Winemaker’s Blog: Three White Wines for your Easter Table

WRITTEN BY LUKE TRAINUM, WINEMAKER AT HAZY MOUNTAIN

For many of us, Easter is the bursting of green new life, warm weather, and the feeling of finally being out of winter and into spring! The new spring feeling shows up in all of our decisions on Easter weekend - from the foods we prepare, the clothes we wear, the flowers we set the table with, and of course, the wines we drink! As a Virginian, I hope to enjoy a few southern classics this holiday weekend; a beautiful spring salad, baked ham, golden mashed or scalloped potatoes, crisp green beans, glazed carrots, and maybe a few too many deviled eggs. If I am lucky, some fresh shrimp and briny oysters from the coast, fresh yeast rolls or biscuits, a banana pudding with merengue, and some form of a delightful lemony dessert might also be on the table! 

Now you need wine for your lovely spread. For myself, Easter Sunday must feature white wines and plenty of them. I want white wines that are vibrant, opulent, refreshing, and leave me wanting another glass. I select white wines that will pair well with as many dishes on the table as possible, but there is usually quite a spread to choose from. Here is a roundup of some of the best white wines you can serve alongside your favorite Easter dishes. 

Riesling

Riesling is one of the first wines that I reach for to pair with an Easter meal. The lively acidity and floral nose flow perfectly into an Easter meal where fresh salads, crisp vegetables and a glazed ham are a common staple. Riesling is a natural match for the flavors you commonly find in a spring salad, elevating the components of the salad and the wine with their pairing. The acidity of Riesling holds up well as a contrast to a sweet baked ham without totally overwhelming it. Our 2020 Riesling is the perfect candidate for your first glass as the salad course begins.

Chardonnay

An Easter table without a bottle of Chardonnay would be a sad sight. Chardonnay is the backbone of an Easter Sunday wine list. Your aunt wants a bottle of it, you want a glass of it, we all want it there. What goes better with a fresh baked yeast roll or spoonful of buttery mashed potatoes than a beautiful, golden glass of Chardonnay? We have just the one for you, our 2019 Chardonnay is barrel fermented and barrel aged in French oak. Building up a full structure that is balanced by blocking malolactic fermentation, which keeps the refreshing green apple acidity and prevents it from being a heavy, buttery chard. There will be plenty of butter in the potatoes, you don’t need it pouring from the wine as well! There isn’t a bite of food on the table that this chardonnay will not pair with. Try a sip after a deviled egg and tell me I’m wrong.

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is another personal favorite for the table for many of the same reasons that I bring the Riesling. Chenin Blanc is a floral and opulent varietal that carries a vibrant lemon lime like acidity that leaves me craving seafood and rich dishes alike. A glass of our 2020 Chenin Blanc paired with a raw, rich, and briny oyster from Pleasure House Oysters or Ruby Salts, ice cold on the half shell, is a moment of spring nirvana. Our Chenin Blanc is barrel fermented and aged in large French Oak Puncheons that build up structure - a creamy, slightly oily center to the palate with length and austerity to the finish. The acidity leaves the wine with an almost salty note, making it an out-of-this-world pairing with any seafood from the Virginia coast. It is a can’t miss for your Easter celebrations.