Easter is a time for gathering with family and friends, indulging in all kinds of seasonal treats. You've got Good Friday seafood feasts, Sunday roasts, chocolate eggs and much-loved hot cross buns (which can also be eaten in the weeks leading up to Easter).
Wine graces most tables during Easter as well, but with so many different kinds of dishes available, finding the right bottles to buy can be tough. That's why we've curated this guide to the best Easter wine pairings – making sure you make the most out of these long days surrounded by some of your favourite people.
Wines for Good Friday seafood
Fish dishes are hugely popular throughout Easter, particularly on Good Friday. The way you prepare your fish – either with herbs and spices, grilled with lemon, or deep-fried in batter – will determine which wine you choose.
Chardonnay is a great choice thanks to the diverse styles you can find: try leaner examples with lighter dishes (grilled or baked), and fruit-forward, lightly-oaked versions with richer flavours (fried). Pinot grigio and dry rieslings will also go well with a lot of different kinds of seafood.
Wines to pair with hot cross buns
Almost every bakery will be offering its take on the classic hot cross bun this Easter. In fact, these spots will be pumping out hot cross buns for many weeks in the lead-up to Easter. This means you have plenty of opportunities to play around with hot cross bun wine pairings.
When devouring them, enjoy a glass of Australian sparkling wine on Easter morning. A good dry sherry will also further emphasise the spice and dried fruit of the hot cross buns – and is perfect for when you enjoy these as a late-night snack on the couch.
Top wines to pair with Easter Sunday roasts
For many, an Easter Sunday lunch is comprised of a show-stopping roast meat and a variety of sides. Roast lamb is the most popular option, providing an opportunity to open some rich, structured wines.
The tannin of these wines can cut through the fattiness of the meat for a balanced companionship. Cabernet sauvignon is an Easter Sunday classic (regardless of whether you celebrate over lunch or dinner) with the mint-forward notes combining with the rich meat – giving a kind of mint jelly effect.
You can also try tempranillo – featuring berry and leather notes – a cool-climate shiraz or nebbiolo that gives cherry and anise notes. You can even change it up, opting for a vintage sparkling rosé.
Wines for Easter side dishes
Common side dishes enjoyed with Easter mains include cheesy potato gratin, salads, green beans and roasted pumpkin. With these comfort-style foods, try sparkling wines with the acidity to refresh the palate — prosecco is an especially good choice. If you’re introducing honey-glazed carrots or asparagus to the menu, a fresh riesling or sauvignon blanc will work well.
But with the sides likely to be a mix-match of different kinds of dishes, we suggest going for a wine which can be consider an all-rounder. You'll want to pick a bottle with high acidity, lower alcohol and lower tannin. This will ensure the wine doesn't overpower the food your eating. A grenache, off-dry riesling, pinot gris or rosé will do the trick. when pairing wine with your Easter feast
Wines to pair with chocolate
Easter would not be complete without baked goods and chocolatey treats. For the dozens of Easter eggs that are gifted and received, there's no better pairing than chocolate and fortified wine. You can always check out our detailed chocolate and wine pairing guide, but to keep things simple, here are a few suggestions.
If you have got a top-quality fortified wine hiding in your cellar, be sure to bring it out when biting into dark chocolate during your Easter feasting. Alternatively, pinot noir and sweet sherries are great friends of chocolate.
And for those out there who are big fans of white chocolate, look to gewürztraminer and late-harvest rieslings for your pairing – the sweetness of the former is a good match for the latter.
Discover more food pairing guides – plus lots of wine-related tips and tricks – with our Halliday Resources hub.
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Best wines to pair with hot cross buns
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House of Arras
EJ Carr Late Disgorged 2008
Sparkling | Tasmania -
Chandon Australia
Étoile Brut Non Vintage
Sparkling | - -
Bellebonne
Natalie Fryar Vintage Cuvée 2019
Sparkling | Tasmania -
Pipers Brook Vineyard
Kreglinger Vintage Brut 2018
Sparkling | Tasmania -
Pirie Tasmania
Traditional Method 2018
Sparkling | Tasmania
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Best wines to pair with fish
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Giaconda
Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Beechworth -
Oakridge
864 Funder & Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Penfolds
Yattarna Bin 144 Chardonnay 2021
Tasmania Tumbarumba Adelaide Hills -
Leeuwin Estate
Art Series Chardonnay 2021
Margaret River -
Savaterre
Chardonnay 2021
Beechworth
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Best wines to pair with roast lamb
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Bleasdale Vineyards
The Iron Duke Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Langhorne Creek -
Balnaves of Coonawarra
The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Coonawarra -
Yarra Yering
Carrodus Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Yarra Valley -
Yeringberg
Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Yarra Valley -
Xanadu Wines
Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Margaret River
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Best wines to pair with chocolate
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Seppeltsfield
100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny 1924
Fortified | Barossa Valley -
All Saints Estate
Museum Muscat Non Vintage
Fortified | Rutherglen -
Campbells
Merchant Prince Rare Muscat Non Vintage
Fortified | Rutherglen -
Chambers Rosewood
Rare Muscat Non Vintage
Fortified | Rutherglen -
Morris
Cellar Reserve Grand Topaque Non Vintage
Fortified | Rutherglen
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