites work great with ham and less so with lamb. It’s no wonder varietals like Riesling and Gewürztraminer are often suggested for holiday meals. These wines tend to be lighter in alcohol than your typical Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc and have little to no wood influence. Just be sure the wines are not too sweet; a touch of sweetness is fine, if not desirable.
Chenin Blanc is also a good choice. In France’s Loire Valley region, they make a fine example from the appellation of Vouvray. If you are a Pinot Grigio fan, you are in luck: most examples, especially Italian versions, are ideal for your meal. If you want to be adventurous, you could travel south in Italy to try the lovely whites from Campania. Here we find vibrant, unique wines from varietals such as Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino, Falanghina, and Coda di Volpe. (These may be hard to pronounce at first, but by the time you reach the bottle’s end, you won’t care.) These Campania whites range from $17 to $30 and offer broad appeal.
Rosé Wine – Rosé fits the bill in so many ways. First, it’s the wine of spring. Second, it’s extremely food-friendly, and last but not least, it is appreciated by all who drink wine. Rosé wines are also typically easy on the wallet, with delicious examples being sold from $15 to $30 a bottle.
Red Wine – Keep your red wine choices fresh and fruity. Beaujolais is a great choice, either at the Beaujolais-Village level or one of the appellation’s 10 “cru” level wines (individual villages that are recognized as producing the best wines of the appellation) for something a bit more fancy.
Pinot Noir is a good choice, as it’s often low in tannin and younger/simpler versions are fruit-forward and crowd-pleasing. My huge go-to red is always Côtes du Rhône. There are many to choose from in Côtes du Rhône, priced from $15 to $25 and beyond. These wines are fruit-forward yet complex, with bright, natural acidity, making them ideal for any table.
Sparkling Wine – A good sparkling wine is always welcome, and especially on a festive occasion. With the budget in mind, reach for Prosecco, as its soft, often slightly sweet flavors will work well with the meal. If you are seeking something drier that won’t break the budget, reach for Cava (Spain) or Cremant (France). If you have a small group, don’t be afraid to splurge here, and a nice bottle of Franciacorta will be a hit with everyone. You don’t want to spend any time with people who don’t love sparkling wine and Champagne…
Serving Beverages with Your Easter Meal – Beer
Of course, beer has a place at the table as well. Following the same rules laid out for wine – avoid extremes like overly hoppy or strong beers. Who wants a beer with a singular, intrusive note?
There are many Bocks that are brewed for the Lent season that are perfect for Easter. These beers tend to be rich and high in alcohol, so be careful. I always like Belgian Saison or French Bière de Garde with big meals, as I find these styles satisfying yet quite vibrant.
Easter Lamb
Want to make the perfect leg of lamb for Easter or any day, really? Try our grilled leg of lamb recipe.
Post your Easter meal with beverage pairings.
If you would like to dive deeper into food and wine pairings, may we suggest Be A Beverage Expert (BABE), a guide to understanding wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails.