Happy April! This year seems to be flying by. As we approach Easter weekend, here are some delicious options that will pair nicely with your holiday brunch rack of lamb, glazed ham, or fresh spring salads filled with baby vegetables of the season.

Sometimes you open a wine, and it just speaks to you. The lively crispness, the juicy elegance, the overall character and quality shine through when you take in the aromas and the first sips hit the palate. Symington Family’s Quinta de Fonte Souto is a white blend from Southern Portugal’s Portalegre subregion within Alto Alentejo. The area is a short distance from the Douro Valley, where the family crafts its exceptional Port and dry red and white wines. The wine features a blend of high-acidity, mineral-driven Arinto with fruity, aromatic, high-acid Verdelho. The combination creates a white wine ideal for spring and summer sipping as the freshness awakens the palate, layering tropical, citrus, and stone fruit notes with a distinct mineral note. 

From high-elevation, hillside vineyards that are a part of the historic Somerston Estate, Priest Ranch showcases mineral intensity, with lush, lively fruit in its Sauvignon Blanc expressions. The Napa Valley-designated Priest Ranch Sauvignon Blanc is bright and crisp, with citrus and orchard fruits and a touch of crushed-stone minerality. It is a delicious, everyday wine that is easy to enjoy on its own. For special occasions, Priest Ranch Block 71 Estate Sauvignon Blanc delivers much more than expected from a typical Sauvignon Blanc, thanks to the location of the vines. The wine opens with lush layers of stone fruit, ripe melon, and citrus, followed by hints of tropical passionfruit, pineapple, and lemon zest. Well-rounded and with delightful freshness, the wine pairs nicely with creamy lobster or crab bisque, or spring vegetable primavera. 

One of the tastiest wines I have tried in the past few weeks was a surprise and a delight to my palate, as the balanced red wine delivered much more than I expected. Santa Rita’s Floresta Carmenere showcases the grape that Chilean winemakers have made their signature variety, and it easily proves why, as the wine delivers a juicy, rich, well-rounded flavor.  The wine is a part of Santa Rita’s Colección de Origen, a premium wine collection inspired by the historic centenary park surrounding the winery. The sustainably managed vineyards are over 80 years old and grow in Chile’s Apalta Valley. The old vines create a Carmenere with concentration, layering cranberry, red plum, and black currant flavors with notes of toasted vanilla and a hint of pepper. Although the wine is deep and rich, a freshness lingers throughout, lifting the palate and making it a delicious pairing with grilled steaks, sausages, or smoked brisket.

Columbia Valley in Washington State is a fascinating wine region due to its variety of soil types. Spanning over 11 million acres, the area is dominated by nutrient-poor, wind-blown silt and sand soils known as loess, a result of the Missoula Floods that washed over the area thousands of years ago, along with gravel and a basalt bedrock. The soils create wines with rich phenolic character and intriguing aromatics. Bordeaux varieties thrive in the area, as is apparent with Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot. The winery has been a long-time proponent of the variety, showcasing it throughout its portfolio. The wine exudes everything beautiful, lush, and silky about Merlot, while also having enough texture, complexity, and character to make any Cabernet Sauvignon drinker reach for a glass of Merlot instead. Black fruit aromas of cherries, berries, and plums invite you in, followed by a rich fruity palate, dark chocolate, and toasty warm spice. It’s the wine I can enjoy with grilled meats, particularly lamb, pork belly, or ribs. 

Cuvaison Estate Pinot Noir is a pretty, fresh, and elegant wine ideal for pairing with lighter fare that we are beginning to enjoy with spring. The wine is from Cuvaison’s sustainably farmed Carneros vineyards, the southeastern-most AVA within Napa Valley. The area is heavily influenced by San Pablo Bay, which brings lower temperatures throughout the growing season, particularly in the evenings as warm days give way to cool nights. A marine layer of fog and blustery breezes blows in from the Bay, keeping fruit healthy and fresh, with crisp acidity that balances well-rounded fruit flavors. Lakers of pomegranate, wild berries, and ripe cherry mingle with toasted spice and a touch of forest-floor earthiness, creating a delicious pairing with grilled salmon or steelhead trout.

Domaine Fabrice Gasnier Les Graves Chinon hails from the Cravant-les-Coteaux within France’s Loire Valley. It showcases the elegance of Cabernet Franc grown in the area’s cooler climate, which is influenced by the Loire River. The Demeter-certified, biodynamically farmed, family-run estate takes a hands-off approach to its winemaking, using native yeast fermentation and aging the wines in neutral vessels, allowing terroir to shine through in each of its selections. The Chinon’s Cabernet Franc averages in age between 20 and 40 years. The wine ages for up to 8 months in concrete vats, ensuring the fruit’s essence remains at the forefront. The wine balances richness with elegance, showing crunchy blackberries, ripe black cherries, purple flowers, and a hint of earthiness, with a note of freshness throughout. It is easy enough to enjoy with roast chicken, turkey, or truffle pate.