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. Enjoy the long weekend everyone.
Our store hours this weekend are:
Good Friday: 12-5pm
Saturday: 11-7pm
Easter Sunday: Closed
Monday: 12-5pm
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:
NV De Chanceny Cremant de Loire Brut (Loire Valley, France) – $27.99
NV Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco Brut (Veneto, Italy) – $35.99
2021 Andreas Bender Rosé Brut Sekt (Mosel, Germany) – $37.49
2019 Barone Pizzini Franciacorta Nature Edizione (Lombardy, Italy) – $76.99
Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating:
NV Champagne Monmarthe Secret de Famille Brut (Champagne, France) – $67.99
NV Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Quality Brut (Champagne, France) – $87.99
NV Champagne Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger (Champagne, France) – $124.99
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Le Rosé (Champagne, France) – $156.99
2008 Champagne Gardet Prestige Charles Gardet Brut Millesime (Champagne, France) – $189.99
2019 Champagne Agrapart Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Mineral (Champagne, France) – $299.99
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!
2024 Huteau-Boulanger la Muse Sauvignon (Loire Valley, France) – $21.99
2022 Andreas Bender Scheurebe Trocken (Pfalz, Germany) – $28.99
2023 Tenuta di Angoris Ribolla Gialla (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy) – $34.99
2023 Willi Haag Juffer-Sonnenuhr Brauneberg Riesling Spatlese (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany) – $41.99
2021 Domaine Olga Raffault Chinon Le Champ-Chenin Monopole (Loire Valley, France) – $56.99
2023 Domaine Francois Villard Saint Peray Version (Rhone Valley, France) – $67.99
2021 Château Lespault-Martillac Blanc (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $81.99
2023 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10 (Mosel, Germany) – $96.99
2022 Domaine Cottenceau Montagny Premier Cru Vigne du Soleil (Burgundy – Cote Chalonnaise, France) – $109.99
2023 Philippe Bouzereau Meursault Vieux Clos du Chateau de Citeaux Monopole (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $142.99
2023 Sadie Family Palladius (Swartland, South Africa) – $199.99
2024 Maison Austruy Peyrassol Mediterranée Rosé (Provence, France) – $24.99
2024 Condé Rosato Forli (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $36.99
2024 Domaine de la Begude Bandol Rosé (Bandol, France) – $40.99
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.
2022 Fundacao Eugenio de Almeida Cartuxa EA Tinto (Alentejano, Portugal) – $21.99
2024 Henry of Pelham Cabernet Merlot (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – $24.49
2022 Château de Gaudou Chatelet de Gaudou Tradition (Cahors, France) – $24.99
2023 Lucien Lardy Beaujolais-Villages (Beaujolais, France) – $27.99
2024 Ca’ del Baio Dolcetto d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) – $29.99
2023 Quinta do Portal Reserva (Douro, Portugal) – $34.99
2024 Domaine Deliance Bourgogne Rouge (Burgundy – Cote Chalonnaise, France) – $43.99
2022 Franz Haas Pinot Nero (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy) – $58.99
2020 Angelo Negro e Figli Barbera d’Alba Bertu (Piedmont, Italy) – $61.99
2014 Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $74.99
2022 Philippe Bouzereau Chassagne-Montrachet (Meursault, France) – $94.99
2015 Château La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France) – $134.99
2016 Château Lagrange (Bordeaux – St. Julien, France) – $174.99
2019 Quinta dos Muros M7 (Douro, Portugal) – $199.99
2016 Terre Nere Brunello di Montalcino Capriolo Riserva (Tuscany, Italy) – $224.99
2009 Les Asteries (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $349.99
2000 Château Leoville Las-Cases (Bordeaux – St. Julien, France) – $769.99
Dessert
As for dessert, remember dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself:
2023 Peller Estates Private Reserve Vidal Icewine (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – 200mL – $28.49
2021 Brigaldara Recioto della Valpolicella (Veneto, Italy) – 375mL – $46.99
2018 Borgo Scopeto Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy) – 375mL – $66.99
2019 Château Suduiraut (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $84.99
2009 Domaine Huet Cuvee Constance (Loire Valley, France) – 375mL – $169.99
Port (Post Dinner)
Port is always good for the final touches of a meal, with cheese and roasted nuts:
Warre’s Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – 500mL – $32.99
2013 Quinta do Portal Quinta dos Muros Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – 375mL – $45.99
2018 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $87.99
2016 Croft Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $169.99
Vinhos Barbeito Ribeiro Real Lote 1 Boal 20 Year Old (Madeira, Portugal) – $239.99
1966 Messias Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – $309.99
1994 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $499.99
Happy Easter to all!
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