Category:Majestic Guides

The Majestic Easter Hosting Guide

With Easter around the corner, we’re pulling out all the stops to celebrate the long weekend! Dive into elegant sparkling options for serving and gifting, as well as the best pairings for your big Sunday roast.

Easter Pairing Guide

If you’re planning a menu this Easter weekend, here are some pairings to take it to the next level! Whether you’re planning something light or a full roast lamb with all the trimmings, we’ve got you covered.

Easter Sparkling

If you’re hosting this Easter weekend, nothing says celebration like a classic bottle of fizz. Or if you’ve been lucky enough to be relieved of cooking duty and need some perfect gifting options to take to your family BBQ, look no further! We’ve got some ideal sparkling selections from crowdpleasers to choices sure to impress.

The Moretti Polegato family have been making Prosecco for three generations. And La Gioiosa Prosecco is their cream-of-the-crop fizz. These rolling hills are where you'll find the very best of the region’s sparkling wine. So if you're going to pick just one bottle, make it this.

If you’re a fan of rosé, try the Devaux 'Oeil de Perdrix' Brut Rosé Champagne. Michel Parisot, the winemaker, is all about maximum flavour. Pinot Noir grapes are picked late in the harvest for as much aromatic flavour as possible. Michel then uses only the first press of the grapes, guaranteeing freshness. The wine is then aged for a minimum of four years – far longer than the required 30 months.

For an elegant classic, go for the Heidsieck & Co. Monopole 'Gold Top' Champagne from one of only 24 Grand Marque Champagne houses. You can always rely on these highly esteemed houses for quality, but Heidsieck stands out for combining quality with incredible value. Gold Top is their most decadent cuvée. The wine is aged for up to a decade before it's released, so such a lengthy process results in seriously luxurious bubbles.

Nyetimber 'Classic Cuvée' is a local favourite and their flagship fizz. It's made in the same way as traditional French sparkling, giving it equally complex flavours of toasted brioche and apple. Cherie is devoted to impeccably high standards at each stage of production.

It has been family-owned for seven generations and is one of Champagne’s most respected names. If you’re going all out, the Louis Roederer Collection Brut Champagne is the perfect option. This release has racked up several 90+ critic scores, with Jancis Robinson MW stating, “This deserves to be priced above regular non-vintage Champagne".

Louis Roederer 'Collection' Brut Champagne

Pair with Appetisers

If you’re looking for a fantastic alcohol free choice, be sure to try a Lucky Saint. Luke Boase wanted to create a non-alcoholic beer with a difference. It's an unfiltered lager made from Bavarian spring water, pilsner malt and Hallertau hops. The result? Refreshing biscuity malts and a smooth, citrusy finish. Perfect with salads and canapés

Fairleigh Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

Committed to producing true Marlborough regional styles, Fairleigh Estate Sauvignon Blanc has a fresh minerality that reflects the influences of its terroir's cool, ocean-tempered climate and ancient beach gravels. You’re sure to love this one if you like a traditional Sauvignon. Enjoy its vibrant acidity and lingering finish with fresh fish dishes.

Another great one for seafood starters is the Villemarin Picpoul de Pinet. Picpoul vines are almost exclusively grown in Picpoul de Pinet – an appellation next to the Languedoc’s Thau Lagoon near Montpellier. The area is a plateau covered in vines, fragrant garrigue herbs and pine groves. You’ll be transported to the Mediterranean with this one.

For any tapas-style appetisers, a Rioja is the only choice, and you won’t go wrong with the Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva. Up until the 1850s, the locals had made only light, young wines. In 1858, Riscal introduced the ‘Bordeaux method’ of barrel ageing. From that moment on, the practice became integral to Rioja. This is made from vines that are at least 50 years old, and mature vines make the tastiest grapes. Especially good with jamón.

Pair with roast lamb.

