Easter is a
special holiday, filled with the promise of spring and renewal. Whether you
celebrate “officially” or not, gathering with family is always on the agenda. And
while the kids hunt for Easter eggs and stuff their cherubic faces with
marshmallow peeps, we’ve got some fresh wine suggestions that will surely put
some springtime in your step!
Wines for Easter Brunch
Easter brunch is quite possibly the most epic early meal of the year. However, the variety of foods on the buffet table can be overwhelming. There are hot cross buns and sticky cinnamon rolls, frittata, quiche, omelets, benny, waffles, French toast, cheese blintzes, and that’s all before you get to the main event.
Honey glazed ham, roast beef, fresh asparagus awaits, alongside glazed carrots, spring radishes, smoked salmon—and if you’ve got room for dessert, we’ll assume you have two stomachs.
As you can well understand, choosing wines to match that variety of food can be challenging. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Easter wine tips and suggestions to help you rise to the occasion!
Best Bet: Sparkling Wine
Everything about Easter is a celebration, and nothing is more celebratory than a cold glass of bubbles. Pair sweet breakfast breads with an off-dry Prosecco (Italy) or a French crémant from Alsace or the Loire Valley.
Coppola Family’s Sofia California sparkling wine is fresh and fruity—and if you’re picnicking, you’ll be happy to know it also comes in cans.
Egg dishes need something a little bit more robust, so don’t be afraid to go big. Splurge on a Blanc de Blancs Champagne; or a traditional method sparkling from California, like Schramsberg, will do nicely on a budget.
White Wines for Easter
Nothing says springtime like a fresh pinot gris. Domestic examples from Oregon are always good, but you can’t go wrong with an Alsatian (France) or pinot gris from New Zealand. The fresh pear aromas and flavors veritably leap out of the glass, and its honeydew melon notes sing through every course.
If smoked salmon is on the menu and you’re feeling a little adventurous, try a pinot gris with a bit of skin contact. Orange wines have slightly savory, oxidative notes that make them a surprisingly good match for cured fish and meats.
Red Wines and Rosé Wines for Easter
There are a few considerations for choosing red wine for your Easter meal. First, most Easter dinners happen early in the day, so you don’t necessarily want a big, heavy, tannic red wine. Even if you usually like a nice cabernet sauvignon, go for something lighter, like pinot noir or gamay.
For the pinot noir, choose a cool-climate version, like one from Oregon or Burgundy (France).
For gamay, the benchmark is Beaujolais, and you’ll find plenty of good value and quality there.
These red wines are easy matches for pretty much anything on your table. They’re lighter-bodied, low in tannin, and if you feel so inclined, you can even chill them a little before serving.
If you can’t decide between white and red, rosé lies somewhere in between. It’s a red wine made like a white wine and is usually served chilled. Rosé’s range from semi-sweet to bone dry. Either would be delightful, but choosing something in the middle range, with around six to eight grams of residual sugar—not too sweet, not too dry—will do best with your Easter feast.
Get ready for Easter family gatherings: order a mixed case today!
