On the hunt for the Perfect Easter treats? Stop searching – they’re all right here!
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr
Updated 11/10/2023
The great traditions of the Easter holiday and celebrations are hot cross buns, Easter eggs and roast lamb. Just writing about it already makes me feel hungry, and thinking about what should we drink this coming holiday?
I know I will be helping organise and supervise the kids Easter egg hunt around the garden or if the weather is poor, in the house. Thinking up different clues each year is becoming a bit of a challenge!
The great traditions of the Easter holiday and celebrations are hot cross buns, Easter eggs and roast lamb. Just writing about it already makes me feel hungry!
Fortnum and Mason's have an incredible selection of Easter eggs, from fun small "egg hunt" boxes like the Nougat Chocolate Easter Egg Box for £9.95, up to some sublime gifts for loved ones.
It occurs to me that if, hopefully, it is a nice sunny day, there is the ideal wine to drink outside whilst supervising the egg hunt. In pretty easy open cans, The Uncommon Wine of England "Eleanor" Sparkling Rose, 4x25cl cans for £18.95 from F&M.
Perfect for a warm spring day, made from Pinots from Kent and Hampshire, so a sublime endorsement of all things English, fresh, crisp, soft red fruit fizz, light, refreshing and fun for all the adults on Easter morning.
For the one you love, again from Fortnum's, is a beautifully packaged Easter egg full of Handmade Rose and Violet Creams, £45, a wonderful treat.
Easter lunch has got to be Roast Lamb. Now what to drink with the lamb? Well Bordeaux is always my top choice, the complex blend of grapes, the dry crisp backbone of tannin and acidity to cut through the fat of the meat and compliment the protein, it is always a gastronomic joy.
Easter lunch has got to be Roast Lamb. Now what to drink with the lamb? Well Bordeaux is always my top choice!
Fortnum's have a number of great wines which work exceptionally well.
If you like classic Bordeaux, with its complexity, a slight austerity but elegance, try the Fortnum's Margaux 2012 Brio de Cantenac Brown, £42.50 per bottle – or 10% off when you buy 6 or more.
If you prefer something equally complex, but a little rounder and more voluptuous, Fortnum's have an excellent wine from the top South African producer Meerlust. The Fortnum's Stellenbosch Red, a typical Bordeaux blend of the two Cabernets plus Merlot, and delicious for £15.95.
After lunch, inevitably more Chocolate, and perhaps for tea, Hot Cross Buns?
As a post lunch or dinner digestif in the Easter spirit, you must try the "Sweet Little Hot Cross Rum Liqueur". A spicy sweet honey liqueur, and quite a talking point, liquid Hot Cross Buns! £24.95 from Master of Malt.
With chocolate, and indeed any rich sweet puddings, again from Master of Malt, is an extraordinary 36 year old sherry. The great sherry house of the wine Tio Pepe, Gonzalez Byas, have a Vina Dulce (sweet wine) from a numbered cask, Nombre 2 of 8 casks. This exquisite complex and incredibly intense old wine is a very special treat and is £63.95 for a 50cl bottle.
If this is a bit rich, Master of Malt also offer Gonzalez Byass' old PX (Pedro Ximinez is a lucious sweet grape used for sweet sherry blends), a half bottle 37.5cl is £26.99.
Port also fits the bill for Chocolate and rich puds. There is a strong trend towards aged Tawny Ports, as lighter, but just as intense and complex, but no need for decanting.
Fortnum's 10 year old Tawny is made for them by the House of Niepoort, and is a lovely gentle Port, sweet round and complex, £27.95 for a 50cl bottle.
So, have a very happy Easter, and eat and drink well.