Léon Perdigal Côtes-du-Rhône is a great go-to for meat dishes. The legendary first cellar master at Ogier’s famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape cellars, founded in 1859. It’s a blend of Grenache and Syrah from sites across the Southern Rhône – a perfect balance of jammy red fruit and classic Syrah spice. Perfect with lamb or other grilled meats.

Clos de Luz is a family winery located in Almahue Valley, known as the birthplace of the Carmenere grape in Chile. The Intacto Gran Reserva Malbec has intense notes of black fruits, blackberries, ripe cranberries and chocolate that pair deliciously with lamb chops. Now spanning over 33 hectares of vineyards, they are some of the oldest Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Chile.

A relatively recent addition to the range, the Oath Shiraz is a must-try. From the padlock on the label to the keyhole on the lid, the design symbolises this unbreakable commitment to craftsmanship. For this range, our Australian buyer, Jonathan Tiffany, partnered with the iconic Chateau Tanunda, a Barossa estate with more than 130 years of winemaking tradition. Perfect with BBQ and braised red meats.

The Oath Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia

If you like a Cabernet Sauvignon, go for the Jim Barry 'Cover Drive'. The Jim Barry winery specifically chose to pick its Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the cooler-climate Clare Valley and Coonawarra regions. In these spots, the grape develops deliciously over a long ripening period. Delicious with hearty lamb dishes.

Jim Barry 'Cover Drive' Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia

Pair with chicken dishes

A great beer pairing for your main is the Paulaner Münchner Hell, a beer with heart. Paulaner reflects the way of life of typical Munich folk like no other. It's the most popular beer in Bavaria. It has the perfect balance of maltiness and bitter hop notes that hasn't changed for decades. Pair with roasted or spicy chicken.

A guaranteed crowdpleaser, it's unusual to find such high quality at a price as affordable as the Pringle Bay Pinot Noir. You'll find soft red cherry, plum and summer fruit notes, plus a touch of baking spice. It pairs excellently with lighter dishes and can even be served slightly chilled.

Romania is where insiders look for great value and great-tasting Pinot. Incanta Pinot Noir is no exception. It’s in the swing of a post-Soviet winemaking renaissance. This Cramele Recas Estate is now the most successful winery in Romania, and they continue to set new trends for Romanian wine. Lovely with a classic roast chicken.

The Oath Chardonnay, Barossa Valley, Australia

The Oath Chardonnay is no ordinary Chardonnay. Chateau Tanunda’s head winemaker, recognized as a 'Top 100 Master Winemaker' by Drinks Business Magazine UK in 2020 and 2022, is truly among the best in the country. A touch of oak spice adds extra complexity, and it is especially wonderful when paired with creamy chicken dishes.

For fans of a classic Chardonnay blend, the Roebuck Estates Reserve is made up of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and it spends at least two years ageing on its lees to give it a rich texture and decadent complexity. Discover elegant flavours of baked apple, ripe apricot and almond. Try it with grilled chicken dishes.

Pair with vegetarian dishes

Beato Bartolomeo Pinot Grigio Superiore is a fantastic apéritif, but it is also great with green salads and light fish dishes. Pinot Grigio’s heartland is in Veneto, northeast Italy. It’s where you’ll find Breganze DOC, a tiny region in the Alpine foothills which is known for prioritising quality above all else. It’s so small that the region’s growers have formed a single cooperative.

Beato Bartolomeo Pinot Grigio Superiore, Breganze

Although Provence rosé is replicated the world over, nothing beats the real thing. And Côteaux Varois en Provence is one of the best places to find it at a pocket-friendly price. Their Domaine La Chautarde Rosé is especially good, coming from an under-the-radar region sheltered by a series of mountain ranges – keeping the climate cool and the wines fresh. Brilliant with pizza or tomato pasta finished with fresh herbs.

Domaine La Chautarde Rosé, Côteaux Varois en Provence

For those who want to try something new, you can’t go wrong with the Pietraia Pecorino d'Abruzzo, an intensely floral, minimal intervention Pecorino. The vineyards lie on hilly, mainly clay-limestone soil, which gives these wines body but, at the same time, a surprising freshness. An excellent pairing for soft and blue cheeses.

