Tag Archives: easter

Our Top Easter & Passover Wine Picks

They’re two of our region’s most celebrated holidays, two that we look forward to all year. And even if you don’t honor the traditional Easter or Passover rituals, there’s lots to toast to this weekend. Spring has sprung, and our markets are bursting with the new season’s first produce. Here’s what our team recommends to accompany all spring occasions. Whatever you may celebrate – we hope you do so with great wine, family and friends.

OUR TOP EASTER PICKS

Quinta do Encontro Brut
A delightful, relative newcomer to the store that we can’t get enough of. This Portuguese sparkler is dry with vigorous bubbles, and tastes like a dream $25 Champagne, but is half the price! Pop it open to welcome your Easter guests or sip on it as a reward for spending all of Sunday in the garden. $10.99

Steininger Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 
This spring-in-a-bottle charmer will be spectacular with your Easter ham, lamb or vegetarian quiche. Our Wine Manager Kate just returned from a visit to this Austrian winery, where the winemaking family reveled that this past, warmer season was the best vintage they can remember in over 15 years.  Ask her to show you pictures of the lovely family and underground cellars. If you like Whispering Angel, you need to try this Austrian gem!  $19.99

Henri Perrusset Macon Villages Chardonnay 
A wine perfectly suited for spring holiday meals!  This light French white is easy drinking and a super classy selection from the Kermit Lynch Portfolio.  It’s easily one of our absolute favorites.  Crisp, like the morning dew on an early, spring morning. $21.99

Raul Perez “Ultreia” Mencia  
This wine is so special! It tastes like a delicious jam made from Scandinavian raspberries with hints of dried herbs, and a smooth, somehow refreshing finish!  Even, Eric Asimov, NY Times  Wine Critic  agrees, including it in his most recent roundup of value wines not to be missed. It’s a beautiful complement to the Easter mainstays of lamb, ham and roast beef. $21.99

And then there are the bottles below. They do double duty, what with their spring-themed labels and all. Never fear – we wouldn’t recommend them if we didn’t like what was behind the label a whole heck of a lot:

The Little Sheep
What an elegant rose, with notes of red summer berries and delicate floral notes. Smooth, and beautifully balanced with fruit-forward flavors and cherry hints that lead into a refreshing, enjoyable finish. $12.99

Lelievre Pinot Auxerrois
We brought this wine in last year and just had to include it again here, given its affinity to spring foods. It’s from Lorraine, near Champagne and Chablis. Though different from those two wines, if you like them, you’ll love this, too. It’s incredibly, beautifully aromatic, and round with pear and white-fruit flavors, all brought together with a delicate acidity. And did you notice the bunny on the label? Could it be more perfect for this spring and Easter?  $18.99

Le Poussin Rose
Made by by Sacha Lichine of Whispering Angel fame, the “Pink Chick” is a delicate, pale pink blend made mostly from grenache with a little dash of syrah to round it out. It has floral, rose petal scents on the nose and a dry, well balanced palate with supple summer fruits. It’s one of our most popular, packed full of flavor, at a great price. $11.99

OUR TOP PICKS FOR PASSOVER

O’Dwyer’s Creek Sauvignon Blanc
This Kosher for Passover and vegan beauty of a wine is made on a single estate in the iconic Marlborough region of New Zealand. It’s vibrant with juicy, tropical fruits and pairs perfectly with the Passover table. $17.99

The Butcher’s Daughter Bordeaux
A great wine that just happens to be kosher for Passover, this Bordeaux blend is ripe with a bouquet of cassis and raspberry fruit, and a deep cocoa character. Made to drink with your brisket or lamb roast. It’s a year-round best seller! $13.99

Terra Vega Malbec
From Chile, this silky and balanced wine pairs beautifully with brisket, what with its amazing aromas of plum, cherry and herbs, all followed by a fruit-sweet, biscuit finish. $9.99

Chag Pesach! Happy Easter! Happy Spring!
xoxo, Team Bottles

prices subject to change

Four Reds for Easter and Spring!

Last week we gave you Bottles’ top Spring picks for white and rosé wine. Today we share our favorite reds that will pair beautifully with lamb, ham, and other heavier dishes you’ll have on your table this season.

primariusPrimarius, Pinot Noir, Oregon
A rich, luxurious pinot from Oregon with bold fruit and an interesting mineral/graphite element that makes it a no-brainer pairing with lamb. It’s also gentle enough for fish.

guerraArmas de Guerra, Mencia, Bierzo, Spain
One of our favorite values in the store! It’s made from grapes from super old vines (50+ years!) and is studded with energetic aromas and flavors of sappy black fruits and fresh violets.  A perfect springtime wine!

bruniBruni “Poggio d’Elsa” Red Blend, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy
A “Super Tuscan” 50/50 blend of sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon that over delivers for the price.  Rich, dry and brooding with a softness and a gorgeous depth of flavor that will pair well with roasts and richer meat-based dishes on your Easter table.

secatursAA Badenhorst “Secateurs” Red Blend, Swartland, South Africa
Our favorite wine (at the moment) from South Africa.  A perfect blend of grapes usually found in the South of France, this wine typifies the terroir of South Africa: minerally, juicy and bold. Terrific with grilled or roasted pork.

Happy Spring!

