'I'M A CERTIFIED WINE EXPERT AND THESE ARE MY TOP PICKS FOR BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND DRINKS'

Easter weekend means many things to many different people. One of the things it represents to Brits is a four-day weekend and while there may be visits to church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there's often a little bit of extra drinking involved since you don't have to be back in work on Monday.

I'm the Mirror's resident alcohol expert, having undergone my Level 1, 2 and 3 Award in Wine at the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. As a result, I've curated a list of some tipples I can see being quite popular this bank holiday weekend.

Please remember to drink responsibly.

Red Wine

Red wine is one of the more popular options to drink at Easter. Typically the rule is that you drink it at room temperature but there are some that are actually best lightly chilled.

Jam Shed's Black Forest Mess is my top recommendation for a chilled red wine, it's sweet and fruity and just 10% ABV which makes it great for easy drinking. I last enjoyed it on a movie night with my family who were all really impressed by how tasty it was for a £6 bottle of wine they'd probably have ignored in the supermarket.

If sweet red wines aren't your thing, which is totally fair, then Pinot Noir is a delicious option that isn't too heavy on the palette. La Penombre Reserve Pinot Noir Tete de Cuvee 2021 from Virgin Wines is my current favourite Pinot Noir. It has light tannins so your mouth doesn't start to feel like a desert and those classic raspberry and strawberry notes loved in this classic grape. At 13% ABV it's definitely got a warming sensation. This is excellent value for the quality at £14.99 and definitely worth treating the family to on special occasions.

If you're looking for something that packs a little more of a punch then perhaps an Australian Shiraz is the answer. Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2020/21 is on the higher side of ABV at 14.4%. The medium-bodied wine blends juicy red fruits with blackberry and spicy black pepper for something quite punchy. It's £14.99 on Majestic although the price drops to £10.99 when buying six.

White Wine

Red wine can split a crowd with tannins being something people either love or hate. If you'd like something still in the realm of wine but without any of those drying tannins then white wine is a great option for the cooler months.

If you like a crisp dry white wine then £15.99 Kraft des Landes Gruner Veltliner 2022 is an excellent choice. It's an Austrian grape that's like Sauvignon Blanc's exotic cousin. It's got refreshing apple and pear notes that marry well to a touch of white pepper which works beautifully before rounding out to a peachy nectarine finish. I didn't know I liked Austrian wine before trying this and it's now a firm favourite.

Pinot Grigio gets a pretty bad reputation. It's a simple wine and it shouldn't be expected to be anything more than that. However the exact same grape grown in different regions can be really quite delicious, referred to as Pinot Gris it resembles something more complex and fruity. Rod Easthope Hawkes Bay Pinot Gris 2022 is a £13.99 offering from Naked Wines, although for members of the site you can get it for £11.99. The New Zealand Pinot Gris has zesty citrus notes that marry perfectly with tropical touches - it's a great way to reassess the grape.

Spirits

Some people simply aren't wine drinkers but still find themselves wanting a tipple and that's where spirits come in. There are so many on the market from sweet to smoky. Some you have neat and others are key ingredients in a cocktail.

Project #173 Butterscotch Rum is probably my favourite rum of all the ones I've tried, and I have easily over 50 bottles in my private collection. It leans into the sweet butterscotch note often cited with rums but manages to not be overly sweet at the same time. I like it best in a tumbler with a large block of ice to really savour the flavour but I think it would work well in cocktails too if you want to try your hand as a mixologist. It's £19.95 for 50ml which I think is great value for this 42% bottle.

When I think of bank holidays I often picture gin balloons in beer gardens with slices of strawberries and pink gin. It's refreshing and fruity and goes well with lemonade or tonic. My favourites are LUXLO Pomegranate and Raspberry, Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Gin Liqueur or Gordon's Premium Pink Gin with is currently having a collaboration with Maya Jama for adorable new designs on an alcoholic and non-alcoholic option.

2024-03-29T12:23:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd