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Best wine to pair with lamb for Easter

From Cassis-rich Cabernet Sauvignon to silky Rioja and Pinot Noir, get inspiration for delicious wine styles to pair with lamb this spring.

Five classic red wine styles to pair with lamb

  • Pinot Noir
  • Tempranillo
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Syrah / Shiraz
  • Sangiovese

What kind of wine goes well with lamb?

Food and wine pairing is highly subjective, which is part of the fun, although considering the intensity of the dish can be a good place to start.

Cabernet Sauvignon-driven wines can offer a sumptuous blend of cassis fruit, tannic structure and acidity to pair superbly with a roast lamb served medium to well-done at Easter.

Alternatively, you could explore the world of Pinot Noir with, say, young lamb served pink. Alternatively, how about upping the tempo with a rosé Champagne?

‘Lamb has quite a delicate texture, but is also quite rich and fatty,’ said master sommelier Kathrine Larsen-Robert MS, head of wine for Europe at members’ club 67 Pall Mall. 

‘As such, pairing with a wine which has nice acid structure is important. Depending on the cut of lamb, and thus how full in flavour it is, I would go for a wine which is light to medium in body.’

A youthful, bold red wine that hasn’t yet mellowed with bottle age might swamp the dish in some situations, albeit personal preference is a big part of the equation.

Wine with slow-cooked lamb shoulder


Best wine with lamb: inspiration from our experts

The following wines cover a range of price-points and have been tasted by Decanter’s experts.


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