The Jersey Bites team checked in with some of the Garden State’s most prominent vineyards for their thoughts on Easter wines. Thanks to all who participated in gathering Easter wine picks from top New Jersey wineries!
Villa Milagro Vineyards
Audrey Cross Gambino
Dueña de la viña
“For me Easter is full of the first fragrant flowers of spring, pastel colors and mild and delicate appetizers that often start the Easter meal. Villa Milagro’s Rosita, a flowery and slightly sweet blush wine is a perfect match for these first mouthwatering bites. Delicate and subtle it nicely highlights the flavors of deviled eggs, soft cheeses and mild puffed pastry appetizers. For a savory leg of lamb that has been rubbed with dark herbs and baked to a crisp exterior that yields aromatic and salty slices, we serve Villa Milagro’s Incendio. A classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this dark and delicious wine with hints of smoke explodes with complex layers of chocolate, prune jam, hazelnuts and blackberries.”
Unionville Vinyards
Easter celebrates the Resurrection and the Roman Catholic Church got it right when they lined up Easter on the Ecclesiastical calendar with northern hemispheric Springtime! There is new life everywhere. The emergence of crocus, daffodil, and tulip coincides with baby chicks, ducks and rabbits. The air warms, and the New Jersey table top replaces the hearty rich meals of winter with the beginning bounty of the Garden State. Ramps, fiddlehead ferns, asparagus, and morel mushrooms bring a collision of pleasantly fresh, bitter, and earthy flavors and aromas. It’s the right palate and the right time of year to quaff a vibrant refreshing Dry Riesling. Unionville has two wines that are ripe for Spring, as both our Dry Riesling and Eureka White Blend are herbaceous, floral, and refreshing with only a subtle hint of sweetness, and a lively acidity that leaves your mouth watering for the next bite of your delicious Spring dish.
Sharrott Winery
The traditional Easter dinner of ham with early Jersey-fresh vegetables pairs perfectly with Sharrott Winery Riesling. It’s a sweet, aromatic wine that is fermented at low temperatures to retain the wonderful fruit aromas and smooth finish. Or try Sharrott’s Dry Riesling with a touch of sweetness and a wonderful floral aroma. It’s crisp and clean on the palate. For those who prefer a dry wine, try our Vidal Blanc, fragrant and light-bodied with layers of citrus and pineapple for a tart mouth-watering finish.
Plagido’s Winery
The tasting room staff at Plagido’s Winery recommends Reverance, their benchmark semi-dry white wine with light citrus flavors and the essence of oak. It’s made with Plagido’s signature Marquis grape and pairs perfectly with Easter ham. For red wine lovers, try Plagido’s Cabernet/Merlot Blend, a beautiful, smooth Bordeaux-style blend full of ripe blackberry fruits with just a hint of spice. For a sweet treat with your milk chocolate Easter candy, try Concetta’s Casa Linga, an aromatic sweet red wine with a burst of flavor on the tongue and a mellow finish.
Bellview Winery
Matt Pino
“A great wine will make your Easter meal even better than it already is. While there are a number of wines to choose from, Jersey Devil White is a relatively versatile wine for any type of meal. Jersey Devil White will add just the right amount of sweetness to cut through the saltiness you might find in an Easter Ham. For the red drinkers, we recommend Solavita, a medium bodied red blend. This wine is more accessible than a heavier bodied wine, while still retaining the character you want from a complex dry red. To finish, we recommend Dandelion wine. How fitting to celebrate a new Spring than with our sweet and herbal dessert wine, made of 100% dandelions (best with Key Lime pie).”
Alba Vineyard
Tom Sharko
“Pinot Noir is the quintessential wine to pair with roasted lamb and ham. For white fans, we recommend our Dry Riesling or Gewurztraminer.”
Old York Cellars
Laurin Dorman
“We recommend our Dry Riesling with Easter dinner. This wine seems to work well with the various elements of the meal from ham to spring vegetables. While dry it has a lots of stone fruit flavors which keep it light, refreshing and versatile.”