Easter Wine and Food Pairings

One of life’s most simple pleasures. Pouring a glass of wine alongside a delicious homecooked meal.

Easter is a time for joy, celebration and gathering with loved ones. It's also a time for delicious food and wine pairings that can enhance your Easter dining experience. Whether you're planning a traditional Easter feast or looking for new and innovative ways to impress your guests, we have the perfect wine pairings for you.

How to pair with lamb

Lamb is a classic choice for Easter dinner and pairs well with a bold red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon. With a deep fruitiness and high tanning level, the red wine cuts through the richness of the meat and complements the lamb's flavours perfectly. We suggest pairing yours with Harvey Nichols Premium Napa Valley Cabernet. A luxury wine, to savour sip after sip.

Cabernet sauvignon works best with a roasted rack of lamb, served over dressed lentils and roasted jersey royals and a sweet treat to finish.

If you’re more accustomed to a glass of white, Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent alternative. The herbaceous flavours of the lamb are beautifully complemented by the wines’ herbal and citrus notes.

Harvey Nichols recommends: Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 and Harvey Nichols Premium Napa Valley Cabernet.

SHOP NOW

How to pair with ham

Ham is a unique sweet and salty cured meat that marries up nicely with an array of both red and white wines. Easter is the perfect opportunity to experiment with different wine styles and flavours to discover a suitable pairing for your ham dish.

The rich meat lends itself to lively white wine varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. If opting for the latter, a lightly oaked Californian Chardonnay such as Au Bon Climat’s Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2019 is a wonderful choice. The wine’s fruity flavours will complement the ham's savoury notes while its acidity cuts through the saltiness.

For red wine aficionados, Pinot Noir is a classic wine pairing with ham. Look out for Pinot Noir options with notes of cherry, raspberry and earthy undertones to balance the saltiness of the ham. The Harvey Nichols Pinot Noir Lover's Trio Case of Three contains three stunning premium wines for you to try, and makes a wonderful gift.

Harvey Nichols recommends: Au Bon Climat’s Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2019 and Harvey Nichols Pinot Noir Lover's Trio Case of Three.

SHOP NOW

How to pair with fish

If you’re staying true to tradition and tucking into a delicious fish dish on Good Friday, be sure to match the intensity of your main’s flavour with your Easter wine.

Accompany strong fishes such as smoked salmon with an aromatic white wine, like Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough or Chile. The Harvey Nichols Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022 is beautifully crisp and features tropical aromas of passionfruit, gooseberry and lime.

For those enjoying white fish such as a grilled sea bass, pair your main with a bottle of Chablis. With its intense chalkiness the Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots 2018 cuts through the smoky, oily fish, tantalising taste buds.

Harvey Nichols recommends: Harvey Nichols Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022 and Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots 2018.

SHOP NOW

How to pair with meat-free dishes

Vegetarian wellington, spinach and feta tart and sweet potato cottage pie are all delicious meat-free Easter Sunday lunch options.

Oh-so-versatile, vegan and vegetarian dishes pair beautifully with an array of red, white and rosé wines.

The Querciabella Mongrana 2019 is a vegan wine that’s full of depth and personality and overflowing with rich, fruity notes. The ultimate embellishment to your Sunday lunch.

For an alcohol-free alternative, the Kylie Minogue Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rosé 2022 is refreshingly light and bursting with berries, cherries and goodness.

Harvey Nichols recommends: Querciabella Mongrana 2019 and Kylie Minogue Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rosé 2022.

SHOP NOW

How to pair with oysters

Oysters and Champagne are a delightful combination. Our preference is the Harvey Nichols Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Vintage Champagne 2015. Divine, sparkling and crisp, the Champagne’s salty minerality marries effortlessly with the Oyster’s natural sweetness.

If you’re feeling indulgent this Easter, why not treat yourself or someone special to a deluxe, Grand Cru Champagne & Raspberry Chocolate Truffles Gift Box. Lovingly finished with a chocolate treat, aka the perfect after dinner pick-me-up.

Alternatively, you can pair oysters with a dry white wine such as Muscadet or Chablis to complement the velvety texture of the oysters.

Harvey Nichols recommends: Harvey Nichols Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Vintage Champagne 2015 and Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne 2014.

SHOP NOW

How to pair with lobster

Chardonnay is a top choice for pairing with lobster. One key consideration when pairing wine with lobster is the serving style. For steamed lobster dishes, a vintage oaky Chardonnay, such as the Meerlust 2021 edition matches perfectly.

If you’re serving straight off the grill, a rich Chardonnay like Shafer’s Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2019 works beautifully.

Harvey Nichols recommends: Meerlust 2021 and Shafer’s Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2019.

SHOP NOW

How to pair with chocolate

When it comes to Easter celebrations, chocolate is guaranteed to be on the cards. As much as we love tucking into them individually, chocolate and wine pairings take some mastering. Our top tip is choosing chocolates with a high cocoa content, be sure to peruse our Easter collection for inspiration.

Match your chocolate treat with a sweet fortified wine or port. Taylor’s Very Old Single Harvest Tawny Port 1970 and Harvey Nichols Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015 are both excellent options.

Harvey Nichols recommends: Taylor’s Very Old Single Harvest Tawny Port 1970 and Harvey Nichols Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015.

SHOP NOW

Whatever you choose to indulge in over the Easter weekend, we hope our guide makes your options a little bit easier. Visit our wine cellar and explore the entire Harvey Nichols Wine offering.

EASTER FOOD AND WINE PAIRINGS

How to pair with lamb

SHOP NOW

How to pair with ham

SHOP NOW

How to pair with fish

SHOP NOW

How to pair with meat-free dishes

SHOP NOW

How to pair with oysters

SHOP NOW

How to pair with lobster

SHOP NOW

How to pair with chocolate

SHOP NOW