If you like a Chablis, the Moillard-Thomas Chablis is a lovely, fresh choice. Swift pressing is used after harvest and fermentation in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats. The result is a wine with complexity, minerality and aromas of white stone fruits and citrus. It’s already drinking well but could continue to age well for a few more years. A natural match for goat’s cheese dishes.

Pair with Chocolate and desserts

You might not think of matching your dessert with a beer, but the BrewDog Punk IPA might change your mind. It’s a light, golden classic and delivers bursts of caramel, tropical fruit, grapefruit, pineapple and lychee. With a bitter finish, it works well with citrusy desserts such as Orange or lemon Crème Brûlé.

Prosecco is a great pick for an easy dessert partner, and Aqualta Prosecco is a go-to. Our buyers tasted countless Proseccos to try and find the perfect union of flavour and value, but we couldn't quite find what we were looking for. So we decided to commission it. Aqualta was the result, made exclusively for us - and we think it's the perfect Prosecco. Try it with all kinds of cakes and tarts.

Alain Grignon Reserve Carignan Vieilles Vignes, France

For something special, try the Alain Grignon Reserve Carignan Vieilles Vignes, a best-selling southern French red from their 80-90 year old vine reserve. Carignan is focused on quality, and it’s made using grapes from at least fifty-year-old vines, as referred to by the term ‘Vielles Vignes’ – some are even a hundred years old. Try serving with tangy desserts.

Mythral Rosé is the ultimate selection for rosé lovers. This is an exclusive blend created by Majestic’s rosé buyer, Matt Fowkes and winemaker Noémie Delavigne. Mythral plays homage to the fable of the dragon of Provence, ‘La Coulobr. ’. The name ‘Mythral’ is also an ode to the Mistral wind that blows through the Provence region. It makes for a great aperitif, but you can also try it with any chocolatey dessert.

Easter cocktails

Since we’re getting excited about the weather warming up, why not get the summery cocktails out for Easter? Nothing says waving goodbye to the cold like an aperol spritz or a pimm’s in the garden, and your mocktails never tasted better with the addition of our non-alcoholic Everleaf Mountain.

Aperol is the Italian classic with a distinctive bittersweet flavour thanks to its unique infusion of rhubarb, orange and herbs. This is a top-secret recipe that hasn’t changed since 1919. Its flavours blend perfectly with Prosecco for a fresh Aperol spritz, the easy cocktail highlight of any celebration.

Pimm’s hardly needs an introduction. No. 1 Cup is so prized by Britain that it holds a Royal Warrant. It's complex and botanical with notes of bitter-sweet caramelised orange and herbs. Fill a jug with one part Pimms and three parts chilled lemonade and add mint, cucumber, orange and strawberries for the ultimate summer refreshment.

Everleaf Mountain is a beautifully crafted non-alcoholic aperitif inspired by mountain flavours. Sustainably sourced botanicals like cherry blossom, sweet strawberry, and bittersweet rosehip create a layered, aromatic blend. Floral yet refreshing, it’s ideal for mindful sipping or as a base for elegant no-alcohol cocktails.

If you’re looking for a simple classic, Bombay Sapphire is a fragrant, clean-sipping, and satisfyingly dry gin. Discover flavours of juniper, pepper and chili as well as Indian spices like cardamom, from which its name originates. Take a look at the perfect Easter gin cocktail recipe below.

Elderflower gin fizz:

1. Fill a tall glass with ice
2. Add 50ml of Bombay Sapphire Gin
3. Top up with 100ml of Chosen by Majestic prosecco
4 . Add 15ml elderflower syrup and some fresh lemon juice
5.Garnish with a lemon wedge

Now you’re fully prepared for the long weekend- what better excuse for great food, great wine, and maybe even a few sweet treats or a little Easter egg hunt? Happy Easter!

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The Majestic Easter Hosting Guide

The Majestic Easter Hosting Guide

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