Life

White wine is just as good with lamb

LAST week I talked about red wine to serve with spring lamb because Easter is a good excuse to open

a powerful red, as lamb is a strongly flavoured, fatty meat and works best with a hearty, robust style of wine. However, I'm told some people prefer white/rose wine with this popular Easter celebration dinner.

If seasoned with garlic, serve it with Zinfandel (a white or rose wine), or if seasoned with rosemary serve with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Both white and red wines pair well with lamb. It's all in the seasoning and the taste of the people round the table. If mint jelly is the sauce for the lamb, go with the Zinfandel.

One thing to keep in mind, though: balance is the key. For example, lamb steaks with figs would be a sweet dish. A sweet, fruity white wine would overpower the meal. This dish would be better served with a dry white wine.

Try: Lindemans Winemaker's Discovery White Zinfandel Rose, £8.25, Asda. This wine is characterised by delicious ripe red fruits like raspberry, cherry and strawberries with refreshing acidity and balanced sweetness. Would make a great pairing with lamb and a great summer wine when red is too heavy.

If you would prefer a dry white wine this French Chablis, £7.49, M&S is a good choice. Chablis is an historic wine-producing town in northern-central France. It produces light, dry white wines famed for their minerality and crisp acidity. It's a bright wine with almond and flower aromas. Apricot notes on the palate are followed by a flint and lemon-peel tangy crispness. It's a great easy-drinking wine for any family get-together.