What Wine Goes with...

Do you celebrate Easter? Are you planning an Easter menu? Maybe you’re considering a honey baked ham with cheesy au gratin potatoes, fresh asparagus, and carrots. Or perhaps a leg of lamb with roasted red potatoes, scalloped corn, and rolls. No matter what type of meal you’re planning, you’ll need a good wine to go with it.

If you’re planning a traditional ham dinner, you’ll want to select a neutral wine that’s light and sweet. You can’t go wrong with a Riesling, and one of our favorites is Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler 2016 Riesling. This prototypical Riesling comes from the Mosel region of Germany. With its peach and apple flavors, it has the perfect balance of sweet and dry and will satisfy many palates. If you are serving asparagus, you know that asparagus can have an almost bitter taste and is notoriously difficult to pair with wine. This Riesling works well, because it balances the bitterness with the sweet. If you are having a vegetarian meal, Riesling’s light, crisp flavors will pair nicely with all your dishes.

If you are planning to serve lamb or a roast, you’ll need a robust red wine that stands up well to red meat. We recommend Howard Park 2014 Flint Rock Shiraz. When some people think of Shiraz, they think of the “critter” label wines. You know which ones I mean, all those cheap Australian wines with the brightly colored labels featuring kangaroos and other animals. Those wines are sweet, easy to drink, and have little character. Although it comes from western Australia, Howard Park is no critter label wine. It has a rich, dark purple color and a fragrant nose of blackberry, mocha, and vanilla oak. The taste will fill your palate with fruit, but this wine has a great structure and a long finish.

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