Great wines always make special occasions even more special.

That’s why I often recommend several great wines worth splurging on for the holidays every December.

But why wait until then to break out a great wine?

There are so many special occasions between now and then.

This month, there’s Easter.

Next month, there’s Passover.

And if you don’t celebrate either holiday, I’m sure there’s something worth celebrating soon.

In fact, I firmly believe that opening a great bottle of wine can be a special occasion itself.

So whatever the occasion, here are six great red wines for Easter or any special occasion.

Let me add that these are all outstanding wines I have tasted within the past three months.

And don’t get too hung up on which wines to pair with which foods.

Ham, turkey and duck (which are often served on Easter) all go well with many different types of red and white wines.

And if you’re specifically looking for kosher wines, I promise I will recommend several kosher wines before Passover begins on April 22.

Hope you enjoy.

2022 Seghesio Family Estates Sonoma County Zinfandel ($26 Suggested Retail Price)

Region: Sonoma County, California

Grapes: 100% zinfandel

Tasting notes: Red zinfandel wines from California often get overlooked as over-the-top high-alcohol wines. But when done right, these wines can be just as elegant as any California cabernet sauvignon. This particular gem has a bold array of subtle flavors, including hints of blackberry, cherry and toasted almonds.

2019 Renwood Ranch Estate Zinfandel Amador County ($28 SRP)

Region: Amador County, California

Grapes: 100% zinfandel

Tasting notes: Made with zinfandel grapes from California’s Amador County southeast of Sacramento, this delightful, opulent zin has many fascinating flavors, including hints of smoked cedar, dark chocolate, roasted almonds and cherries.

2022 Archery Summit Dundee Hills Pinot Noir ($65 SRP)

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Grapes: 100% pinot noir

Tasting notes: Oregon’s Willamette Valley has a well-earned reputation for producing outstanding pinot noirs. This bright, lively pinot starts out slightly spicy but quickly takes on more soft, understated flavors, including a delicate blend of plums, cherries and roasted walnuts.

2016 Ramon Bilbao Mirto Rioja ($80 SRP)

Region: Rioja, Spain

Grapes: 100% tempranillo

Tasting notes: Elegant yet earthy flavors, including subtle hints of blackberry, roasted coffee beans, black licorice and dark chocolate that last at least half a minute after each taste. An outstanding Rioja ready to drink now.

2013 Pasqua Mai Dire Mai Amarone Della Valpolicella ($85 SRP)

Region: Amarone Della Valpolicella, Italy

Grapes: 65% corvina, 15% corvinone, 10% rondinella, 10% oseleta

Tasting notes: Red wines from Italy&#8217s legendary Amarone region consistently deliver outstanding, austere flavors mixed with beautiful hints of vibrant fruit notes, including ripe blackberries, cherry and cedar in this particular powerhouse of a wine from Italy’s historic Pasqua winery.

2020 Trapiche Iscay ($110 SRP)

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Grapes: 50% malbec, 50% cabernet franc

Tasting notes: Bold, full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend that tastes like a combination of a powerful Argentinian malbec and a subtle French cabernet franc. Flavors include subtle hints of blueberries, blackberries, lavender and espresso. Absolutely outstanding.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross

appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.

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