###

Top Wines for Easter & Passover

easterpassover-vert-blog

Spring is nearly here! At Bottles, we are always happy to help you select the perfect wines for your holiday menus, ensuring maximum holiday enjoyment with minimal stress. Our holiday display is a sampling of our favorite picks for your festivities, whether you’re serving a honey glazed ham, roasted rack of lamb or a poached cod with a sage sauce.

easterwine-butchersdaughterbordeaux

Butcher’s Daughter Bordeaux (Kosher for Passover)
A Bordeaux with black cherry and raspberry that happens to be kosher, the house wine of “La Fille du Boucher” a Parisian restaurant located a few blocks from the vintner’s father’s butcher shop.

easterwine-lesdaronslanguedoc

‘Les Darons’ Languedoc
A seamless blend of Grenache and Carignan, with notes of fruit and spice from one of the most underrated regions in France. 

easterwine-haicab

Hai Cabernet Sauvignon (Kosher for Passover)
Red currants, plum, vanilla notes, and an example of a great wine that just happens to be kosher. 

easterwine-oysterbay

Oyster Bay Pinot Noir
A light wine with plum and cranberry notes that will meet the sweetness in ham and not overpower lighter dishes.

easterwine-domanewachauriesling

Wachau Riesling
A wine with bright acidity and hints of apricot and peach enhance the smoky, salty flavors in pork, making this a perfect Easter wine.

easterwine-lasperdices

Las Perdices Malbec
Plum, black olives, spice flavors with tons of bold character and a smooth dry finish.

easterwine-lamaialinachianti

La Maialina Chianti
Red wine with fish? Yes! The acidity in this classic Italian red will meet the salt in your favorite fish dish, with a smooth, enjoyable finish.

easterwine-borgopinotgrigio

Borgo M Pinot Grigio
A remarkably dry Pinot Grigio, notes of honeysuckle and melon are woven through this complex yet completely approachable wine.

easterwine-grinaldavinhoverde

Grinalda Vinho Verde (Kosher for Passover)
Light and tart, with a slight effervescence, a great wine with fish and sunny days.

easterwines-horiz-group1

Happy Spring Holidays!

-Joanna

Top 10 Easter Wines Under $20

Top 10 Easter Wine picks

We love feasting holidays, and the arrival of spring also means Easter is on its way. Pairing wines for Easter is a treat for us, because rather than the heavier and richer wines that you’d have on Thanksgiving, wines that pair with a traditional Easter dinner are lighter and fresher. We’ve hand selected ten of our favorite wines that will pair with glazed ham, roasted lamb, fresh veggies and everything on the table.  Come in and look for more wines marked with orange flower tags, or ask any of our knowledgeable staff for assistance. We are here to help!

PRINTABLE EASTER WINE LIST >

easter wines

Botter Moscato
A little sweet, a little fizzy – great by itself or with light salads.  A perfect way to start off the day during Easter brunch.

Ca’ Furlan Prosecco
Our favorite inexpensive sparkling wine! This makes a mean Mimosa or Bellini, but it’s also great on its own.

Feudi di San Gregorio Lacryma Christi
This virile and powerful red from Campania translates to “Tears of Christ”.  We can’t think of a more appropriate wine for Easter, and it pairs really well with Lamb!

Mulderbosch Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon
Deeply colored, boldly flavored and mighty delicious, we really recommend this rosé as one of the best pairings with ham.

The Immortal Zinfandel
A really great Zin from vines that were planted in the 1880’s.  Big bold fruit with a bit of strawberry and cocoa.

Dr. Loosen Riesling
Perfect with ham and lighter dishes.  Not too sweet, but loaded with ripe peach and grapefruit.  Sophisticated and delicious!

Château de Segries Côtes du Rhone
A very well made, very elegant wine that will please any red wine drinker.  Pair with lamb or anything roasted.

Château Magneau Graves
A stunning Bordeaux that has both beautiful fruit flavors but also a pronounced mineral element that makes it the best pick for pairing with Lamb

Toad Hollow Chardonnay
Perfect for those that want to serve a Chardonnay but doesn’t want loads of oak and butter.  Crisp, clean and drinks just like an expensive French Burgundy.

Tintero ‘Grangia’
A tiny bit fizzy and very delicious.  Aromas and flavors of white flowers and ripe stone fruit.  Springtime in a bottle – pair with Easter Egg Hunts and anything you’d eat for lunch.

Cheers!
Eric Taylor
Bottles General Manager

 

Easter Wine Video

Spring is coming, which also means Easter is on its way! While kids enjoy Easter candies and dyed eggs, adults get ready for Easter dinner and brunch with family and friends. What wines match best with what’s on the table? Here at Bottles, we’ve made pairing wine with ham, lamb, and other foods easy with an Easter wine recommendations video, and signs throughout our Providence wine store.

Watch this video to see what Eric’s favorite picks are!
 

If you are in the Providence, Rhode Island area, pay us a visit! We’ve placed these fun springtime flowers on wines around the store, to help you find affordable but quality wines that are great for Easter. Pair them with appetizers, lamb, ham, and desserts, or bring them as a hostess gift!

In a hurry? Look for the wine case stacks near the front of the store for grab-‘n-go Easter wines.

And as always, we’re here to help. We love talking about food and wine pairings, so swing by, call us, or email us for expert advice.

141 Pitman St., Providence, RI
(401) 372-2030
info@blog.bottlesfinewine.com