Easter Wine Guide: Perfect Pairings for Your Easter Feast

Seasonal Guide18 March 2026

Easter is one of those brilliant occasions where the food takes centre stage - and let's be honest, choosing the right wines to go with it can make the whole celebration even better. Whether you're cooking up a traditional roast lamb, glazing a ham, or serving something a bit different, we've put together this guide to help you pick wines that'll complement your Easter feast perfectly.

Roast Lamb with Rosemary & Garlic

The classic Easter centrepiece. Lamb's rich, slightly gamey flavour and those aromatic herbs call for a wine with enough body and character to stand up to it.

Our picks:

Izadi Rioja Reserva 2020 - £21.90 S / £19.90 M6

This is a cracking match for roast lamb. It's got that lovely balance of ripe blackberry and redcurrant fruit with just the right amount of toasty oak. The earthy undertones and subtle hints of tobacco and liquorice work beautifully with lamb, while the wine's roundedness matches perfectly with the richness of the meat. Plus, at under £14, it's seriously good value for a reserva.

Contino Reserva, Rioja 2020 - £25.90 S / £23.90 M6

If you're after something a bit more special, this Rioja Reserva is impressive stuff. Dark cherries, plums, and a touch of spice, with smooth tannins and real elegance. The oak ageing brings depth without overpowering the fruit, making it ideal for lamb with all the trimmings. It's the sort of wine that makes Easter dinner feel like a proper occasion.

Amalaya Malbec 2024 - £17.50 S / £15.50 M6

For something from further afield, this Argentine Malbec is spot on. Rich, smooth, and wonderfully rounded with velvety tannins. The ripe blackcurrant fruit, oak spice, and hints of liquorice and mint complement roasted lamb brilliantly, especially if you've got some garlic and herbs in the mix.

Honey-Glazed Ham

Sweet, salty, and absolutely delicious. The glaze on a good Easter ham needs a wine that can match its sweet-savoury balance without overwhelming it.

Our picks:

Roaring Meg Pinot Gris 2024 - £17.90 S / £15.90 M6

This New Zealand Pinot Gris from Central Otago is brilliant match for honey-glazed ham. Off-dry with rich apricot, peach, melon, and a touch of spice, it mirrors the sweetness of the glaze beautifully while the well-controlled acidity cuts through the richness of the ham. Fuller-bodied than Riesling but elegant with it - a really satisfying pairing.

Percheron Chenin Blanc Viognier 2025 - £8.90 S / £7.90 M6

For something a bit different and seriously good value, this South African blend is a gem. The old-vine Chenin Blanc brings freshness and stone fruit character while the Viognier adds a lovely floral, aromatic lift. Juicy apricot and white peach on the nose, refreshing on the palate, with just enough body to stand up to the ham. Brilliant value.

Rosé alternative: A chilled, fruity rosé works brilliantly too - the slight berry fruit character and a fresh acidity is ace with ham.

Seafood Starters

Prawn cocktail, smoked salmon, or dressed crab - seafood starters are an Easter favourite for many families.

Our picks:

Orballo Albariño, Rias Baixas 2024 - £18.90 S / £16.90 M6

This is what Alberiño does best - zesty, refreshing, with lovely weight on the palate. Fresh herbs, lemon and a juicy hit of melon and peach, all balanced by zippy acidity and a touch of minerality. perfect with prawns or any shellfish, really.

El Camarón Albariño 2024 - £18.50 S / £16.50 M6

If you like a bit of salinity with your seafood (and who doesn't?), this one from vineyards right by the Atlantic is spot on. Bright citrus with hints of nectarine and a touch of nutmeg, but it's that mineral, almost saline character that makes it sing with shellfish.

Sparkling option: Any dry sparkling wine - from Prosecco to Cava to Champagne - works brilliantly with seafood starters. The bubbles and acidity cut through rich sauces like Marie Rose while complementing the delicate flavours of the seafood.

Spring Vegetables & Salads

Fresh asparagus, new potatoes, peas and crisp salads bring lightness to the Easter table and deserve wines that won't overpower them.

Our picks:

Turckheim Reserve Riesling 2022 - £17.90 S / £15.90 M6

This Alsace Riesling has that slightly fuller body that works well with spring veg, especially asparagus (notoriously tricky to pair). Bright lime and white peach with a streak of minerality, it echoes the fresh, green flavours without overwhelming them.

The Courtesan Riesling, Clare Valley 2022 - £15.90 S / £14.90 M6

Super lemon and lime fresh - this Australian Riesling is mouth-watering stuff. The bright, crisp citrus character and clean finish work beautifully with fresh salads and spring vegetables, especially those dressed with vinaigrette.

