Easter gives us a great chance to catch up with friends & family to celebrate the lighter nights and the turning of the season. Although we can't pretend the weather has been very spring like of late, daffodils are blooming and the scent of blossom will be upon the breeze..we promise! But while we're all waiting for the weather to catch up we suggest sampling some eggscellent zippy whites that will certainly put a spring in your step!

In the wine world spring marks the beginning of increased interest in fresh, crisp whites such as Sauvignon Blancs in all their guises, from the zingy passion fruit and gooseberry- laden wines of Marlborough in New Zealand; our Giddy Goose, Mirror Lake & Greywhacke Sauvignon Blancs are all fantastic choices! To the racy, mouth-watering wines of Sancerre and the Loire Valley, our Jean Jacques Breton Sancerre, Chateau de La Presle Sauvignon de Touraine & Alain Caillbourdin Pouilly Fume Cuvee de Boisfleury are all stunning wines, full of clean mineral notes, hints of fresh cut grass & tangy citrus flavours.

Chile offers a fantastic selection of Sauvignon Blancs which combine both the fruit of the New World and the lean citrusy style of European Sauvignon Blancs, these wines make a perfect choice for dinner parties, events or functions. Particular favourites from Chile include the Panilonco Sauvignon Blanc, easy to spot because of the lion on the label..!

Also the Caballo & Anakena Sauvignon Blanc, with a horse and double headed duck respectively on their labels! These wines are crisp & palate cleansing; bursting with sun drenched citrus lemon & grapefruit flavours paired with a hint of tropical guava and passion fruit and a twist of freshly cut grass. Effortlessly easy to quaff!

When it comes to Easter lunch there is usually only one star of the show, lamb!

Without a doubt red wine is the best option to pair with lamb but dependent on your wine tastes there's a whole range of choices that make fantastic partners; you could opt for an elegant Burgundy if you prefer a lighter wine style, such as the Bouchard Savigny les Beaune, deliciously refined and a real smooth operator. The traditional choice for lamb would be a classic Bordeaux such as Chateau La Tour de By 2005, for many people Bordeaux and lamb is a match made in heaven so you can't go wrong here!

For those who prefer a more fruity forward wine style a New World Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile such as the Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon or the R. H. Phillips Night Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon from the USA are both great choices, or for those who like robust, earthy wines a Malbec from Argentina such as the Bodegas Eclipse Reserva Malbec would make a fine match.

If you prefer to stay in Europe there are yet more wines that will pair beautifully with lamb; a classic Rioja such as the Marques de Murrieta Tinto Reserva 2005 which lends smooth red fruit flavours with vanilla oak and savoury herbal notes, while a spicy red from the French Rhone region offers rich stewed fruit flavours with hints of pepper and clove, the Delas Freres St Joseph Les Challeys 2007 is a wonderful example of the glorious wines the Rhone has to offer.

Whichever you choose be sure to give the wine a good swirl in the glass to open up the aromas and flavours, the rest is simple just sit back, sip & enjoy!

Cheers & a Happy Easter to all our customers