English Wine For Easter Feasting

Looking for the best English wines to try this Easter? Here’s the Marasby 5.

Want to drink English wine this Easter, but don’t know where to start? We can help. We’ve tasted hundreds of English wines from earthy English Pinot Noir to super floral English Bacchus.

Our cool climate white wines have high acidity levels and this is a good thing. Because wines with higher acidity are great for pairing with food. And let’s face it, there’s a lot of food over the Easter weekend.

Eating British seasonal produce is a bit of a challenge this time of year.  One of our favourite farmers’ markets, the Goods Shed in Canterbury, calls it the “hungry gap.” Even classics like roast lamb can be difficult to source locally, that’s because outdoor lambs in this country are naturally born in spring and not ready for the plate until summer.

But that’s not to say that eating seasonally this Easter is impossible.  For traditional fare there’s cooked ham or roast chicken. And if you’re handy in the kitchen you could go for a showstopping salmon en-croute or a Torte Pasqualina.  Any of these dishes would be perfect with a glass of English wine.

And whilst we are a long way from growing cocoa beans in the UK, there’s plenty of chocolate made in England. We’d highly recommend pairing with a glass of English Pinot Noir. Read on to find our favourite.

Here’s our selection of five English wines we’re drinking this Easter. All of which are available to buy direct from the winemaker on Marasby Market, at cellar door prices.

1. New Hall Bacchus –  A Quintessential English Wine for Easter.

New Hall Single Estate Bacchus 2022 is a classic take on the grape and it’s getting rave reviews. It’s an estate grown and bottled wine from the Crouch Valley, Essex. And at just £16.50 it’s one of the most affordable ways to discover wines from this region, arguably the UK’s best for still wine.

Taste: Wonderfully ripe passionfruit and elderflower aromas, with a hint of salinity and a succulent, rounded mouthfeel.

Pair: Spring vegetable tempura or new season crudites for Easter drinks. Spring salads, grilled chicken and seafood dishes.

Buy: New Hall Single Estate Bacchus 2022 £16.50

2. Penn Croft Pinot Blanc 2021 – An English White With An Italian Twist.

Penn Croft Pinot Blanc 2021 is made by one of England’s leading winemakers Ben Smith, from fruit grown in one of England’s best vineyards in Crouch Valley, Essex.  If you like Pinot Bianco, you’ll love this.

Taste: Ripe, opulent and bursting with ripe pears, apricots and hints of exotic spice, this is a wonderfully textured English white wine.

Pair: Torte Pasqualina – an Italian savoury Easter cake made with cheese, egg, spinach and puff pastry.  Generally great with light spring dishes, white meat and fish.

Buy: Penn Croft Pinot Blanc 2021 £32.00

3. Artelium Rosé 2022 – A Pale and Interesting English Rosé For Easter Ham.

There are just a few bottles left of this delicious English rosé made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.  With fruit sourced from their East and West Sussex vineyards, it’s super pale, but full of character. The wild glass bottle and artist design label make this the perfect bottle to grace your Easter table.

Taste:  Hints of peach and stone fruit, yet crisp and refreshing. Think Provence rosé but with more depth.

Pair: Easter baked ham with a sweet and spicy glaze. Also great with roast chicken.

Buy: Artelium Rosé 2022 £25.00

4. Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 21 – A Sensational Red For Easter Roasts.

2021 was a cooler vintage, but an extended growing season and exceptional Essex-sourced fruit make this one of England’s best Pinot Noirs.  That’s why it regularly makes an appearance on our top 5 list.  It’s also made by one of the UK’s most exciting new winemakers, Sarah Massey. You can read Simon Huntington’s Lyme Bay Winery Profile here. 

Taste: Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2021 is a sensationally ripe, silky, sappy Pinot Noir, bursting with dark cherries, brambles, and exotic spices.

Pair: This wine will complement roast lamb wonderfully and is a perfect partner for beef stew for a hearty Easter dish.

Buy: Lyme Bay 2021 £29.99

5. Everflyht Rosé de Saignée 2020 – A Unique Sparkling Wine For Easter.

This is a superbly complex and elegant English sparkling rosé, made by one of the UK’s most forward-looking, regeneratively-farmed estates. Read the Everyflyht story.  It’s from the heart of the Sussex countryside and is a beautiful coppery red colour. One of the most unusual and exciting wines you’ll taste this year. 

Taste: With ripe aromas of red fruits, and an appealingly-textured palate, this will grace any Easter table. 

Pair: A beautiful pairing with meringue and rhubarb coulis for a showstopping end to the meal.

Buy: Everflyht Rosé de Saignée 2020 £40

And finally …

At the time of writing all our recommended English and Welsh white wines are available to buy on Marasby Market at the same price as available at the vineyard.  But many of the best wines are made only in tiny quantities, so be quick to avoid disappointment.