Food and Wine Pairing for Passover and Easter

Passover and Easter evoke great memories of family and tradition. For most of us there are traditional meals of honeyed ham, lamb, beef brisket, lasagna, matzoball soup, or whitefish salad. There are some things to think about when you are choosing your wine for the meal. The first and most important thing is have fun and to enjoy your family and friends with whatever you like to drink. If you want to avoid some food and wine pairing pitfalls then lets look at some things to think about.

Honeyed or Sweet Fruit Glazed Foods (Ham)

Foods like ham are usually neutral and can pair well with several different wines, but when you add the sweetness of honey, it will make the wine taste drier. The best analogy to help understand this effect, think of having a glass of orange juice after you've brushed your teeth…yuk!!! The sweetness of the tooth paste sucks all the sweetness out of the orange juice. So if you are having honeyed ham or something with a sweet fruit glaze, choose white wines like a Riesling, a Califorina Pinot Gris, Vouvray (Chenin Blanc), or Viognier; for red wines, a Shiraz/Syrah or a red zinfandel. Stay away from older Cabernets or Cotes du Rhone.

Riesling
2003, Weingut Joh. Haart, Piesporter Goldtropfchen, Germany. $14.
Pinot Grigio
2005 Pavi, Pinot Grigio, NapaValley, CA. $17.
Chenin Blanc
2002, Charles Bove, Vouvray, Loire, FR. $11.
2002, Domaine Du Viking, Vouvray, Loire, FR. $21.50
Viognier
2005, Eric Texier, O Pale, Charnay, FR. $22.50
Shiraz/Syrah,
2001, Gemtree Vineyards, Uncut Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia. $18
Petite Sirah
2004, McManis Family Vineyards, Petite Sirah, CA. $10.
Blends
2002, Lava Cap, American River Red, El Dorado, CA. $14
Zinfandel
2000, Santa Barbara, Lafond Vineyard, Zinfandel, Santa Ynez Valley, CA. $19

Lamb or Beef Brisket

Both cuts of meat are full-flavored and require full-flavored wines. Traditionally herbs and garlic are used in these dishes, so we need to find a wine that shares that link. Generally I would not choose a white wine with these meats; unless you were to select a big California Chardonnay or a White Burgundy.

Lamb: Cabernet, Bordeaux, Shiraz, Merlot, Cotes du Rhone (Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas) Barberesco or Barolo, Tempranillo

Beef Brisket: Pinot Noir, Merlot, Bordeaux, Cotes du Rhone (Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas)

Semillon
Torbreck Barossa Valley, Woodcutter's Semillon, Barossa Valley, Australia.$ 16.50
California Chardonnay or White Burgundy
2003, Charles Creek Vineyards, Las Patolita, Chardonnay, Sonoma County, CA $22.
2003, Verget, Macon-Charnay, Le Clos Saint-Pierre, Macon-Charnay, FR. $21.
Pinot Noir
2004 Hook & Ladder, Pinot Noir Russian River $19.50
Tempranillo
2001, Condado De Haza, Ribera del Duero, Spain. $19.
2002, Ostatu, Crianza, Rioja Alavesa, Spain. $18.
Sangiovese Blend
2002, Valdicava, Rosso di Montalcino, Montalcino, IT. $34.
Merlot
2003, Duckhorn Decoy Napa Valley Red Wine, Napa, CA. $34.
2000, Godwin, Moss Oak Vineyard, Merlot, Alexander Valley, CA. $30
Cabernet Sauvignon
2004, Pillar Box Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz & Merlot, Padthaway, Australia. $12
2000, Laurel Glen, Sonoma Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma, CA. $ 19.
1999, Jacques De Coninck, Beaucanon, Napa Valley, CA. $50.
2000, Robert Craig, Mt. Veeder, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA. $29.
2001, Spring Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa CA. $45
2002, Mount Veeder, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valey, CA. $ $39.
2001, Oberon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA. $20.
Bordeaux
2000, Chateau De Viaud, Lalande De Pomerol, Gironde, FR. $27.
2000, Chateau Du Cauze, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, FR. $36.
Shiraz
2001, Gemtree Vineyards, Uncut Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia. $18
2003, Two Hands, Gnarly Dudes, Barossa, Valley, Australia. $29.50
Cotes du Rhone
2003, Jon-David Headrick, Le Paradou, Grenache, Syrah, Cotes du Luberon, FR. $11.50
2001, Domaine Paul Autard, Chateauneuf du Pape, FR. $38
2001, Domaine de la Solitude, Chateauneuf du Pape, FR. $37
Barberesco
1999, Produttori del Babaresco, Pora, Reserva, Barbaresco IT. $45
Borolo
1999, Seghesio, Borolo, La Villa, Monforte Alba, IT. $38