7 top drops for Easter entertaining

They say all good things come to those who wait, and it certainly feels like the long Easter weekend has been waiting in the wings with our ‘moveable feast’ landing later this year.

And perfect excuse to entertain thoughts of something dynamic and delicious to complement your scrummy spring feast.

After all, with so many diverse dishes – from Good Friday fish pie to Easter Sunday roast leg of lamb, and chocolate eggs in between, you need to up your wine game to complement the fanfare of flavours.

From fantastic fizz, to whites, reds and port, we’re in the mood to pull the corks and have a cracking good time…

1. Tesco Finest English Sparkling Wine, England, £21.50, Tesco

For the brightest, freshest bubbles within budget, you can’t beat award-winning Balfour Winery – the producer behind this delicious English fizz. Combining attractive apple and lemony flavours with delicate brioche notes and minerally undertones, it’s fresh, crisp and full of verve.

2. Asda Extra Special Riesling 2022, Austria, £8.14, Asda

A sommelier’s favourite, dry riesling such as this Decanter Silver medal winner should be on hand. Instantly inviting with honeyed aromas, fruity freshness is backed by well-ripened peach, apple and lime flavours, and mouthwatering acidity. A natural with shellfish, the wine’s acidity tempers the saltiness of Easter ham and leaves you thirsty for more.

3. M&S Journey’s End Honeycomb Chardonnay 2023, South Africa, £9, Ocado

Another Decanter silver medal winner, this versatile chardonnay chimes with seafood starters such as smoked salmon or scallops; and runs the gamut from gourmet fish pie to rotisserie chicken. With gentle tropical aromas, orchard fruits and citrus are framed by vanilla – the wine spends six months in French oak – lifted by bright acidity.

4. Aldi Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023, Southern Rhône, France, £9.99 from £19.99 ( April 14 to April 20), Aldi, in-store

Better hop to it! With huge savings across its Easter wine range, this A-list red hits all the right notes and lives up to expectation. Beautifully aromatic with an open nose of sweet red fruits, florals and exotic spice, it’s concentrated with flavours of ripe blackberry, plum and raspberry; touch of violet and vanilla riding on the velvety smooth finish. One for classic roast beef.

5. Bodegas Roda Sela Rioja 2022, Spain, £19.50, The Champagne Company

Superbly stylish, Bodegas Roda’s entry level tempranillo temptress is testament to the power of Rioja’s lip-smacking reds – and will entice you into exploring its top-tier range. Aromatic, joyous aromas of herbs, flowers and cassis draw you in, and flavours shine with freshness of the fruit; engaging black fruits entwined with garrigue herbs, gentle oak, fine tannins and long, lingering finish complete a perfect parcel. A classy choice with roast leg of lamb.

6. Definition by Majestic Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018, France, £21, (£20 Mix Six), Majestic

With the silky, elegance you’d expect from this famous region… merlot dominant, it’s sleek and expressive with an open bouquet of cassis, inviting black cherry and spice-edged raspberry fruit are framed by smooth tannins and long persistent finish. A top drop which comes highly recommended by Majestic’s master of wine and buyer for Bordeaux – and star match with Easter lamb and mint sauce.

7. Fonseca Bin 27, Portugal, £16.75, Waitrose

For a sweet ending, you can’t beat a youthful, fruity port to round off the meal. Aromas of rich, juicy black fruits mingle with cherry and plums; leading to a lush palate brimming with flavours of blackberry, blackcurrant and cassis, and long velvety smooth finish. Super approachable and utterly delectable, enjoy with dark chocolate truffles and chocolate desserts.