Easter in Italy means family, love, and most of all, food at will! We celebrate Easter in equal fashion to Christmas, and although we may have to wait to meet with extended family again, many households will be looking forward to enjoying Easter traditions at home even if these are at a smaller scale.
Each Italian region has its traditions and its typical dishes to try at this time of year, but in every city Easter is synonymous with lamb, Colomba (Easter Dove) and chocolate.
Coming from a Catholic family, Easter is celebrated on Saturday night by going to church together. In the morning, everyone wakes up early to dispose of the eggs scattered around the house. And then? Everyone in the kitchen is cooking lunch!
To be honest, Easter eating starts many days early with the search for the best products, since the Easter lunch must contain a variety of dishes that can satisfy every palate without forgetting tradition. So here, let me walk you through the top food and wines you'll find on our Easter dining table
Antipasti
The typical Easter lunch or dinner begins with antipasti and aperitivo to whet the appetites of the guests. Traditionally, cured meats, cheeses, olives, bread and some delicacies are found on the table. The aperitivo is accompanied by a light wine such as a Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG "Le Botteghe" from Sorelli winery, freshly served.
Pasqualina pie
At my table and as in the table of many Italians can not miss the Pasqualina pie, which takes its name from the party we celebrate (Pasqua means Easter in italian). Why not uncork a versatile, light and perfect bottle of wine to go with this signature dessert? I recommend Chardonnay Langhe DOC "Ca' Lunga" from Giacosa Fratelli Winery – it's structured, full-bodied and closes with a long finish in which fruity aromas can be found.
Lamb
After an aperitif of chatter and laughter, the lamb comes to the table with potatoes, courgettes and grilled vegetables. It tastes best when paired with an excellent red wine like a Chianti Classico DOCG from Castello di Uzzano, with its harmonious and dry taste.
Fish and seafood
For fish lovers, on the other hand, a great alternative to lamb is linguine with shrimps and clams, this time accompanied by a fresh and light white wine, perhaps just a Vernaccia, uncorked for the aperitivo but also versatile with a fish meal.
Colomba
But what should definitely not be missing from Easter lunch: the colomba!
The Easter dove can be classic, with noisette or pistachio, depending on your taste. The important thing is to accompany our Colomba with Prosecco DOC Treviso Extra Dry from Astoria. This type of wine is popular for celebrating when you're in the company of friends and family.
Raise your glass and buona pasqua!
