Easter dinner is a time for togetherness and tradition, often centred around comforting dishes like roast turkey, baked ham, or perhaps even baked salmon. No matter what ends up on your plate, choosing the right wine can elevate the meal from simply delicious to truly memorable. Below are some wine pairings, including suggestions from our local BC wineries, that will complement your Easter table.
For Roast Turkey or Ham Lovers
If you’re serving roast turkey or baked ham with creamy mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, opt for wines that enhance the savouriness without overpowering the dish.
Pinot Noir is always a classic match. With its lively acidity and notes of cherry, raspberry, and earthy spice, it gently supports the meat’s subtle flavours. A BC Pinot Noir from the Okanagan or Vancouver Island can offer that ideal mix of freshness and finesse.
Gamay Noir, often an under-the-radar gem, brings a similar profile with a little more playful fruit character. Think juicy cranberries, silky texture, and a lift of acidity that cuts through the richness of gravy or glaze.
Cabernet Franc could be your choice if you’re looking for a touch more structure. Its herbal tones and firmer tannins work especially well with ham’s smoky-sweet profile.
If You Prefer White Wines
Roast turkey and ham can also be beautifully paired with oaked Chardonnay. Its round mouthfeel and creamy notes of vanilla and baked apple complement the butteriness of mashed potatoes and the richness of roast meats. The touch of acidity in BC’s cool-climate Chardonnays keeps the palate refreshed.
Pinot Gris offers a lighter, fruitier experience. Look for versions with orchard fruit notes like pear and peach, medium body, and just enough acidity to balance out richer side dishes.
For those who prefer seafood at Easter, especially a dish like baked salmon, you can’t go wrong with Sauvignon Blanc. Its zippy citrus flavours and bright acidity complement the delicate texture of the fish -especially if you’ve added a squeeze of lemon or a citrus glaze.
A BC Sauvignon Blanc from the Similkameen or Okanagan Valleys will offer vibrant grapefruit and lime notes with a mineral edge, echoing the region’s terroir.
Rosé – Versatility
Looking for a one-size-fits-all pairing? Rosé wine is the answer. Its red berry fruit profile, lively acidity, and low tannins make it flexible enough to go from ham to turkey, and even salmon. Try a BC rosé made from Pinot Noir or Merlot for a balance of flavour and finesse.
Start Sparkling
Before diving into dinner, why not toast the occasion with a glass of sparkling wine? Whether it’s a traditional method bubble or a crisp Prosecco-style wine, the effervescence will cleanse the palate and add a celebratory note to your Easter gathering.
BC Wine Suggestions to Try This Easter
Since last Easter, I’ve tasted many fantastic BC wines that would fit seamlessly into your holiday meal. Here are a few for you.
Red Wines For Roast Turkey or Ham
Pinot Noir:
- Sage Hayward Vineyards Pinot Noir 2022 – A light translucent garnet colour in the glass. Nice red cherry and raspberry aromas. Dry, medium body with a lean mouthfeel. Red fruits and cherries on the palate. Medium acidity and drying tannins.
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- Garnet Valley Ranch Pinot Noir 2022 – No need to decant this wonderful Pinot Noir. I enjoy the variety of aromas and flavours. The wine is nicely smooth but has structure. I think this wine can easily age for 4-5 years. This Pinot Noir has a deep, clear garnet colour. Pretty aromas of floral and plum, with touches of red apple skin, cinnamon and oak. A dry wine with red fruit and candied red fruit, along with floral and hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and anise spices. Medium-plus body, smooth and round. Medium tannins give structure and ageability to the wine. A long length. –
- Blue Mountain Vineyards and Cellars Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir 2022 – has a medium-intensity, clear garnet colour. deep aromas of black fruit, black cherries, toast, and oak. It is dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, soft, thick mouthfeel. Mainly black fruit flavours, plus some sweet spices. Medium-plus length.
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- Spearhead Winery Pinot Noir Cuvée 2022 – It has a deeper, clear garnet colour. Light toasty, floral, ripe red cherry and candied red cherry aromas. Medium-plus body, soft and smooth, with a lightly round mouthfeel. Floral plus a mix of tart and sweet red fruit, red cherry, and touches of sweet spices and toast. Medium-plus length.
