MIKE TIPPING makes his Easter choice: three bottles perfect for Sunday’s feast.

NORMALLY I pick a theme to loosely tie three wines together for this column. These could be made from the same grape or hail from the same region for instance. This week isn’t ‘normally’ however and the only link between this trio of recommendations is that I enjoyed them a lot.

For a pukka pizza and pasta partner head to Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, and pick a red made from the negroamaro grape. One very affordable example is currently on offer at Waitrose (until April 14), Codici Negroamaro 2013.

A juicy, medium-bodied, youthful wine, that punches above its weight, it is quite savoury but opens out to reveal layers of berry fruit flavours and spice.

I often pair light reds such as Beaujolais with roast turkey or chicken which I think work well with the rich gravy and stuffing but full-bodied chardonnay makes an excellent choice of white.

Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Limoux Chardonnay 2013 is a reasonably priced example, made for the supermarket by Jean-Claude Mas.

Rich and creamy in the mouth and bursting with peach, apricot and tropical fruit, it is nicely balanced. Part of its complexity comes from contact with oak but it is quite subtle: in other words if you normally avoid oaked chardonnay don’t let this put you off.

I like the pinot noir that is coming out of Chile these days. One that really tickles my tastebuds is Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2011, which is a modern expression of the grape but with a little nod to Burgundy in style.

Smooth and rich, it has a fresh food pairing acidity and is fruit forward, think cherry, strawberry and rosehip, with notes of clove, rose petal, vanilla and a smoky finish.

This coastal vineyard pinot would be a good choice, as a ‘special occasion’ wine, to serve particularly if duck is on the menu but it would also work with turkey and the trimmings, or lamb dishes.

Codici Negroamaro 2013, Puglia, £5.99 down from £7.99 at Waitrose 18/20 Sainsbury’s

Taste The Difference Limoux Chardonnay 2013, £8 at Sainsbury’s 18/20

Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2011, £16.95 from winedirect.co.uk 18/20