On the Wine Side - Easter Celebrations! Fri, Mar 27, 2026 It's almost Easter! Time to think about wines that pair particularly well with traditional dishes like roast ham or lamb, or maybe salmon, and certainly spring vegetables like asparagus and peas, and of course...eggs! So, where to start? There are so many wines that pair wonderfully with these foods. If ham will be your centerpiece, think a lighter-bodied, fruiter style red, like a Pinot Noir or Garnacha. The Fog Mountain Pinot Noir is currently a Triple Point wine. The label on the lovely Granite Hill Pinot Noir has a small bouquet on it, which is nice this time of year. A favorite Pinot Noir of mine is one we tried in a Wine Education class earlier this month - the 2023 Pinot Noir Classique from Forge Cellars. The Real de Aragon Garnacha from Spain is excellent. Some white wines that will complement ham include Riesling and Chardonnay. Check out the Carl Sittman Riesling, which is currently a Triple Point wine. Or go with something a bit dryer, like the Dry Riesling from Thirsty Owl or Dr. Frank. The Semi-Dry Riesling from Treleaven has a beautiful arrangement of flowers on its label. On the Chardonnay side, the Long Barn is a solid choice - plush and fruity but not too buttery. Or try the Granite Hill, with is sprig of flowers on the label. Or try Wente's Morning Fog Chardonnay - a Wine Enthusiast "Best Buy" and Wine Spectator "Top 10 Value of 2025." Roast lamb pairs beautifully with a lighter-bodied red, as well, so any of the Pinots suggested above, or the Garnacha, would be wonderful. If you're looking for more layers, try an Italian Barolo like the Vajra Albe, or the Verga Montepulciano that's a Triple Point wine now. The Greeks eat a lot of lamb; how about the Gaia Notios, an enchanting Agiorgitiko-Syrah blend? My way of thinking about pairings - and celebratory meals - is that I don't want the wine to make the foods taste funny in some way, and vice versa. It is important to think about the pairings, but it's also important to drink what makes you happy. In other words, don't get too worked up about it. Here are some other solid choices that will work well for Easter - and the days and weeks before and after, too. A home-run selection for Easter, whether it's for your gathering or as a gift, is the 3-pack of wines from Natale Verga. They all have beautiful labels with flowers on them, and they come in a box with some of those same flowers - a terrific package of very nice wines. The wines are a Pinot Grigio from Valdadige (a select growing area for these grapes); a Gavi (a zesty white made from the Cortese grape); and a Barbera D'Alba (a medium-bodied, layered, dry red with notes of dark red fruits, violets, and a hint of chocolate on the finish). These wines can mix and match with any foods on your Easter table. Sparkling Wine - you can never go wrong with bubbles. And a rose sparking wine is especially lovely for Easter, with its soft pink coloring that's a perfect pastel shade for this time of year. The Monmousseau Cremant Brut Rosé from the Loire Valley is tres bon, as is the classic Chandon Brut Rosé from California. Rosé - another food-friendly and color-appropriate wine to enjoy with Easter and to welcome warmer weather, when a rosé on a summer night is something to look forward to. Rosés are crisp and bright, but tempered by hints of red fruit notes like strawberry. The Bonterra Rosé is a Wine Class favorite - and organic. Another can't-go-wrong rosé is the Chateau d'Haurets from Bordeaux. So pretty and pink! Sweet Wine - Candies and cakes are an essential part of East (or any!) meal. To go with dessert, consider something decadent like the Duck Walk Vineyards Blueberry Port (so good with cheesecake or chocolate!), or the Honig Napa Valley Rutherford Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc with its sumptuous aromas and flavors of baked apple, dried apricot, orange blossom and toasted almonds. If the Easter Bunny is listening, I'll take a bottle of each of these suggestions!! Cheers! By Dominique De Vito