Gamay Noir:
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Hillside Winery Gamay Noir 2021 – This wine comes from their Founder’s Block and is a single vineyard wine. It has a medium-intensity clear garnet colour. Light intensity juicy berry nose plus touches of red cherries and spice. Dryish with a round, light mouthfeel. Ripe raspberries and other juicy berry flavours. Fruity. Medium-plus acidity and medium-minus intensity tannins. An off-dry finish. I think this wine would be a perfect pairing with blue cheese.
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Cabernet Franc:
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Blasted Church Renaissance Series Cabernet Franc 2021 – features a deep garnet hue with aromas of char, black fruit, and oak, joined by red fruit notes after decanting. On the palate, it is lighter-bodied with a smooth texture, offering blackberries, plums, char, and oak flavours, plus a hint of coffee post-decanting. A medium-plus finish balances tart black fruit, dusty tannins, and pepperiness, with softer tannins after decanting.
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Haywire Winery Lunar Red 2022 (a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc) displays a clear garnet hue with inviting aromas of red fruit, plums, toast, and leather. On the palate, it is dry with a medium-minus body, bright acidity, and flavours of red fruit, plums, black cherries, and hints of oak and chocolate. A medium-plus finish features red fruit, black cherry, and a touch of pepperiness, with leather notes emerging after decanting.
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Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vines Cabernet Franc 2022 – features a medium-plus to deep garnet hue with aromas of red fruit, berries, oak, and a hint of ginger, remaining consistent after decanting. On the palate, it offers a smooth, round mouthfeel with candied red cherries, floral notes, and hints of cedar and black fruit, becoming softer and less peppery after decanting. A medium-plus finish highlights black fruit and pepperiness, with the pepper softening and nutmeg disappearing after decanting.
White Wines For Ham or Turkey
Oaked Chardonnay:
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Spearhead Winery Gentleman Farmer Vineyard Chardonnay 2012 – Estate fruit with 32% aged in new French oak barrels. This wine has a medium-plus, bright lemon colour. Lighter aromas of flintiness and apples. A smooth, round, thicker mouthfeel. Ripe apple flavour along with light butterscotch and sweet spices on the palate.
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Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Reserve Cuvée Chardonnay 2022 – This oaked Chardonnay has a deep intensity, clear and bright, lemon colour. Rich, ripe aromas of pineapple, cedar and oak, butterscotch and a touch of sweet spices. Dry with a thick, silky smooth, and round mouthfeel. Pronounced flavours of ripe pineapple, butterscotch and oakiness, plus a touch of sweet spices. Medium-plus length.
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Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Legado Chardonnay 2021, BC – “Legado” is their top tier of wines. This wine is stainless steel fermented, aged 15 months in French oak barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation. Painstakingly selected over 15 months from 4 of the most exceptional barrels of the 2021 vintage. This truly is an exceptional wine. It has a deeper, bright lemon colour. Nice, medium-intensity aromas of pineapple and cedar. Wow, it has a thick, viscous mouthfeel. Ripe, rich pears and pineapple flavours plus sweet spices and cedar. Medium-minus acidity. Medium-plus to long length with a touch of sweetness on the finish. Smooth to the end.
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Hester Creek Estate Winery Chardonnay 2023 – delights with a bright, clear lemon hue and enticing aromas of ripe pineapple, pear, and a touch of oak and butterscotch. On the palate, it offers a medium-plus body with a luscious mouthfeel, showcasing ripe pineapple and pear with a hint of oak that grows with decanting. The medium-plus finish balances tartness with oaky dryness, accented by buttery and peppery notes.
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La Frenz Estate Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2022 – A light lemon colour. Light stone fruit nose. Dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Tasty tropical fruits and butterscotch flavours, plus sweet spices. Buttery mouthfeel.
