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Wondering which wines to serve with your Easter lunch? Discover our top red, white and sparkling wine picks – plus the perfect pairings for each.
Whatever Easter looks like for you, there’s one thing that makes it even better: the perfect bottle of wine.
Now, I’ll be honest. For years, I didn’t give much thought to what wine I enjoyed at Easter. It was always an afterthought – something to sip while (impatiently) waiting for someone to crack open the chocolate eggs.
But, last Easter, everything changed.
I’d just moved into my new home, and we’d invited my in-laws over for a traditional Easter lunch. I assumed I’d reach for my favourite red, but it was my father-in-law who asked if I had any ‘special’ bottles.
He asked … and I delivered. Because what’s more special than a Right Bank Bordeaux? Château La Clarière, to be precise – a bottle that I’d been saving for the ‘right’ moment.
I decanted it, letting it breathe while I pottered on making the final preparations for lunch. The moment I took that first sip, I knew it wasn’t just a good match … no, it was a game-changer. The rich, velvety texture, the deep blackberry and cassis notes, the way it complemented the lamb’s savoury, gamey notes. Everything about it superb.
This was my ‘Aha’ moment. What I thought would be just a normal Easter lunch with family turned one that we still talk about even now.
So, if you’re looking for your own special bottle – whether that’s a sumptuous red, crisp white, refreshing rosé, or something to add a touch of sparkle to your Easter celebrations, we’ve got you covered.
What to drink for an Easter aperitif?
Sparkling wine is the ultimate all-rounder – it pairs with just about everything, making it the go-to aperitif for Easter gatherings.
Whether you’re:
Popping a bottle as guests arrive
Slowly sipping as you add the finishing touches to your Easter feast
Raising a glass mid-egg hunt
Serving it alongside your Easter lunch
… there’s no denying that a good glass of fizz brings instant elegance and turns any moment into a celebration.
The best sparkling wine aperitifs
Champagne
If you’re looking to go all out, then there’s no better way to do so than with Champagne. It’s a real treat, pure luxury in a glass – effortless, indulgent and guaranteed to make Easter feel extra special.
Top picks:
Veuve Clicquot – Awarded 94-points from Decanter, Veuve Clicquot is our bestselling big-name Champagne. Wonderfully rich and elegant with gentle bubbles.
Louis Dumont – Delicious proof that fine Champagne doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. This Gold-medal winner sings with lively red fruits, refreshing citrus and classic brioche notes.
Château de Bligny – Crafted from equal portions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this 91-point Champagne is bottle-fermented and aged on its lees for extra toasty richness.
Cava
This elegant Spanish sparkler comes in a variety of styles – from crisp whites to delicate rosés, and from lusciously sweet to bone-dry. With its light body, refreshing acidity and exceptional value, Cava is a brilliant alternative to Champagne, delivering all the celebratory sparkle – without the hefty price tag.
Top picks:
¡H! Barcelona Organic Cava – Bright and lively, crafted from organically grown native grapes and bursting with Granny Smith apple, citrus and floral notes.
Crémant
If the finesse of French wine is what you’re after, Crémant is a fantastic choice. Often dry with a beautifully creamy texture, it offers vibrant notes of green apple, ripe peach and a touch of honey.
Top picks:
Roche Lacour – This Gold-medal favourite is our No.1 top-selling vintage fizz and brims with ripe peach, pear and citrus.
Kew Gardens Crémant de Loire Rosé – Made in collaboration with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this is a delicate pink fizz with ripe red berries and a fine, creamy mousse.
Prosecco
Who doesn’t love a glass of Prosecco? With its refreshing crispness and lively fruity notes, it’s an instant crowd-pleaser. Available in a range of styles – from the gentle bubbles of frizzante to the full-on sparkle of spumante, it’s the perfect pick for an easy-drinking aperitif.
Top picks:
Casa Cantalini – Our No.1 bestselling Prosecco, loved for its crisp orchard fruit flavours and freshness.
Il Papavero – Expect lovely almond and citrus flavours in this great-value wine, a top customer favourite.
Your Easter lunch food and wine pairings
Easter is all about celebrating with loved ones. If you’re planning a big family feast, you might be wondering what meat to serve – and, more importantly, which wines to pair with it.
