Aidy's drinks cabinet: Seven perfect wines for Easter Sunday lunch

Few of us really need an excuse to enjoy a roast dinner, but Easter Sunday is one time of the year when we simply can’t say no.

While lamb is of course traditional, I’ve been on a mission to find some the very best wine pairings most iterations of the roast — you can happily use this as reference point most Sundays, in fact, whether you’re sitting down to lamb, beef, chicken, fish, pork or a lovely vegetarian roast. A well chosen bottle of wine will always elevate the meal its put with, after all.

It’s time to create a little dinner table magic. Enjoy.

Ridgeview Oak Reserve

Before the main event gets going, let’s ask the serious question. Namely: how do you start Easter with a bang? Pop the cork on some of the best English bubbles in the country, obviouslyy. You don’t often hear of English wineries using oak-aged Chardonnay to create their sparkles, but Ridgeview have. Taking the best Chardonnay grapes from a vineyard planted in 1995, the gentle oak ageing creates a beautifully textured wine with heaps of charisma. Expect rich notes of lemon ice cream, honeysuckle and stewed pineapple on the nose with croissant, butterscotch, toasted almonds and a smoky vanilla spice on the palate. Stunning, unique, utterly divine. Only 2,600 bottles were created and there’s not too many left, so get in while you can.

£75, Ridgeview

Luigi Bosca Malbec Seleccion de Vistalba 2019

When it comes to red meats and Sunday roasts, you really can’t go wrong with a decent Malbec, especially when it hails from Argentina. Luigi Bosca have become a trusted name over the 120-plus years they’ve been making wine and their Seleccion de Vistalba is the perfect choice for those who like deep, dense, rich wines. Imagine rich, dark and juicy blackcurrants; blackberries and raspberries smothered in dark chocolate; cassis and sweet vanilla. If you’re cooking lamb, this is the one.

£10 (normally £16.99, offer ends April 19), Waitrose

Domaine Michel Girard Sancerre Rouge 2020

It’s pretty hard finding a red Sancerre, not to mention one which actually tastes good. But I like a challenge. and here we’ve got one. Monsieur Girard is a winery located in the heart of Loire Valley. Their 100 per cent Pinot Noir is elegant yet expressive, showcasing rich black and red fruits with a distinct smoothness that wraps around your tongue. It’s so versatile it will match with any kind of meat you’re serving. I’d recommend serving it a touch colder than your usual reds to let it open up and unwind over time.

£15.99, Virgin Wines

Eloisa Chilean Viognier 2018

Viognier could very well be one of the most underrated grape varieties on the planet and it works amazingly with chicken, as well as pork and fish. Once you find a good one, there’s no going back and this particular choice is particularly good value. Viognier is often super floral, aromatic and full of orchard and stone fruits like pears, apricots and nectarines. Here, things are taken a step further by introducing some oak ageing, and the result is magnificent. The nose is packed full of peach, tangerine and pineapple, while the palate offers a creamy apricot yoghurt, toasted almonds and a pear Danish pastry. We’re talking about an incredible 2016 wine for less than a tenner; bag it while you can.

£8.99, ALDI

Château de Meursault, Meursault Premier Cru Charmes Dessus 2016

When it comes to chicken or fish, a white Burgundy is always a worthy option. This wine hails from the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, arguably one of the most prized for its quality Chardonnay. A rich silkiness binds it together, with notes of yellow plum, jasmine and apricots. Upon sipping, a buttery pear tart meets a distinct minerality, and the two work in harmony. Vanilla and buttered popcorn also make an appearance, creating a super silky mouthfeel which glides into an incredibly long and impressive finish. A true delight; it’ll be the talk of the table.

£71, The Wine Society

Panoramico Tierroya Old-Vine White Rioja 2016

I adore wines that think outside of the box, and white wines from Rioja are a prime example of just that. Produced from 85-year-old vines — they hold so much personality and concentration — this wine, when tasted blind, is often mistaken for a rich, oaked Burgundy. A distinct silkiness sits at the core, surrounded by a creamy vanilla and lemon zest tart, an abundance of apricot and nectarine, as well as a pinch of salinity and spice to bind everything together. Its stunning orange wax seal only elevates the drinking experience, making this an all round perfect choice for any white meat, fish, or lighter red meats. Try decanting for 30 minutes before drinking to really bring out the flavours.

£30, Wanderlust Wine

Apothic Red Winemaker’s Blend

If you could get an Easter egg in wine form, this would be it. Drinking a glass of Apothic Red is like sipping on molten chocolate infused with fresh raspberries. This has become a solid go-to for those not wanting to spend a fortune but still know they’re in safe hands. Not only does this work really well with lamb, turkey, beef or even pork, it’s also excellent as an after-dinner wine as well.

£11.49, The Bottle Club

Aidy Smith is an award-winning drinks expert, writer, and presenter of The Three Drinkers TV Series on Amazon Prime. Follow him @Sypped

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