Pinot Gris:
- Mayhem Wines Anarchy Pinot Gris 2023 – has a clear, bright, medium-intensity pear skin colour. Medium-intensity aromas of ripe pears and touches of honey, apricot, and grape stem. Dryish, medium-bodied, with a round, smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Juicy pear flavour along with some apples and pepperiness. Medium acidity. Medium-plus length. –
- Spearhead Winery Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Gris 2022 – This wine has a bright lemon colour. Lighter, fresh stone fruit aromas in the glass. Very tasty flavours of ripe stone fruit, mostly apricot with some peach, and honey. Off-dry with a round, thick mouthfeel. Medium length. Delicious.
- Bench 1775 Winery Pinot Gris 2022 – A lighter, clear, lemon colour. Nice peach, peach skin and honey aromas. Medium-minus body with a smooth, soft and lightly round mouthfeel. Light to medium acidity. Tasty peach flavour with a touch of honey and pepperiness on the finish. An easy sipper.
For Baked Salmon or Seafood Starters
Sauvignon Blanc:
- Fairview Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2023 – It has a light nettle nose. It is dry, medium-minus body, soft with a lightly round mouthfeel. Green fruit and nettles with touches of honey and peach. Some chile pepper flavour with air. Medium-plus acidity. Medium length. Tasty. –
- Chronos Sauvignon Blanc 2023 – A pale lemon colour. Light floral and citrus nose. Light body, slightly off-dry, round and soft mouthfeel. Light herbaceous flavour with citrus rind toward the finish and some grape stem. Medium length.
- Bench 1775 Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – Fermented in stainless steel tanks. It has a pale lemon colour. Nice aromas, medium intensity, of grass, asparagus and green fruits. Medium body, round with a thicker mouthfeel. Medium-plus acidity. Herbaceousness, asparagus and some minerality on the palate. Medium length with tart green fruit on the finish. –
- Howling Bluff Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2023 – A pale lemon colour. Medium-intensity fresh, bright citrus, lime, and green fruit aromas. Medium body, slightly off-dry. Tasty stone fruit flavour with slight pepperiness and tartness on the finish. Medium acidity. A tasty wine.
A Versatile Rosé:
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Ruby Blues Winery Commune Rosé 2023 – shines with a bright salmon hue and aromas of red berries, cherries, rhubarb, and a hint of toastiness that sweeten with decanting. Its off-dry palate offers a smooth, round texture with vibrant red berry and rhubarb flavours, accented by a peppery finish. A medium-plus length finish reveals more pepperiness and strawberry notes after decanting.
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Liquidity Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir 2023 – has a pale peach colour. A light strawberry nose. Dry, medium-minus body, with a soft, lightly round mouthfeel. Strawberries on the palate with light oak and red fruit flavours. Medium-plus length. A delicate wine.
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Fairview Cellars Rosé 2022 – a medium-intensity clear orange colour. Nice fresh strawberry aromas. Dry, medium acidity with a light prickle on your tongue. Nice savoury notes and strawberry flavours. Some bitterness. The acidity keeps this wine fresh.
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Sparkling to Start:
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Chronos Brut Sparkling – a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. Medium intensity clear lemon colour, with significant bubbles on the top of the wine after being poured. Nice lees and apples aromas. Round and mouth-filling. Higher acidity. Smaller creamy bubbles. Crisp apple and lees followed with bitterness. Medium length. Tasty.
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Howling Bluff Estate Winery Astrum Brut 2019 – a sparkling wine made in the Traditional Method with Pinot Noir grapes. A light, clear orange salmon colour. Nice light fruity red fruit aromas. Dry, medium-plus body. Higher acidity and medium intensity, fine-grained tannins. Tasty tart red fruit along with touches of red cherries and floral. Medium-sized creamy bubbles. Medium length with light-drying tannins on the finish.
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Lakeside Cellars Bubbles 2022 – This sparkling wine is made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Nice green fruit and capsicum aromas. Dry with a medium-plus body. High acidity. It has smaller biting and creamy bubbles. Tropical fruit flavours. Medium-plus length with mouthwatering finish.
Enjoy the holidays. Raise a glass. Be grateful.
