Easter Wines and Whiskies To Try

Easter signals the arrival of spring, a season of renewal, celebration and hopefully some long-awaited warmth. As you get together with family to celebrate this festive occasion, it is important to make your drink selections just right. The following selection offers a diverse range of wine and 3 delicious whiskies, each embodying the essence of its origin and matching perfectly with traditional Easter food. 

Champagne

Billecart-Salmon Le Réserve Champagne - £46 from Berry Bros

When it comes to Champagne, few houses have remained as quietly assured in their quality and ethos as Billecart-Salmon. Based in the village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ since 1818, this family-run operation has maintained a philosophy that centres on finesse over flamboyance. This a classic Champagne blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay. Grapes are sourced from across the region, including grand and premier cru villages, and the blend typically includes around 50% reserve wines from previous vintages, an unusually high proportion that gives this cuvée a sense of continuity and depth year after year. The nose opens gently with notes of orchard fruit, citrus peel, and a touch of brioche. There are soft floral notes of white blossoms, with the palate full of green apple, pear, and some nuttiness. This is a beautiful and elegant Champagne to serve your guests. 

White Wine

Calvet Pinot Blanc - £12 from Ocado

Alsace does aromatic whites with a quiet confidence, and this Pinot Blanc is a lovely example. Grown between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine, the vineyards enjoy a cool, sunny microclimate that helps preserve freshness and flavour. Expect orchard fruits, citrus blossom, and a whisper of nuttiness, all underpinned by a mineral thread. There’s a gentle texture and a clean finish — ideal for light dishes or as a palate-freshener before dinner.

Hacienda de Lluna Viognier 2024, Spain – 11% ABV – £8.99 from Laithwaites

Viognier may have found fame in the Rhône, but this sun-drenched Spanish version gives it a new accent. Grown in Valencia, it’s aromatic and tropical, with ripe stone fruit flavours that feel made for warm-weather lunches. There’s no oak, no fuss, and no need for food if you're just after a chilled glass in the garden - though a bowl of prawns wouldn't go amiss. Bright, friendly, and frankly a bargain.

Biodiversité White Blend 2023, France – 11% ABV – £14.99 from Laithwaites

France’s obsession with elegance meets modern environmental thinking in this citrussy white blend. Made by négociants Mickael and Camille Alborghetti, who are more interested in planetary health than prestige labels, the wine blends organic Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Petit Manseng. It’s light in alcohol, featherweight in packaging (just 300g per bottle), and comes without a capsule, making it one of the most environmentally conscious wines in Laithwaites’ range. A wine that proves less really can be more — especially when there’s this much freshness in the glass.

Rosè

Violette de Mireval 2024, France – 11% ABV – £9.99 from Laithwaites

Southern French rosé doesn’t need to try hard to be charming, and this one proves the point. Made from the Negrette grape, which you don’t see every day, Violette de Mireval is all about liveliness: ripe strawberries, a touch of exotic fruit, and the kind of crisp finish that makes you reach for another sip. It’s crying out for seafood, though a sunset and a terrace would do nicely too.

Don Cayetano Merlot Malbec Rosé 2024, Chile – 11% ABV – £9.99 from Laithwaites

If you’re chasing a hit of sunshine in a glass, this Chilean rosé delivers. From Luis Felipe Edwards, one of the country’s best-known producers, this blend of Merlot and Malbec is all about juicy summer berries and a plush, easy-drinking texture. It’s the sort of wine you open while the barbecue’s heating up on Saturday and end up finishing before the first burger hits the grill.

Cramele Recaș Orange Wine - £11.49 from Adnams

No oranges, just skin-contact. This is Cramele Recaș showing its adventurous side, blending Riesling, Muscat Ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio into a natural wine that’s full of texture and flavour. Think quince, pear, dried apricot and spice, with a touch of grip and a long, firm finish. Grown near Timișoara, this is modern Romanian winemaking with an old-world soul. A proper food wine, and one for the curious drinker.

Red Wines

Calvet Grande Réserve Bordeaux Supérieur - £12.75 from Ocado

A Bordeaux with structure, poise, and a generous helping of fruit. From gravel-rich soils and a region built on centuries of winemaking, this wine delivers dark berries, plum, and blackcurrant, with a touch of chocolate and spice. It’s a classic claret profile but softened enough to open early. Ideal with roast lamb, or anything requiring a proper red on the table.

Château des Jaumes - £13.99 from Baythorne Wines

From vineyards tucked between the Pyrenees and the Med, this is Southern French red at its most easygoing. A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, it’s soft, lightly spiced, and made without sulfites — letting the fruit speak for itself. Perfect for anyone starting to explore reds with a bit of character. Pour it with grilled meats or just enjoy a glass on its own.

Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône - £9 from Waitrose

Inspired by the vibrant spirit of 1920s Paris, Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône captures the essence of the Southern Rhône Valley. The region's diverse terroir, influenced by the Mistral wind and Mediterranean climate, imparts freshness and vitality to the wines. This particular blend, dominated by Grenache and Syrah, offers ripe cherry notes with a hint of spice, making it great for pairing with roasted meats. It now comes in 150ml boxes and cans, so it is perfect if you are having a larger gathering. 

Notebook Old Vines País 2022, Chile – 13.5% ABV – £10.99 from Laithwaites

País is one of those grapes that’s been in Chile forever but is only now being given the attention it deserves. Here, winemaker Jorge Martinez ferments it at low temperatures to keep things juicy and fresh, letting the old vines do the talking. The result is light on tannin, big on red fruit, and best served with a slight chill. It’s picnic wine with personality - and a bit of a conversation starter.

Babele Merlot 2023, Romania – 13% ABV – £7.99 from Laithwaites

Romania’s Cramele Recaș knows how to deliver value, and Babele is no exception. Silky, soft, and packed with bright plum and spiced red fruit, this Merlot punches above its price point. It’s named after a springtime celebration, but it feels like a solid year-rounder for Easter. No gimmicks, no pretence - just smooth, crowd-pleasing drinking at a very sensible price.

Whisky

The Whisky Exchange Seasons  - Spring

This is the final instalment of the Seasons series, which have been chosen to showcase green and floral notes. These are all delicious and worthy of a place in your drinks cabinet. 

Glentauchers 2013 10 year old 58.6% - £72.95 from The Whisky Exchange

A Speyside distillery often flying under the radar, Glentauchers is known more as a blending workhorse – but that’s exactly what makes indie bottlings like this so compelling. Built in 1897 and now owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard), the distillery rarely releases official bottlings, leaving the field open for independent casks to showcase the distillery’s gentle, fruity charm.

This 10-year-old single cask release dials up the distillery character: On the nose there are rich tea biscuit notes along with almonds and honey. Classic Speyside fruitiness comes through in the form of apples and vanilla from the American oak cask, giving a beautiful structure and medium full palate. A great example of Glentauchers’ potential when left to shine on its own.

Caol Ila 2014 9 year old 59.9% - £74.95 from The Whisky Exchange

Caol Ila, perched above the Sound of Islay, was founded in 1846, and is Islay’s largest distillery by output and often the quiet giant behind peated blends like Johnnie Walker Black Label. But single cask indie bottlings like this one show just how complex and vibrant Caol Ila can be.

This 9-year-old is refined, rather than aggressive in terms of smoke with underlying fresh, spring notes. The palate shifts into fruitier territory with some spicy spice notes that remimnded me of jalapeno peppers, with a slight salinity. It has both youthful energy and coastal complexity. A modern, food-friendly Caol Ila with a bright vegetal character that would appeal to mezcal fans and peat lovers alike.

Linkwood 2013 10 year old 57.1% - £67.95 from The Whisky Exchange

Linkwood is one of Diageo’s hidden gems – not flashy, not loud, but quietly elegant. Based in Elgin and founded in 1821, it's a distillery prized for its fragrant, floral spirit that forms the backbone of many high-end blends. Official single malt releases are rare, so independent casks like this one offer a welcome window into Linkwood’s refined nature.

This 10-year-old single cask has been matured in American oak, bringing out the distillery’s trademark orchard and floral notes. It is wonderful to smell this at cask strength which brings out the honey, floral notem biscuits and a hint of citrus. The palate is smooth, and honey, spice and stone fruits are all present. It finishes on a grassy note that leaves you reaching for another sip. If you’re a fan of floral, elegant Speysiders, this is one not to miss.

Ben Nevis 28 year old Douglas Laing XOP Whisky Exchange Exclusive 52.89%- £375 at the Whisky Exchange

Distilled in 1996, this exclusive Ben Nevis release from Douglas Laing’s XOP range captures the distillery’s hallmark depth with remarkable finesse. The Whisky Exchange describes notes of fresh peach, rich fudge, dried fruits, treacle, and soft baking spices—and they’re right. It’s superb.

On the nose, there’s sticky reduced orange juice, quince, and a background hum of polished oak. The fruit leans toward the overripe, but never feels cloying. The palate brings in soft toffee, more of that treacle, and a richness that suggests dark muscovado sugar. Texture is mouth-coating but balanced, with subtle spice to finish. A contemplative dram that wears its age lightly.

Australian Rum 2014 Transcontinental Rum Line Whisky Exchange Exclusive 64.2% - £89 from The Whisky Exchange

From Australia’s oldest distillery, this single-barrel bottling is a bold introduction to a rum-producing country that’s too often overlooked. A smart pick for fans of Barbados or Jamaica looking to branch out.

Despite the high strength, it’s remarkably easy to sip. Pineapple and guava lead on the nose, with molasses and a drift of coconut cream giving it some roundness. On the palate, it’s clean and more savoury than expected—think salted nuts, papaya skin, and a flicker of burnt sugar. The finish hints at toffee apple and a touch of toasted oak. Intense, individual, and well worth exploring.