EASE into Easter with these top tipples to toast the long Bank Holiday weekend.

Easter lamb signals a powerful red wine to stand up to the strongly flavoured meat and oak-aged Rioja makes a natural choice.

For a good entry level style with a grand label to grace the table, try Extra Special Marques Del Norte Rioja Reserva 2008, Spain (£5 from £7.48, until April 24, Asda). Unbeatable value, the typical blend of tempranillo, garnacha and graciano engulfs the tastebuds with plenty of big juicy flavours, rounded vanilla from the oak and sweet, strawberry spice.

Waitrose also has a little gem with its Waitrose Vega Ariana Rioja 2010, Spain (£6.29, Waitrose). Teaming tempranillo with graciano, this lip-smacking mouthful of ripe plum and cassis fruit with a hint of violet and a firm backbone of tannins will complement the succulent cuts of young meat.

For claret lovers, Easter wouldn’t be Easter without a bottle of Bordeaux and leading producer Dourthe rarely releases a dud wine.

From an outstanding vintage, try La Terrasse de la Garde 2009, Pessac Leognan, France (£11.99 from £14.99, from March 20 until April 9, Sainsbury’s). Soft and generous with warm cassis, plum and blackcurrant fruits with a gutsy edge, finishing with smooth tannins and a delicious mouthfeel, there’s enough structure and fruit to handle heartier lamb stews and roasts.

To round off the meal with a tasty treat, a tangy, dry Madeira such as Blandy’s Alvada Five Year Old Madeira (£13.33, Waitrose) acts as the perfect foil to chocolate eggs and simnel cake. A tawny temptress, this fortified wine marries malmsey grapes with bual and the layers of subtle dried fruit and apricots taste quite celestial.