Wine for the Super Bowl

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Fruity Shiraz at home among spicy snack foods.

by Mike Supple
published: 03 Feb 2010 | Comments

Sure, the first beverage that comes to mind when somebody mentions the Super Bowl probably isn't wine - the Coors brewing company has done a pretty good job of cementing their Silver Bullet commercials into everyone's minds. But if you're tempted to reach for your corkscrew this year, rest assured knowing that you are not alone - the number of people drinking wine while watching football is growing every year. A local grocery store has even put together a Super Bowl wine display to fulfill the needs of its customers. It's not quite as large as the Doritos display, but then again, what is?

You're past the mental hurdle: it's ok to have wine while watching the Super Bowl. The next big challenge: what kinds of wines go best with Super Bowl foods?

Chips: Nothing cuts through the fat and salt of potato chips like some sparkling wine. The crisp, refreshing sparkle of Champagne, Cava or even Prosecco is a perfect match for just about any flavor chip. If you're eating spicy chips, a sparkling wine with a little sugar will help keep the heat at bay.

Hot wings, nachos, tacos and chili: If you're looking to cool the heat of blended spices, meat and cheese, then a cold white off-dry Riesling is definitely your friend. Crisp with light peach, pear and citrus flavors with just a touch of sugar to tone down the spice. Of course if you want to match bold with bold, then a big red wine with good acidity and tons of fruit is just the thing. A jammy California Zinfandel, smoky Argentinean Malbec or explosive fruit-bomb Australian Shiraz will fit the bill.

Fried chicken: It doesn't get a whole lot classier than eating fried meat out of a bucket. Just like potato chips, one of the best possible pairings here is Champagne. The high acidity, light toast and fresh citrus flavors are delicious with the salty, crunchy, greasy chicken.

Pizza: The wide range of toppings available for pizza makes it a fantastic food that works with a slew of wines. It's tough to go wrong pairing Italian food with Italian wine, so if you're in the mood for white go with a crisp, light and refreshing Pinot Grigio, or go red with a rustic, juicy, earthy Chianti. A couple other delicious full-bodied reds that work well are Zinfandel and Malbec.

Burgers, ribs and hot dogs: This is where your classic California red wines come into play: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Heavy meats can stand up to a bold wine, and Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the toughest hombres around. Lots of fruit and tons of body that hit like a linebacker. If you don't want quite that much power, Merlot offers similar cherry and raspberry flavors delivered in a slightly more forgiving mouth feel. Of course if you want to hit the southern hemisphere, the juicy, fruity, bold flavors of Malbec go with just about anything you can put on a grill.

And if you're looking for a relatively inexpensive way to provide a delicious beer alternative for your friends, look no further than Sangria! It's tasty, cool and fruity, and it works with all kinds of snack foods. For a simple recipe, try this: Basic Sangria.