Easter lunch wine pairings with lamb
As a nation, we love absolutely any excuse for a roast dinner – and Easter is no exception. At the heart of the feast? Lamb. Tender, full of flavour and undeniably traditional, it’s a timeless centrepiece that deserves the perfect wine pairing.
Red wines to pair with lamb
Lighter reds
For delicate, tender spring lamb, a light-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir is a fantastic choice. With its bright acidity, soft tannins and gentle red fruit flavours, it enhances the meat’s natural sweetness without overpowering it.
Top picks:
Purple Owl – Supple and divinely smooth with ripe cherry and raspberry fruit.
Le Fief de Temple – Brims with crushed raspberries, ripe cherries and subtle spice.
Medium to full-bodied reds
Roast lamb is a classic choice for Easter dinner – and if you’re roasting a richer cut, you’ll need a more structured wine to match. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Rioja are all excellent options – their bold flavours and firm tannins cut through the lamb’s fattiness, bringing out its depth and savouriness.
Top picks:
Château La Clarière – Gold-medal claret with bright fruit, ripe plum, cassis and pepper spice aromas.
Le Coin Bordeaux – Our bestselling Bordeaux … it’s silky smooth, with damson, cassis and hints of spice.
Caravan Merlot – Rich, velvety Aussie Merlot with luscious dark plum and vanilla flavours.
Barón de Barbón Oak Aged Rioja – Our No.1 Rioja crafted from old-vine Tempranillo … expect ripe red fruits and fragrant vanilla.
White wines to pair with lamb
Think lamb has to be paired with red? Well, not necessarily. If you’re open to foregoing the red meat, red wine ‘rule’, a creamy, textured white can work beautifully. Oaked Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc deliver layers of richness and complexity, balancing the lamb’s intensity while keeping things fresh and vibrant.
Top picks:
La Voûte – A fine, oaked Chardonnay … wonderfully rich and creamy, with spiced apple, peach and citrus.
Réserve Champalou Vouvray – From a top family estate, this is off-dry, with crisp lemon fruit and irresistible honeyed apple notes.
Le Masque – Intense citrus and creamy, ripe pear fruit with mineral freshness.
Easter lunch wine pairings with turkey or chicken
If lamb isn’t your go-to for Easter lunch, turkey or chicken are great alternatives. Loved for their succulent flavours, both are crowd-pleasers – perfect for catering to a variety of tastes, including those fussy eaters.
Red wines to pair with turkey or chicken
For a red wine that won’t overpower, Pinot Noir is the ideal choice. Light to medium-bodied with soft tannins and bright acidity, it strikes a beautiful balance with poultry. Its red cherry notes complement both the sweet and savoury elements of the dish, making it a go-to for Easter roasts.
White wines to pair with turkey or chicken
If you’re celebrating Easter with turkey or chicken, you can’t go wrong with white wines.
Sauvignon Blanc is a classic pairing that never fails. This zesty white is packed with leap-from-the-glass aromas and flavours ranging from citrus and gooseberry to tropical fruit, depending on where it’s crafted. Its natural acidity and crisp, refreshing style make it an ideal match for turkey or chicken.
Riesling is one of the most versatile white wines going – available in a range of styles from bone-dry to off-dry. No matter the style, its signature high acidity and fruit-forward profile – think green apple, lime, and juicy peach – cut through the richness of the meat, creating a lovely, balanced pairing.
Of course, oaked Chardonnay is a great option if you’re looking for a fuller-bodied white. Its creamy texture, hints of vanilla, butter and ripe stone fruit complement the richness of roast turkey or chicken.
Top picks:
Abbesse Sauvignon Blanc – A delicious expression of the Loire Valley’s reigning grape, this is lively with intense citrus and gooseberry notes.
Pierre Brecht Riesling – A brilliantly crisp, dry Riesling with green apple and lime aromas.
Rapaura Springs Marlborough Chardonnay Reserve – A beautifully balanced, luscious and complex white with white stone fruit and a citrusy zip.
