The ultimate Easter Sunday lunch with Bordeaux Wines

If you’re planning a traditional Easter meal this year, why not zest it up by choosing the wine pairings that will enhance and complement the flavours of each dish?

Here are some ideas on which Bordeaux wines to serve with some classic Easter dishes. All the wines are available from a wide selection of UK retailers and are priced between £6 and £25.

Easter starter ideas

A classic prawn cocktail is always a winner but why not try something different this year? Our version is made with shrimps, an addition of tomatoes and avocado, all ingredients beautifully layered in a transparent glass with sauce served on top. A dry white Bordeaux, such as Château Argadens 2019, would make an excellent pairing. Made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes with a touch of Sémillon, this wine is citrus-led with smoky minerality, a good texture and a long finish.

Alternatively, to compliment the pink prawns, the freshness of the lemon and the sweetness of the sauce there’s nothing better than a fresh and fruity Bordeaux Rosé. Why not try Château Bauduc Rosé 2020 made from equal parts of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes. This is an easy-drinking, fresh, dry style with a refreshing note of white pepper on the finish.

If you’re not a big fan of prawn cocktail or just want to switch it up this year, try these creamy mushroom vol-au-vents – flaky puff pastry bites loaded with a creamy garlicky mushroom filling.

As a wine pairing we suggest Château de Rochemorin 2018 from the Pessac-Léognan region of Bordeaux. This 100% Sauvignon blanc is an excellent example of top dry white Bordeaux with classic aromas of lime and lanolin – lovely freshness and breadth, with a creamy yet salty finish.

Easter main dishes and wine pairings

Lamb is of course a classic Easter main dish. The rich sauce and flavoursome meat need an equally full wine, and there’s nothing better than a powerful and intense Bordeaux red from the Médoc region of Bordeaux.

We suggest Château Panchille 2018 from the Graves region of Bordeaux – a delightful blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec grapes, it is a restrained style with tension and attractive notes of dried herbs and blackcurrant fruit. Noticeably fresh with firm tannins and a dry finish – an ideal food match that stands up to the powerful flavours of the lamb.

As not everyone loves the taste of lamb, roast chicken is a great substitute. We love roasting chicken with lemon and rosemary. It’s simple too – just throw all the ingredients, along with the marinade, into a large baking dish and pop it in the oven. You’ll want to pair it with an aromatic, structured and generous dry white wine, which will balance the juicy flavours of the chicken, such as Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc blends – why not try Château Beaumont Blanc ‘Les Pierrières’ Blaye 2018 from the Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux appellation or a vegan Cuvée Clémence 2019 from Entre-Deux-Mers – these wines have a toasty quality that makes them an ideal companion for the citrus-scented poultry.

While white Bordeaux wine is a more classic pairing here, right bank Bordeaux red blends are typically a little bit lighter in body and, therefore, it’s more than acceptable to serve them with chicken. Espirit De Puisseguin from Puisseguin Saint-Émilion, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, smooth and rounded, with crunchy fruit on the palate, would be another great choice for chicken.

Sweet Easter treats and wine pairings

Easter is not Easter without an abundance of sweet treats. From chocolate eggs to hot cross buns and Simnel cake, there’s a lot to indulge in.
When it comes to Simnel cake, we need something to match the warm spice that won’t be outdone by the amount of sweetness. We suggest serving it with a glass of sweet Bordeaux white wine such as Château Gravas 2016. This complex, luscious and fresh sweet wine has a delightful floral finish, Lovely, waxy, candied, citrus-scented fruit with notes of apricot, peach and candied ginger that will beautifully complement the flavours of Simnel cake.

Hot Cross Buns are another must-have Easter treat. Of course, a good old cuppa would be the most obvious choice but we are talking wine here so why not serve them with a dry white Bordeaux for a change – try Calvet Limited Edition Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – a classic, dry Bordeaux Sauvignon, with gooseberry and green fruit, fresh with a silky texture, crisp and dry. It will work equally well with hot cross buns and Simnel cake if you want to balance out the sweetness.

Finally, for all the wine and chocolate pairing ideas – check this article.

Whatever dishes you choose this Easter, we hope you enjoy them with Bordeaux wines!