Spring has well and truly sprung! And many of us are looking forward to that first lovely long weekend of the year: Easter weekend.

Whether you’re celebrating at home, or are visiting friends and family this Easter, we’ve got some great recommendations of wines to pair with a lamb Easter dinner. Read on for what we’d suggest. Not having lamb for Easter dinner? Pop in store and we can help you to choose something to pair with other dishes or simply enjoy as an aperitif!

La Crema Montery Pinot Noir

La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir is a great choice if you’re looking to pair it with lamb, and especially with dishes heavy on herbs and spices, due to its complex plum and cocoa notes, and its citrusy, peppery undertones. Known for its dry, medium-bodied and fresh character, you’ll also find notes of ripe raspberry, and blueberry, wrapped up with a very food-friendly acidity.

Nish Patel, owner of Shenfield Wine Co, standing behind a bottle of La Crema Montery Pinot Noir.

The wine’s fruit-forward profile and the citrus, pepper and fruit undertones complement the herbs and spices often used in lamb dishes, meaning that it can be a great match for grilled lamb, roasted rack of lamb, or even grilled lamb chops with rosemary.

Asúa Crianza Rioja

This rioja is a great pairing for lamb, especially when roasted or grilled. Here’s why:

  • Tempranillo, the main grape in Rioja, has enough body and tannin to stand up to lamb’s richness.
  • The Crianza style means it’s been aged in oak but still retains freshness and fruitiness, so it won’t overpower the dish.
  • You’ll get notes of cherry, plum, spice, and subtle vanilla, which complement the savoury and sometimes herbal notes in lamb (especially if it’s seasoned with rosemary or garlic).
The perfect accompaniment, therefore, for an Easter Sunday lamb dinner!
Nish Patel, Owner of Shenfield Wine Co, holding a bottle of Asúa Crianza Rioja.

Domaine Langue’s Château Saumur Champigny

As our third choice, this Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley can pair very nicely with lamb, but it does depend on how the lamb is prepared.

This is when it works best:
  • Herb-crusted or grilled lamb: The wine’s bright acidity, herbal notes, and light tannins pair beautifully with lamb seasoned with rosemary, thyme, or mint.
  • Spring lamb or leaner cuts: It’s especially good with more delicate lamb dishes rather than rich, fatty ones.
  • Lamb with vegetables: If your dish has mushrooms, lentils, or roasted root vegetables, it complements the earthy tones of the wine.

Nish Patel, Owner of Shenfield Wine Co, holding a bottle of Domaine Langue’s Château Saumur Champigny.

However, if your lamb dish is heavily spiced, braised with rich sauces, or has a lot of fat (like a slow-cooked lamb shank), a fuller-bodied wine like a Rioja Crianza, Syrah, or Bordeaux is likely to hold up better.

Looking for wine recommendations for Easter? Visit Shenfield Wine Co! 

If you’re not having lamb for Easter dinner, or perhaps you are being hosted elsewhere and aren’t sure what your hosts are cooking, pop in store and our Wine Buffs can help you to select a bottle or two which will suit your needs. This can be based on the meal it’ll be accompanying, or even simply on your flavour profile.

Let us help you to choose a cracking bottle of wine this Easter!