Easter lunch wine pairings with gammon
Of course, you could always go for gammon at Easter. Its rich, salty flavours make it a deliciously popular choice.
Red wines to pair with gammon
For a top-notch pairing, opt for fruity, low-tannin red that won’t clash with the saltiness of the meat. Beaujolais and Pinot Noir are great options … both light-bodied, bursting with ripe red fruit and smooth enough to complement gammon’s bold flavours without overpowering them.
White wines to pair with gammon
If you prefer a white wine, go for something fresh and fruit forward.
Riesling is a true all-rounder. Its vibrant acidity and wide range of flavours (from green apple to peach) make it an ideal match for gammon, whether dry or off-dry.
Gewurztraminer is another great choice. Boldly aromatic with exotic floral and spice notes, it adds a fragrant contrast to gammon’s salty-sweet flavours, whether in a dry or slightly sweeter style.
Top picks:
Edouard Leiber Gewurztraminer – Expect ripe tropical fruits, lychee and subtle spice notes.
Easter lunch wine pairings with salmon
If you’re looking for something different, salmon is a fantastic choice, loved for its rich yet delicate flavours.
Red wines to pair with salmon
If you’re serving salmon, you’ll want to steer clear of full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, as their bold tannins and acidity will easily overpower the fish’s subtle flavours.
Instead, go for lighter reds like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. These wines are lower in tannins and have vibrant cherry and raspberry notes that complement the richness of the salmon without overpowering it.
White wines to pair with salmon
By contrast, salmon and white wine go hand in hand. But you need a white with enough structure to stand up to salmon’s fattiness.
Oaked Chardonnay is rich and creamy – its full body and crisp acidity cut through the oiliness of the fish, elevating it with a buttery texture that complement the richness of the salmon.
Viognier is aromatic and smooth. Its full body and fruity notes make it a fantastic match for the depth of flavour in salmon.
Top picks:
Queen Bee Viognier – Our No.1 bestselling Viognier is elegantly fresh with pear, peach and vibrant tropical fruits.
V-on-YAY Viognier – Bright and citrusy with ripe peach, blossom, tropical notes and light spice.
Rosé wines to pair with salmon
Rosé is always a refreshing tipple – and it’s an excellent match with salmon too. A dry rosé is a great choice here – its medium acidity and subtle red fruits won’t overwhelm the fish’s richness.
For a standout pairing, try traditional rosés made from Grenache blends – like those from Provence. Or, opt for a rosado from Spain or Portugal for a touch Mediterranean flair.
Top picks:
Moulin de Pontfract – Our No.1 Provence rosé is fresh, fruity and full of strawberry charm.
L'Art Provençal – Delightfully refreshing, with summer berry fruit, a hint of blackcurrant and wild herbs.
Easter wine pairings with chocolate
Now, arguably the main event … because is it even Easter if you don’t scoff loads of chocolate? I didn’t think so.
But here’s the thing: pairing two of life’s greatest pleasures – wine and chocolate – isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Both are rich in tannins, which can clash and create complex flavours that either work or go horribly wrong.
But when you find the right combination? Utter magic.
Let’s start with the milk chocolate used in those classic Easter eggs. It’s arguably the nation’s favourite chocolate (and let’s be real, doesn’t Easter chocolate just taste better?). Milk chocolate is high in sugar and low in tannins, so it calls for a lighter red that won’t overpower its sweetness.
Now, I’d be cracking open a smooth Pinot Noir or Merlot to enjoy alongside my Mini Egg or Creme Egg Easter chocolate. These wines have soft tannins and ripe fruit flavours which can off-set the chocolate’s sweetness.
And if you’re ending your Easter feast with an indulgent chocolate cake, you’ll definitely want to choose a full-bodied red like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah. These wines have robust tannins which can stand up to the richness of the cake, offering a lovely contrast of flavours.
About the author
Brogan Wilson
Qualified to WSET Level 2 Wine, Brogan is a relatively new member of the team, having joined in September 2023. She previously worked as the sole copywriter at a creative marketing agency, and before that, as a primary school teacher. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find her growing her knowledge, asking lots of questions, and crafting both digital and print copy. An ardent red wine drinker, Brogan is also fond of Crémant.
