Easter is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start planning your Easter feast! This year, why not try some new Easter dinner wine pairings? We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite combinations to help get you started. From sweet and savory dishes to classic Easter wines, we have something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and let us show you how to celebrate Easter with style!

Easter Food and Wine Pairings

Some of our favorite dishes to match with wine are traditional Easter Sunday dinner. The salty flavor of traditional roasts and ham makes them ideal candidates for fruit-forward wines, which may help to freshen the palette. The flavor of lamb, on the other hand, is more suited to wines with heavier tannins and greater secondary notes. Many popular Easter dinner sides pair beautifully with a variety of wines and don’t forget the dessert! This opens a wide range of pricing and geography options for pairing, which makes Easter a fun time to try new wines for both sommeliers and casual wine enthusiasts alike.

Baked Honey Ham

When combining white wine with a honey-glazed ham, pick a varietal with ripe fruit undertones that can withstand the sweetness of honey. If you don’t, the honey will overpower the wine and make it appear more acidic and drier than light and fruity. For this reason, the grassy, herbal notes of Sauvignon Blanc are the perfect complement to the Easter ham.

Shop RayLen Vineyard’s 2020 Sauvignon Blanc

Pork Roast

Pork and pinot noir are a match made in heaven. The wine’s structure of bright acidity and medium tannins complement both the lean and fattier cuts of pork. In terms of fruit, the light profile of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry scents fades into the natural sweetness and savoriness of the pork.

Lamb

Lamb pairs well with wines that have high tannin levels and secondary notes. The tannins will help to cut through the fat of the lamb, while the secondary notes will add complexity to the dish. Cabernet Sauvignon is a great choice for Easter lamb. The wine’s dark fruit flavors and firm tannins will stand up to the rich flavor of the meat.

Shop RayLen Vineyard’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

Easter Sides

Easter dinner wouldn’t be complete without a few traditional side dishes. Mashed potatoes, green beans, and carrots are all classics that pair well with a variety of wines.

Mashed Potatoes

For mashed potatoes, we recommend a Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc. The creamy texture of the potatoes will balance out the acidity of these wines.

Shop RayLen Vineyard’s 2019 Reserve Barrel Chardonnay

Green Beans

Green beans go well with lighter-bodied reds like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais Nouveau. The wine’s acidity will help to cut through the richness of the dish.

Carrots

Carrots can be paired with either a white or red wine, depending on how they are prepared. If you are serving honey glazed carrots, we suggest matching them with a Riesling.

Shop RayLen Vineyard’s 2019 Riesling

Easter Dessert

When it comes to Easter dessert, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the sweetness of the wine should be in balance with the sweetness of the dish. Second, the wine should have enough body to stand up to richer desserts like chocolate Easter eggs or cheesecake. And lastly, you want a wine that will complement the flavors of your Easter dessert without overpowering them.

Chocolate Easter Eggs

For chocolate Easter eggs, we recommend a dessert wine like Port or Madeira. These wines are rich and sweet, with enough body to stand up to the chocolate. They also have flavors that complement the chocolate, such as dried fruits and nuts.

Shop RayLen Vineyard’s Caravel Dessert Wine

Cheesecake

When pairing wine with cheesecake, it’s important to find a balance between the sweetness of the wine and the richness of the cheesecake. We recommend a Sauternes or other dessert wine with flavors of honey and stone fruits.

Shop RayLen Vineyard’s Caravel Dessert Wine

Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns are a Easter staple in many parts of the world. These spiced buns are usually served with a sweet glaze, making them a perfect match for a dessert wine.

Riesling is a great choice for hot cross buns. The wine’s sweetness will balance out the spices in the bun, and its acidity will cut through the sweetness of the glaze.

Shop RayLen Vineyard’s 2019 Riesling

Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is another Easter dessert that can be paired with a variety of wines. For a classic carrot cake, we recommend a Riesling or Gewürztraminer. These wines have enough sweetness to balance out the spices in the cake, and their acidity will help to cut through the richness of the frosting.

Shop RayLen Vineyard’s 2019 Riesling

Easter Wine Pairings

If you’re looking for a wine pairing for your Easter dinner or Easter brunch, look no further! There are a variety of delicious wines that will pair perfectly with your Easter feast. No matter what you’re serving, we’ve got you covered. Browse RayLen Vineyard and Winery’s selection online and stop in to grab a bottle or two to try! We hope these Easter food and wine pairings will help to make your holiday meal even more special.