Author: Dirk Chan
Easter is this coming weekend, and you’ll want some celebratory wines to accompany turkey & ham dinner or that special meal you’ll be preparing for your loved ones.
We receive many requests for food and wine pairings for this festive weekend so please contact us sooner than later for the best available selection and recommendations. If you have special needs, please let us know and we’ll be glad to help. Enjoy the long weekend everyone.
Our store hours this weekend are:
Good Friday: 12-5pm
Saturday: 10-7pm
Easter Sunday: Closed
Monday: 10-6pm
In the meantime, those looking for the classic pairings with turkey, ham and all the regular fixings, please see below some of our current favourites:
Start your evening off with a sparkling wine, followed by whites, reds, a dessert wine and perhaps a little meditation course for digestifs or Port.
Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines are a great way to start any gathering whether its a greeting aperitif or to pair with appetizers. Lively and clean, these will get everyone’s palate ready for what’s to come next:
2013 Domaine Rosier Cuvee du Rosier (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $19.99
NV Luis Pato Bruto Vinho Espumante Rosado (Bairrada, Portugal) – $21.49
2012 Anthonij Rupert Wines L’Ormarins Blanc de Blancs (Franschoek, South Africa) – $38.99
Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating:
NV Gremillet Brut Selection (Champagne, France) – $54.99
NV Chartogne-Taillet Brut Rosé (Champagne, France) – $67.99
NV Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut (Champagne, France) – $109.99
2005 Bollinger La Grande Année Brut (Champagne, France) – $189.99
Whites & Pinks
Whites with a touch of sweetness is preferred because of the sweetness of some of the fixings – candied yams, cranberry sauce, and honey for the glazed ham. A completely dry white will seem more austere and void of fruit due to the sweetness of the food so I recommend Rieslings (dry or off-dry, both work), Gewurztraminers or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. Having said that, some will always go with a dry creamy Chardonnay or Chenon irregardless and that’s perfectly fine. Also, don’t forget that rosés work really well too!
2014 Fritz Haag Riesling Trocken QBA (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany) – $15.99
2016 Niel Joubert Chenin Blanc (Paarl, South Africa) – $16.99
2016 Domaine Lafage Novellum Chardonnay (Cotes Catalanes, France) – $23.99
2016 Terras Gauda O Rosal (Rias Baixas, Spain) – $34.99
2006 Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Auslese ** (Nahe, Germany) – $69.99
2016 Los Vascos Rosé (Calchaqui, Chile) – $18.99
2016 Château Gassier Le Pas Du Moine (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $25.49
Reds
For reds, try to avoid the big oaky tannic monsters. Oak and tannins are the enemies when pairing with slightly sweet food, try for a red with lots of up-front fruit, little oak and a soft tannins like a Beaujolais (served slightly chilled) or a Pinot Noir.
2016 Azul y Garanza Fiesta (Navarra, Spain) – $16.99
2016 Domaines Paul Mas Malbec Gardemiel Vineyard (Pays d’Oc, France) – $18.99
2015 Jean-Marc Burgaud Beaujolais Villages Les Vignes de Thulon (Beaujolais, France) – $23.99
2016 Misty Cove Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand) – $25.99
2016 Ca’Momi Heartcraft Cabernet Sauvignon (California – Napa Valley, United States) – $31.99
2015 Domaine Pavelot Savigny les Beaune (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $44.99
2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco (Piedmont, Italy) – $54.99
2015 Château de la Font du Loup (Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France) – $59.99
2012 Vega Sicilia Pintia (Toro, Spain) – $84.99
2006 Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico (Veneto, Italy) – $109.99
2014 Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Noir (California – Santa Barbara, United States) – $159.99
2009 Louis Jadot Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Nuits, France) – $209.99
2005 Château La Gaffeliere (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $249.99
Dessert
As for dessert, remember dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself:
2009 Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszu (Hungary) – 200mL – $24.99
2013 Tawse Riesling Icewine (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – 200mL – $42.99
2013 Château Guiraud (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $59.99
2010 Hexamer Meddersheimer Altenberg Riesling Eiswein (Nahe, Germany) – 375mL – $89.99
2001 Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo (Tuscany, Italy) – 375mL – $349.99
Port and Amaro (Post Dinner)
Port is always good for the final touches of a meal, but the digestifs Amaro from Italy are also very popular:
Lucano 1894 Basilicata Amaro (Sicily, Italy) – $39.99
2011 Porto Quevedo Late Bottled Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $33.99
2003 Warre’s Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $104.99
Quinta do Portal 40 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $134.99
1968 Taylor Fladgate Single Harvest Old Port (Douro, Portugal) – $289.99
Happy Easter all!
Happy Easter everyone!