What is going on your dinner table this easter? 
I remember as a kid my parents would serve lamb shoulder and mint jelly then bust out the box of California “Chablis” from under the kitchen sink. Wow have times changed. I for one will never eat mint jelly again, and I will only drink Chablis from….well Chablis. And not because I am a snob, but with all the available information today on food and wine my palate has no choice but to evolve. That mint jelly, impossible to pair with anything, will now be a savory mint sauce that will go harmoniously with our 2006 Echeverria chilean cabernet . A full earthy red wine with notes of mint, eucalyptus and dark fruits that pairs nicely with a rich lamb.
A big sweet and salty ham is the perfect match for a dry Riesling. The high acid cleans your palate and if it is a sweet glazed ham the honeyed fruits will bring out the peach and apricot typical in a German Riesling. Our 2006 Sybille Kuntz trocken is the one you want.
Ham makes me think of pineapple, which makes me think of my favorite white wine, Zierfandler. This would be another good white for a sweet ham and a also an interesting choice for a dinner party. Not very well known, it is a unique grape that has honey and quince notes, spice, high acidity, and full body. Let me suggest the 2006 Stadlman ‘Mandel-Hoh’ we have in the shop.If you prefer red, a Beaujolais or Barbera D’Alba would be great with their light body and bright red fruit. One of my favorite wines in the store right now is the 2007 Dante Rivetti Barbera D’Alba. So perfect with food and so delicious on its own as well.
For all of the vegetarians this easter there are many crispy white wines to pair with your asparagus and carrots. Gruner Veltliner for asparagus, Sauvignon blanc for salads, Gewurtraminers for savory and spicy lentil dishes.
Here in NYC, the temperature is hitting the 70’s for the holiday. I would pair a cold bottle of rose for sitting outside in the grass watching the clouds float around and hunting for easter eggs. The 2009 Christian Lauverjat Sancerre Rose is my recommendation for grassy environments with notes of spring breeze and bloom.
I will be working in the shop all day on Easter. Stop by and entertain my easter food/wine pairing obsession and let me suggest a good bottle or two. However, I caution that I am not a professional, and most of my information comes from the internets.