Easter drinks

Wine is the perfect beverage for the Easter holiday. A fine Beaujolais or Pinot Noir will add just the right touch to celebrate this ancient festival. But wine isn't the only drink that celebrants favor on this day.

Easter combinations

Easter bunny

This eponymous drink is a fine liqueur that can be served at lunch or dinner, or whenever you feel like it.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz creme de cacao
1/2 oz vodka
1 tsp chocolate syrup
1 tsp cherry brandy

Procedure

Combine the crème de cacao and vodka in a shaker with ice, then give it a few classic mambo dance moves. Strain into an old-fashion glass. Layer the top with chocolate syrup and cherry brandy. If this doesn't make you feel like hopping around, nothing will.

Chambord Spritzer

Another fine liqueur, this raspberry Chambord is so sweet you won't need chocolate. But it does pair well for those with a very sweet tooth.

Ingredients

1 oz Chambord (a black raspberry-flavored liqueur)
1 1/2 oz white wine
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Seltzer (or club soda)
A twist of lemon peel (for garnish)

Procedure

Prepare a tall glass by cleaning, then wiping with a dust free, lint free cloth. Pour in the Chambord, then slowly add white wine around the edges. Top with lemon juice. Add ice cubes, then spritz on the seltzer and garnish.

Tips

Sip with care and make sounds of enjoyment as the mood strikes you.

Wines

It will come as no surprise to wine lovers that sparkling wine or Champagne is the perfect complement to an Easter brunch. The delicate white and frothy bubbles pair perfectly with a bit of brie.

But for those who plan to have a bit of Easter chocolate, a deep red might be more appropriate. You can always claim that you're just trying to consume a healthy amount of antioxidants. Or, you can just declare that the purpose of a holiday is to celebrate!

Robert Mondavi sells a perfect Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon that seems made for Easter. Full of fruit, with a heady aroma, it goes equally well with bread, cheese or chocolate depending on your mood.

The Rocca della Macie Chianti is equally deserving of a place at the Easter dinner table. Made from 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot and 5% rare Canaiolo grapes, this nectar makes mere mortals feel divine. Hints of pepper add just the right zing and the wine goes great with roast lamb.

If you're serving ham, consider a fine white instead. Barton & Guestier makes an extraordinary Vouvray in Loire, France. The floral and fruity balance is round in the mouth and offers the perfect balance of acid and sweet.