I'm seeing pink this Easter.
But, I'm also seeing white and red and sparkling.
I'm speaking, of course, about your diverse-and-delicious options for an Easter long weekend of wine pairing.
Wine paired with the patio, the deck, the backyard, friends, relatives, ham and lamb.
Let's start with the pink because I mentioned it first.
The pale hue of an exceptional Rose is ideal for spring and Easter as both occasions trigger change and light, love and joy.
CedarCreek Estate Winery knows this, which is why it recently had a Rose Soiree, inviting wine drinkers to the Kelowna estate to sip its four pinks in the sunshine.
"CedarCreek is well-known for its Roses," said guest experience manager Brynne Dickson as she handed me and my wife, Kerry, glasses of 2023 Platinum Naramata Pinot Noir Rose ($42).
"We set the bar high with our Rose program."
- CedarCreek Aspect Sparkling Pinot Noir Rose 2020 ($80)
Pop the cork on this Champagne-method baby and sip with friends and family on the patio this weekend before Easter dinner.
- CedarCreek 2024 Reserve Pinot Noir Rose ($26)
Made with grapes from Oregon's esteemed Willamette Valley under the 'Crafted in BC' program allowing Okanagan wineries to bring in grapes from outside the province because January 2024's brutal cold snap decimated the 2024 grape harvest here.
This may be the winery's entry-level Rose, but it shines as a prime example of pink done right.
Rose is an inspired pairing with an Easter dinner of ham.
Rose's profile of bright acidity, strawberry and pink grapefruit complements the salty sweetness of ham (especially if it's glazed in honey, pineapple, brown sugar or maple syrup).
- CedarCreek 2023 Platinum Naramata Pinot Noir Rose ($42)
Ditto with ham.
- CedarCreek 2023 Platinum South Kelowna Slopes Pinot Noir Rose ($42)
Another top-shelf Rose that goes with ham, or Easter turkey dinner, if you're leaning that way.
- Kismet 2024 Phulkari Rose ($27) from Oliver
Another pink to be sipped on its own or with ham or turkey Easter dinner.
By the way, Kismet's 600 acres of vineyards yielded a small 2024 harvest, so this pink is made with Okanagan grapes.
- Clos du Soleil 2024 Rose ($27) made by the Similkameen winery of Washington state grapes
As we said, pink and ham is an ideal match.
- Clos du Soleil 2024 Sauvignon Blanc ($26) made by the Similkameen winery of Washington state grapes
Another ideal Easter ham or turkey pairing.
- Evolve 2020 Brut Premiere ($44) from Penticton
Another Champagne-method sparkler to toast Easter and sip alongside ham or turkey.
- Kismet 2024 Sitara Sparkling ($25) from Oliver
Made from the limited harvest Kismet managed in 2024, thus special and meant to be enjoyed with good friends and good food.
- Kismet 2021 Family Select Syrah ($34) from Oliver
Made well before the 2024 harvest crisis, this polished red is the perfect pairing for that other Easter tradition -- spring lamb dinner.
- Mission Hill Reserve 2021 Syrah ($37) from West Kelowna
What makes Syrah lamb-friendly is its violet flower-blackberry-and-black pepper profile.
- Laughing Stock 2022 Pinot Noir ($40) from the Naramata Bench
Pinot is another great option with lamb -- light and bright like spring, but with enough punch to stand up to red meat.
- CedarCreek 2022 Estate Pinot Noir ($31) from Kelowna
More lamb friendliness.
Spring Preview in Summerland
In keeping with Easter being the start of something new, Summerland's Bottleneck Drive collection of wineries, breweries, cideries and spirit makers has its Spring Preview Weekend today through Tuesday.
Many of the members are reopening their tasting rooms after a long winter and are inviting you to come out to explore and sample.
You might even come across the odd Easter egg hunt.
Plan your route at https://www.bottleneckdrive.com/
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
