What to drink with Lamb

General rules for food and wine pairing

Pairing wine with food always revolves around one principle: the wine should complement the key elements of the dish. Consider the sweetness, saltiness, acidity, and how light or heavy it is, as well as whether it includes rich sauces or the sommelier’s challenge – tomatoes. I've covered some of the main options below, but if you'd like more precise pairings, please feel free to get in touch.

What to drink with lamb

The most traditional Easter lunch of all, is of course the leg of lamb, preferably new season, cooked simply with potatoes and vegetables tossed in a little butter or olive oil. Passover too is a time when lamb features on the celebratory table and in 2024, despite the pressure on prices and move towards more meat-free eating, there was a 6% increase in volume sales of lamb in retail with no signs of this abating in 2025. According to research carried out by the AHBD, Kantar, 52 w/e 1 December 2024.

The wine options are for matching with a meal like this, which is neither heavy on the spice, nor the cream, is a sommelier's dream, as the list is long. As always, it's important to match the general body and weight of the wine with the food. Lamb is a relatively rich meat and it needs a wine that can combat that richness without overpowering the flavours of the meat. I would always recommend a red wine with lamb, but if you really don't do red, then a good, full bodied rosé or a richer white would also work well.

Why do we eat lamb at this time of year?

The links to the British love of lamb in March and April can be found in the religious calendar. For Christians who have been fasting throughout Lent, Easter Sunday is the first day they are allowed to eat meat after 40 days of lent and ties in with the concept of Jesus as the 'lamb of God'. This in itself dates back to Jewish traditions whereby a lamb is sacrificed during Passover.

While Spring lamb is the best of the best, it is very often not ready in time for Easter itself, but nonetheless the meat remains at the top of the UK charts for most popular meat for Easter.

Many people who enjoy lamb at Easter aren't necessarily doing so for religious reasons, but because it has become part of our cultural landscape.

What to drink with a roast leg of lamb

Roast lamb is the most popular choice - generally leg, but also shoulder. And as above, there is no sign that this is abating, despite the rise in popularity of meat-free diets. In fact, the AHDB reports that the latest data from 2023 shows that in the two weeks leading up to Easter, 9.7 million kg of roasting joints were sold through retailers which was an increase of 25.55 on the previous year.

In terms of wine, we are really spoiled for choice when it comes to serving it with roast lamb. A Bordeaux style such as a Chateau de Puy Boyrein or a sublime Cotes du Rhone from Domaine Gigondas would be my first choice, but I'd be equally happy with any of the wines in my selection below.

What to drink with a rack of lamb

A rack of lamb is the most delicate, and the most expensive cut of lamb and I'd be inclined to either stick with Bordeaux, perhaps a Chateau Brehat, or go for an elegant Pinot Noir from New Zealand or if you want to push the boat out, a good French Burgundy. A good Rosé de Provence or a Macon Solutré would be good options if you prefer not to drink red wine with lamb.

What to drink with shoulder of lamb

Another hugely popular choice for Easter and throughout the year, we really are spoiled for choice in matching wine with this rich and flavourful cut of lamb. Depending on how it is cooked, try to match the depth of flavours with the wine itself. If slow roasted with any sort of spice, I'd almost certainly be looking at a Syrah based wine, such as a Vacqueyras from the Cotes du Rhone or the divine Australian Formby Langhorne Creek Shiraz. For an alternative to red wine, I'd recommend a fruity Chardonnay such as the great value Bourgogne Chardonnay

What to drink with lamb stews and casseroles

As with a shoulder of lamb, it does depend a bit on whether you are preparing a simple British lamb stew something more spicy, or containing tomatoes. Tomatoes are tricky to match with wine, due to their high acidity alhtough some of this is tempered in a rich lamb stew as it mixes with the fattiness of the meat. For a plain lamb stew, choose a soft red such as something from the Loire Valley. A Chinon or a Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil would be ideal. For a rich, tomato based dish I'd go for an Italian wine, a red Valpolicella or a white Gratia Plena from Puglia.

What to drink with spicy lamb

Many of the wines already mentioned will work with spiced lamb dishes, particularly those made from Syrah, but other options would also be an Argentinian Malbec or even a Gewurztraminer for a white alternative. I'd have no truck either with a reasonably full bodied rose such as the Coteaux Varois en Provence.

In short...

Lamb is ideally matched with a whole range of wines, so with a little consideration to the cut and cooking style, you can serve up a festive feast or a special meal that will leave everyone wanting more.