Try these wines for Easter, Passover

I’m not sure what people eat at Easter and Passover, but I know many will eat a diverse range of food this weekend. Ham and lamb might be traditional, but you know traditions — they keep changing.

Which wine might go well with a baked ham or roast lamb? Base pairings on general characteristics, because there’s no one roast lamb (with or without garlic and rosemary?) or baked ham (with or without a savoury rub or a sweet glaze?). Often herbs, spices, and condiments have stronger flavours than the meat, especially with fairly neutral poultry.

For me, the key is flavour intensity. If you have fairly light-flavoured food, a full-on wine, like a heavily oaked Chardonnay or a concentrated red, will swamp it.

With intensely flavoured food, like seasoned lamb and rich root vegetables, a lighter wine will get lost.

So look for balance. And balance means tasting the wine and the food in equal measure, neither dominating the other. And look for wine with good acidity, which cleans the food-gunk from

your taste buds, refreshing your palate between bites.

With ham, I like pinot noir and Gamay, so you could try Cave Spring Gamay ($15.95, 228568) or Château des Charmes Gamay Noir ($13.95, 57349), a Beaujolais.

For pinot noir, there’s Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir ($16.95, 13904) and Angels Gate Pinot Noir ($15.95, 308486), a burgundy.

I like pinot noir with lamb, too, but lamb will support heavier reds, such as Fowles Are You Game? Shiraz ($17.05, 327320), from Australia and the Syrah blend Rodet Côtes du Rhône ($13.95, 8979).

Of the LCBO’s kosher wines, try the Fine Stones range from Australia in the Vintages section. For about $20, there are very good shiraz and cabernet sauvignon

Colby Red Blend 2012 A California blend of cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, Syrah, petite sirah, and Merlot, this is a big, fleshy, fruity number that’s low in acidity and has negligible tannins. It’s a style that goes well with sweeter sauces, like many...

Esquinas Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 From Argentina’s Mendoza region, this is a well-priced, full-flavoured cabernet that goes well with red meats, grilled sausages, and hamburgers. Look for consistent fruit right through, good acid-balance, and easygoing...

Über Riesling 2013 A wine from Germany’s Pfalz region (not a taxi service), this is off-dry and goes well with many spicy (Thai) pork, poultry, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. The flavours are bright, and the clean, vibrant acidity balances the...

Hungaria Grande Cuvée Brut Sparkling Wine This is a goodvalue, straightforward sparkling wine from Hungary that makes good everyday sipping and pairs easily with poultry, pork, and seafood. It’s nicely balanced, with crisp acidity and plenty of bubble...