Chocolate Desserts & Easter Eggs

Because Easter wouldn't be Easter without chocolate. Whether it's a rich chocolate tart or just cracking into those Easter eggs, wine can still play a part.

Our picks:

Fonseca 10 Year Old Tawny Port - £39.50 S / £35.50 M6

Candied orange peel dipped in dark chocolate, toasted hazelnuts, and a touch of warm spice - this tawny port is gorgeous with dark chocolate desserts. Serve it slightly chilled alongside deeply dark chocolate and you're onto a winner.

Fonseca Crusted Port - £26.90 S / £24.90 M6

For something a bit more special, this unfined port has layers of intense berry fruit, plum, and cherry with smooth tannins. The deep richness works brilliantly with chocolate torte or crème brûlée. Decant first to leave the crust behind.

For milk chocolate: Try something like a Moscato or a sweet Madeira - the lighter, sweeter style complements milk chocolate better than the more robust ports.

Easter Brunch & Toasts

Don't forget the start of the day! Easter brunch deserves something special too.

Sparkling wines are perfect for Easter morning - whether you're doing a full brunch spread or just raising a glass before dinner. They work with everything from smoked salmon and scrambled eggs to hot cross buns with butter.

Top tip: Keep a few bottles of Prosecco or Cava in the fridge for mid-morning Buck's Fizz. It's Easter, after all.

How Much Wine Should You Buy?

A quick guide to quantities:

For 6-8 people: Plan on about 1 bottle per 2 people for the meal (so 3-4 bottles), plus extras for pre-dinner drinks and digestifs.
If serving multiple courses: Add an extra bottle or two for variety
Easter weekend: Don't forget Friday and Monday - you might want wine for those meals too
Better to have extra: Leftover wine is never a problem, and you can always use our mixed 6 discount

Top Tips for Easter Wine Pairing

Think about the sauce and seasoning as much as the main ingredient - a mint sauce on lamb? Consider something with a bit more freshness. Heavy gravy? Go fuller-bodied.
Don't be afraid to serve both red and white - variety keeps things interesting, and different people have different preferences.
Chill your whites and rosés properly – 45-50°F (7-10°C) is ideal. Too cold and you'll miss the flavours; too warm and they'll taste flabby.
Let reds breathe for 20-30 minutes before serving – especially those Riojas and Malbecs. Just open them when you sit down for starters and they'll be perfect by the time the lamb arrives.
When in doubt, Champagne or sparkling wine goes with almost everything! – there's a reason it's called the most versatile wine in the world.
Serve lighter wines before heavier ones – start with sparkling or white for starters, move to red for mains, finish with sweet wines or port for dessert.
Don't stress too much – wine pairing isn't an exact science. If you like it with your food, it's a good pairing. These are just suggestions to help you along.

Serving Temperatures

Getting the temperature right makes a massive difference:

Sparkling wines: 6-8°C (straight from the fridge)
White wines: 7-10°C (20-30 minutes out of the fridge)
Light reds: 12-14°C (slight chill, so pop them in the fridge for 20 minutes) -Full-bodied reds: 16-18°C (room temperature, but not too warm – British room temperature, not Mediterranean!)
Port & sweet wines: 12-14°C (slightly chilled brings out the freshness)

Our Easter Wine Collections

Not sure where to start? We've put together a few suggestions to make it easy:

The Traditional Easter Selection:

2 bottles of Izadi Rioja Reserva (for the lamb)
1 bottle of Framingham Classic Riesling (for the ham)
1 bottle of Orballo Albariño (for seafood starters)
1 bottle of Fonseca 10 Year Tawny Port (for chocolate)
1 bottle of Prosecco (for Easter morning)

The Show-Stopper Selection:

2 bottles of Contino Reserva Rioja (impressive with lamb)
1 bottle of The Courtesan Riesling (fantastic with spring veg)
1 bottle of El Camarón Albariño (perfect for shellfish)
1 bottle of Fonseca Crusted Port (special dessert wine)
1 bottle of Champagne (because why not?)

The Value Selection:

2 bottles of Vega del Rayo Rioja (juicy, easy-drinking red)
1 bottle of Villa Wolf Dry Riesling (brilliant value German white)
1 bottle of Benjamin Malbec (smooth, fruity alternative to Rioja)
1 bottle of Prosecco (for toasts and brunch)

Final Thoughts

Whatever you're serving this Easter, we've got wines to match. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself - Easter's about celebrating with family and friends, and good wine just makes it better.

Pop into the shop and we'll happily talk you through the options, or browse online and add to your basket, and don't forget our mixed 6 discount - you save money and get to try more wines. Win-win.

Happy Easter, and cheers!

All wines subject to availability. Prices correct at time of publication. Mixed 6 price applies when you buy any 6 bottles.

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