With the arrival of Easter just one week away, many people will be back to eating either  ‘meats or sweets’ and with Easter Sunday lunch being very much a family affair, I’ve taken the liberty of highlighting some food and wine ‘perfect pairings’ for readers to try out. So if you are entertaining family or friends and you want to match up some great food and wine partnerships, here are some classic combinations that are guaranteed to please. 

For a choice of starters I’ve opted for a couple of dishes that are fairly straightforward and go with crisp dry white wines that should be chilled so they can both refresh and satisfy during the warmer weather, assuming it will last! My first choice is a simple plate of asparagus, possibly served with a light sauce, with a cold bottle of 2010 vintage Medina Sauvignon Blanc. My second choice would be an uncomplicated plate of fresh smoked salmon, served with a slice of lemon, some fresh ruccola and wholemeal Melba toast and the ideal accompanying white wine – a chilled 2009 vintage Victoria Heights Chardonnay made from very, very, lightly oaked Gozo grown grapes. As for a choice of main courses and to keep your meal ‘balanced’ I would opt for a red wine dish. Dishes like rabbit or other gamey meats in a sauce, roast joints of meat or a nice peppered steak will go perfectly with soft, velvety reds, with a medium amount of tannin. Wines like 2009 Pjazza Regina red made from a blend of Syrah, Merlot and Sangiovese (this will also go well with roast poultry), a 2009 Medina Sangiovese or if you feel like splashing out (it is Easter after all), a 2009 vintage Gran Cavalier Barrel Matured Syrah, which just picked up a Silver medal in Paris. Finally the dessert and here we have little to worry about. As long as your dessert is on the sweetish side, and especially if it has chocolate in it, serve it with a chilled bottle of 2009 vintage Casella Moscato and you will be giving your guests and your dessert a real treat. Failing that and you love strawberries, just serve them plain, maybe just a twist of black pepper, and a nice cold glass of Delicata’s lifestyle Rose Gellewza Frizzante. Bon Appétit.