text: This Easter weekend, Australian families will indulge in tonnes of chocolate, millions of hot cross buns, and mountains of fresh seafood and meat. According to Woolworths, their customers will purchase enough prawns that if laid out would stretch from Sydney to Cairns, a staggering 54 million hot cross buns, and a whopping 2,900 tonnes of Easter chocolate. All that food needs something to wash it down, so FEMAIL have asked the experts to advise what tipple to pair with our favourite seasonal foods, from  seafood and lamb, to traditional Easter treats. Drink this with that: With 54 million hot cross buns, 2,900 tonnes of chocolate and enough prawns to stretch from Sydney to Cairns consumed over Easter, FEMAIL reveals which tipple is best suited to washing it down . With the Easter weekend forecast for the balmy mid-twenties Celsius, Australians can still enjoy their favoured seafood lunches. Sales of lobster, oysters, prawns and fish will increase by 80 per cent over the Easter holiday. Peter Nixon, resident drinks expert at Dan Murphy's, has shared his top wine pairings, from budget options to mid-range and high-end, to drink with them. Sweet and spicy: 'The spice component of cinnamon and nutmeg is harmonious with a classic Muscat', says Peter Nixon, drinks expert at Dan Murphy's . PRAWNS . 'Thrillingly juicy, lime-juice and lemongrass-scented dry Riesling with freshly peeled local prawns. Heaven!' says Peter Nixon. The grape can suit every budget, with excellent options ranging from $11.50 for Hardys Siegersdorf through to $31.99 for Taylors St Andrews. Budget: Hardys Siegersdorf Riesling (Australia) RRP$11.50 . Mid-range: Pikes Traditionale Riesling (Australia) RRP$20.90 . Luxury: Taylors St Andrews Riesling (Australia) RRP$31.99 . Pair with prawns: Hardys Siegersdorf Riesling (Australia), Pikes Traditionale Riesling (Australia), Taylors St Andrews Riesling (Australia) OYSTERS . 'The crisp, minerally, citrussy zest of Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect partner for freshly-shucked oysters,' says Nixon. For those on a budget, he suggests the MadFish Gold Turtle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, which retails at $15, or for something a little more exuberant go for the Cullen Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon for $32. Budget: MadFish Gold Turtle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (Australia) RRP$15.00 . Mid-range: Wills Domain Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (Australia) RRP$17.80 . Luxury: Cullen Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (Australia) RRP$30.00 . Pair with oysters: (L-R) MadFish Gold Turtle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (Australia), Wills Domain Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (Australia), Cullen Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (Australia) HOT CROSS BUNS . Easter isn't Easter without a a fresh, warm hot cross bun smeared with butter. 'The spice component of cinnamon and nutmeg is harmonious with a classic Australian Rutherglen Liquer Muscat,' says Nixon, pointing to Buller Fine Old Muscat as a wallet-friendly choice. Stanton & Killeen Grand Rutherglen Muscat, at the luxury end, will set you back $86.99. Budget: Buller Fine Old Muscat (Australia) RRP$20.99 . Mid-range: Campbells Classic Rutherglen Muscat (Australia) RRP$39.99 . Luxury: Stanton & Killeen Grand Rutherglen Muscat (Australia) RRP$86.99 . Pair with hot cross buns: (L-R) Buller Fine Old Muscat (Australia),  Campbells Classic Rutherglen Muscat (Australia), Stanton & Killeen Grand Rutherglen Muscat (Australia) CHOCOLATE . In the days before the holiday, before Sunday lunch, afterwards, and (for some) weeks after the Easter weekend, it is a veritable chocolate-fest in most households. 'Chocolate and richly-fruited spirity fortitied wines are just pure decadence' says Dan Murphy's Peter Nixon. Budget: M. Chapoutier Banyuls (France) RRP$24.99 . Mid-range: Grahams Late Bottled Vintage Port (Portugal) RRP$29.99 . Luxury: Seppeltsfield Para 21 Year Old Tawny (Australia) RRP$69.99 [online only] . Pair with chocolate: (L-R) M. Chapoutier Banyuls (France), Grahams Late Bottled Vintage Port (Portugal), Seppeltsfield Para 21 Year Old Tawny (Australia) BLUE EYE COD AND TREVALLEY . If you are steering clear of meat on Good Friday, white fish is a popular choice. Nixon advises pairing it with Chardonnay. 'A richer, peach and cashew-nut style Chardonnay works a treat with white fleshed fish dishes' he says. Budget: Cockfighter's Ghost Hunter Valley (Australia) RRP$15.70 . Mid-range: Domaine Astruc Chardonnay (France) RRP$15.99 . Luxury: Tyrrell's Vat 47 Chardonnay 2010 (Australia) RRP$54.99 . Pair with cod: (L-R) Cockfighter's Ghost Hunter Valley (Australia), Domaine Astruc Chardonnay (France), Tyrrell's Vat 47 Chardonnay 2010 (Australia) No meat on Good Friday: Seafood sales increase by 80 per cent over the Easter weekend . SALMON . 'As is the case most years, Salmon will be the number one selling seafood product over Easter,' says Adam Mourad of Woolworths. 'An intense, crunchy Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect palate cleanser for richly flavoured salmon' adds Peter Nixon. Budget: Mato Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (NZ) RRP$10.90 . Mid-range: Peter Yealands Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (NZ) RRP$12.50 . Luxury: Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (NZ) RRP$22.99 . Pair with salmon: (L-R): Mato Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (NZ), Peter Yealands Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (NZ), Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (NZ) LOBSTER . For those splurging on luxurious lobster at their Easter lunch, the drinks will need to stand up to the decadent meaty seafood. 'The most luxurious of seafood dishes cries out for a world-class, bottle-fermented sparkling' says Nixon. He recommends the 2004 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, which costs an eye-watering $299. For those looking for a budget option, France's Sieur d'Arques Grande Cuvée 1531 de Aimery is a steal at $15.70. Budget: Sieur d'Arques Grande Cuvée 1531 de Aimery (France) RRP$15.70 . Mid-range: A by Arras Premium Cuvée (Australia) RRP$21.00 . Luxury: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2004 (France) RRP$299.00 . Pair with lobster: (L-R) Sieur d'Arques Grande Cuvée 1531 de Aimery (France), A by Arras Premium Cuvée (Australia), Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2004 (France) LAMB . 'Full-flavoured lamb is the perfect match for the delicious spicy, gamey Grenache based wines of the world,' Nixon advises. Budget: Borsao Selección Grenache Blend (Spain) RRP$11.99 . Mid-range: Cirillo The Vincent Grenache (Australia) RRP$21.99 . Luxury: S.C. Pannell The Vale Shiraz Grenache (Australia) RRP$38.99 . BBQ: Lamb goes perfectly with a spicy, games Grenache, says Nixon . Pair with lamb: (L-R) Borsao Selección Grenache Blend (Spain), Cirillo The Vincent Grenache (Australia), S.C. Pannell The Vale Shiraz Grenache (Australia)
target: Australians buy 54mil hot cross buns & 2,900 tonnes of chocolate at Easter .
  Seafood sales rise by 80 per cent over the Easter weekend .
  Drinks expert advises on the best wines to match your favourite seasonal foods, from chocolate to seafood .