Choose the right wine for Easter

Thanksgiving is supposed to be the holiday that drives wine types crazy, given the variety of food, the assortment of flavors at the dinner table, and the challenge in pairing all those differences into some coherent whole. But Easter makes Thanksgiving look easy. The Thanksgiving menu, at least, has one constant, turkey, to plan around. But Easter? No such luck. Lamb and ham, from a wine standpoint, couldn’t be more different.

But this doesn’t have to be a problem. The first (and only) rule in food and wine pairings is to serve wine that you like. If you do that, the rest falls into place — especially if you’re willing to move past the same wine that you always drink. Given that approach, it’s not difficult to find wine that will pair with almost any variation of Easter dinner.

Las Perdices Syrah-Viognier 2007

This Argentine red blend isn’t as heavy as an Australian shiraz, but it has enough oomph and tannins, plus a bit of cherry fruit, to stand up to roast lamb. People who only drink red wine should enjoy it, as should those who are leery of most red wine because they think it’s too heavy.

Price: $14-$17

Local availability: Put a Cork in It, 2972 Park Hill Drive, Fort Worth; Off the Vine, 324 S. Main St., Grapevine.

Pink

This Australian

sparkling wine won best of class at the San Diego International Wine Competition last month, beating some pricier, top-notch French and California wines in the process. It’s a rosé, but bone dry, and without the sweetness or strawberry fruit of similar wines. This is an exceedingly interesting bubbly — serve it before dinner or with ham.

Price: $10

Local availability: Market Street, 5605 Colleyville Blvd.,

Colleyville

Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2008

This white wine compares favorably with its more expensive New Zealand brethren. It has the telltale citrus flavors that all Kiwi sauvignon blancs do but also has some tropical, pineapple flavors in the middle. It’s the wine for people who are tired of chardonnay but want to drink white wine.

Price: $12

Local availability: Central Market Southlake, 1425 E. Southlake Blvd.; selected Kings, selected Majestic stores

Torres Sangre de Toro de Casta 2006

This is a traditional Spanish rosé, with some cranberry fruit in what seems to be an almost impossibly dry style. Yet it’s incredibly food friendly, in the way that so many Spanish wines, of all colors, are. It might even pair with lamb. And yes, that is a bull attached to the bottle.

Price: $10

Local availability: Central Market Southlake, selected Kings.

Chalone Chardonnay 2007

A quality California chardonnay, this wine doesn’t have too much oak but does have enough green apple fruit at an affordable price. Chalone, year in and year out, delivers value. This will pair with almost any Easter dinner that isn’t red meat.

Price: $11

Local availability: Central Market Southlake, selected Kings, selected Majestic