Easter’s on Its Way!

When I was a kid, one of my favorite songs was “Peter Cottontail.” Sing it with me:

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin’ down the bunny trail

Hippity hoppin’, Easter’s on its way!

It is indeed on its way. And if you are wondering which wines to serve with your Easter dinner or are looking for a nice hostess gift for someone else’s feast, My Wine Tribe is here to help.  First, consider a couple of questions. We’ll get to recommendations after that.

Which Tribe Do Most of Your Guests Belong To?

Take the quiz to find out which tribe you’re in, then make an educated guess about your guests. Here’s an overview of the four tribes:

– The Accessible Tribe: These folks have an appreciation for delicate tastes. They have a sweet tooth and it wouldn’t be unusual to find them eating dessert before their main course. They typically shy away from many wines. If they drink anything, it’s light, sweet white wine.

– The Balanced Tribe: These tribe members appreciate balance in their food, drink and life. If they were a fragrance they would be floral and fruity but never overpoweringly sweet. These people tend to drink crisp whites and light reds.

– The Developed Tribe: This tribe likes to cook with lots of herbs and spices. Flavorful is the name of the game for them. They tend to drink bigger reds like Merlot and Malbec, although they aren’t into heavily tannic or acidic wines.

– The Complex Tribe: These folks appreciate big, bold and complex flavors—think dark coffee, dark chocolate and hoppy beer. They tend to be the wine geeks among your friends. You will likely find them drinking Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Cabernet Franc.

What Are You Serving?

Easter dinners typically include a main course of ham or lamb. Ham is a little tricky because there are so many variations. It can be honey-baked or topped with mustard, pineapple, sweet glaze and more. Regardless, you can easily pair ham with many white or red wines. Lamb is traditional, symbolic and an easy choice when it comes to picking wines. If you like reds, lamb is one of the most wine-friendly meats out there.

Wine Recommendations for Ham

The best choices for ham are sparkling wines, light- to medium-bodied whites, fruity reds or rosés. If your guests lean toward the Accessible or Balanced Tribe, I recommend either a sparkling wine or a Reisling. Everyone can easily enjoy a sparkler, and Reislings, with a touch of sweetness, can provide a nice balance to the salt in the ham. If you are feeling particularly festive, serve both—the sparkler with your appetizers and the Reisling with your main course. You will be set for a great party! If more of your guests are in the Developed or Complex camp, I would offer a Pinot Noir. The acid in the wine will help cut the fat of the ham and lend a nice sense of balance to your meal. Two other great options are a Beaujolais or a red Burgundy.

Wine Recommendations for Lamb

The easy answer here is anything red. From there, you can get creative. If your crew is mostly in the Accessible or Balanced Tribe, serve a lighter red such as Pinot Noir or Cotes de Rhone.  If your guests fall into the Developed or Complex tribe, go with a more full-bodied wine like a Malbec or Syrah. And again, to ensure a great party, open some sparkling wine to start!

Happy Easter, everyone!