Four wine experts give their tips on which wine is suitable for the Easter table.
For many, Easter is the start of spring, when we go to the cottage, and put the terraces and grills in order (of course, it depends on the amount of snow).
Iltalehti asked four wine experts to list their own wine list. Award-winning wine writer Ilkka SirénMuru dining’s restaurant manager Sarah Alanderwine expert and writer Sari Sirén and a wine writer and educator Sanna Pöyry give Iltalehti readers their own tips.
At Easter, we gather at the common dining table for good food and wine.
Sari Sirén states that Easter must have better wines, because it is one of the biggest food celebrations of the year.
Sirén recommends choosing red wines with character and style. If the food is lamb, lamb or venison, the wine should be more aromatic and stronger. The same goes for white wine.
Easter is one of the biggest food festivals of the year. Adobe Stock / AOP
According to Sirén, the wine should be richly spicy and herbal. It should have slightly firmer tannins, but really tannic wines should be forgotten. There should be plenty of fruit.
– But you shouldn’t get a headache from the wine choices. Choose the wine you like, Sirén reminds.
In the words of Ilkka Sirén, good Easter wine is fine to drink both in the kitchen, at the dining table and on the terrace.
– If the main course doesn’t count, I often choose a relatively straightforward white wine for the glass at Easter. No barrel maturation, skin contact or other gimmicks, but the grape variety and the place of growth play the main role. That kind of wonderfully clean, cheerfully fruity and crisply acidic white wine that literally screams spring, Sirén paints.
Saara Alander’s table also has fresh spring wines.
Sanna Pöyry reminds us that Blanc de Blancs sparkling wines and champagnes made from pale, acidic grapes are perfect for spring.
– They are good as an aperitif, appetizers, or with a lemony asparagus risotto, for example.
Saara Alander often spends Easter with her family. It is a respite for him in the middle of a busy spring. The days go by hanging out with the family and eating good food. NICOBACKSTROM.COM
Saara Alander’s recommendations:
Loimer Pet Nat Trocken 2021, Austria (€24.99)
This clean-cut Pet Nat is perfect for a party aperitif. Sparkling wine made naturally from aromatic varieties (muskateller, Gruner veltliner) is an excellent alternative to traditional sparkling wines.
Georg Mosbacher Riesling Trocken 2021, Germany (€26.50)
Alongside the spring appetizers, I would pair a fresh dry Riesling from the Palatinate of Germany as a wine for the Easter table. Riesling ferments with natural yeasts in a steel tank, preserving the freshness characteristic of the variety in the wine.
Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage Les Jalets 2018, France (€29.98)
Syrah from the Northern Rhône is the perfect partner for the Easter favorite lamb Karee. The wine has the recognizable tannins and spiciness of Syrah. The warm year’s wine is already ready for the festive table.
In Ilkka Sirén’s wine glasses at Easter, you can find, among other things, a relatively straightforward white wine. Pete Anikari
Ilkka Sirèni’s recommendations:
Tío Pepe Fino Sherry, Spain (€15.48)
Sherry’s distinctive taste world requires learning, but it’s one subject for which you’ll be happy to learn the terms.
The slightly nutty and fresh Tío Pepe Fino Sherry, matured under a veil of Flor yeast, is a divine aperitif in all its simplicity. Serve cold with savory appetizers.
Maison Darragon Vouvray Les Tuffes Chenin Blanc 2021, France (€13.99)
If the spring sun is dazzling and your asparagus teeth are popping, pour a glass of French Maison Darragon Vouvray Les Tuffes Chenin Blanc. Ripe citrus, cheerfully tart and green like a sauna bath. Yum!
Flor de Morca Garnacha 2021, Spain (€13.99)
Campo de Borja, a small wine region south of Navarre, is the playground of the Garnacha grape variety. Lusciously full-bodied, mildly spicy and juicy, Flor de Morca Garnacha is a wonderful novelty in its own right, which in its price category went straight to Alko’s best red wines. Try it with grilled lamb chops.
With the spring sun of Kilva, Sanna Pöyry’s glass of rosé sparkling wine made with the champagne method charms.
Sanna Pöyry’s recommendations:
Taltarni Brut Taché 2014, Australia (€19.49)
As an aperitif for the Easter meal, rose sparkling wine made with the champagne method from the cool island of Tasmania is charming.
Delicately salmon-red, openly fruity and with an elegant acid structure, the sparkling wine from the peak year tastes wonderful on its own and goes well with cold appetizers.
The delicately toasted vintage sparkling wine is especially suitable on the side of a charcuterie plate (a solid tray in which cheeses, antipasti and fruit are firmly attached to each other).
Terras Gauda O Rosal 2016, Spain (€17.66)
Distinctive freshness for the Easter table? Galician white wines offer experiences – and good value for money. The masterpiece of the Terras Gauda winery, mixed with the region’s hit grape Albariño and the Loureiro and Caiño Blanco local varieties, will enjoy itself alongside the Easter fish and veggie delicacies.
Try the green asparagus or creamy asparagus risotto served with cold-smoked salmon and a poached egg. Scented with citrus fruits, peach and wild mint, this white wine, with its stringy essence, tickles the taste buds and is also suitable as an aperitif.
M. Chapoutier Les Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage 2018, France (26.90)
The nuanced, delicious dark cherry bursting and spicy Syrah from the Northern Rhône is an excellent food wine – and the perfect partner for Easter roast lamb and herb-baked carrots.
Taite’s oaked classic has a pleasant earthiness, round tannins and freshly ground black pepper and black olive typical of the wines of the region. This bottle of Chapoutier also tastes good when sipped with strong, salty cheeses.
At Easter, Sari Sirén often prepares lamb’s fiddle or lamb’s curry. Inka Soveri
Sari Sirén’s recommendations:
De Chanceny Excellence Vouvray Brut 2019, France (€19.49)
A truly elegant alternative to champagne can be found in the Loire Valley, where the wine variety, Chenin Blanc, is at its purest. The wine is fresh, dry and, thanks to the cooler climate, has good acidity. The firm structure supports a rich, fruity aroma world.
‘The wine tastes of yellow ripe citrus, apples and a gentle spiciness, which makes it enjoyable on its own and an excellent pair for hearty fish and seafood dishes.
Sauvignon Blanc by Gillot 2022, Germany (€16.95)
Asparagus season is approaching and the classic partner for asparagus prepared in different ways is Sauvignon blanc. This fresh and acidic organic wine comes from Rheinhessen and its aromas are unmistakable.
Lime, green apples, gooseberries and herbs are in great harmony and the balance of the wine carries a really long aftertaste. Wine elevates aromatic fish, roe and other sea delicacies to new dimensions.
Ornellaia Le Volte 2020, Italy (€26.90)
The lamb is the king of the Easter table and deserves a worthy companion. The Tuscan Sangiovese-Merlot-Cabernet blend is rich, dark berry and cherry.
The fine tannicity of the wine and the spiciness brought by the oak give it a nice extra boost. A perfect wine for stronger meats, steaks and game, as well as a glass as it is at the end of the day.