LSA International
The wines to try this Easter weekend, according to an expert
Michelle Lawlor, one of Ireland’s leading wine experts and owner of The Nude Wine Company shares her top tips for making the most of Easter Sunday lunch and some great wines to try.
There is so much advice about what to drink at Easter, and let’s face it, it is one of the biggest meals of the year outside of Christmas. It is a great excuse to crack open your favourite bottle of wine yourself, or even better, why not open that bottle that you have been saving for a special occasion?
Put The Fizz In The Fridge
Champagne doesn’t get any better with age, so if you have a bottle of Champagne and are waiting for that special occasion, make Easter Sunday that special occasion. Put the fizz in the fridge; Champagne, like cava, is bottled when it’s ready to drink, so if you wait months or even years to open the fizz, it will lose the fresh and vibrant notes. Our best tip that we can suggest this Easter is to put any bottles of fizz you have at home into the fridge and start your Easter Sunday celebrations with a pop.
A Wine To Try: Champagne Gobillard Premier Cru, France
If you don’t have any fizz in the wine rack, we recommend Champagne Gobillard Premier Cru €53.30, an outrageously delicious growers’ Champagne that offers excellent value for money. You can order it online here.
Open The Red Early
If you’re serving a robust red like Rioja, Bordeaux, or Malbec, open it an hour before lunch. Letting it breathe softens the tannins and magnifies all those juicy, spicy, complex flavours. It’s like giving your wine time to stretch its legs before the party starts. This has the same effect as using a decanter or even an aerator. For really big reds, give them 2-3 hours before you will drink them and if you are going for something more medium bodied, then 1-2 hours is plenty. My rule of thumb is that any wine over €20 will generally benefit from this process.
A Wine To Try: Lindes de Remelluri Rioja, Spain
If you don’t have your red already sorted, I would recommend the Lindes de Remelluri Rioja. It’s rich, velvety and spicy, and Rioja is well referenced as the ultimate wine to serve with Lamb. You can order it online for €29.50 here.
Don’t Be Afraid To Trade Up
Easter is the perfect excuse to lift up your wine game just a little. Spending a few extra Euros on a quality bottle, like a beautifully made Malbec or a refined Rioja, can completely transform your dining experience. You’re not just paying for a name; you’re unlocking depth, structure, and balance that elevate the entire meal. Better wine has better integration of fruit, acidity, and tannin, which means it complements your food instead of competing with it. Think of it as a secret ingredient: rich meats taste silkier, roasted vegetables feel sweeter, and every bite seems just a little more luxurious. If you usually spend €20, try nudging up to €25—you’ll get a wine that truly brings the best out of your Easter feast.
A Wine To Try: Kaiken Ultra, Mendoza Malbec
Kaiken is one of the best producers in Argentina, and when you taste the ‘Ultra’ you will know why. If you like a Malbec, try this one for a premium Easter Sunday experience. You can order it online here for €24.60.
Rosé Works Wonders With Roast Ham
Rosé might not be the first wine that comes to mind for Easter lunch, but it deserves a place at the table, especially if roast ham is on the menu. A good dry rosé has just the right amount of fruit and freshness to cut through the rich, salty sweetness of glazed ham, balancing the flavours beautifully without overpowering the dish. Go premium on the rose and make sure that it is dry.
A Wine To Try: Studio by Miraval Rose, Provence
One of our top picks is Studio by Miraval, €24.50, from Brad Pitt’s range of wines. It’s elegant, crisp, and produced in Provence by the team behind the iconic Château Miraval. It’s got that delicate wild strawberry and citrus zing that goes perfectly alongside honey-roast ham or even a cold leftover slice in a sandwich. Plus, it looks effortlessly chic on the table—what more could you want? You can order it online here.
Serve Chardonnay A Little Warmer
If you like big buttery Chardonnays, Easter Sunday lunch is the opportune time to open one. They don’t need to be fridge cold; serve slightly warmer than fridge temperature so the flavours become magnified and your wine will become even more delicious. The most famous big and buttery Chardonnays like Meursault come from France, but countries like the USA, New Zealand and Australia can produce extremely high-quality ones. The trick here is to push the boat out, as an extra few Euros will result in very serious quality.
A Wine To Try: Shaw & Smith M3 Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, Australia
One of Australia’s most iconic premium white wines comes from Adelaide, produced by the trailblazing team behind Shaw and Smith. It is powerful and refined glass that perfectly balances citrus fruit with savoury oak overtones. Divine. You can order it online here for €41.20.
