Super Bowl Wine Pairings

It seems that when it comes to the Super Bowl¹ the drink of choice is beer. Makes sense considering that Anheuser-Busch has been the sole beer sponsor of the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl game since 2011. This is the last year of their current four-year contract but I’m sure they’ll be back for more.

So what’s a wine lover or cocktail connoisseur to do? I’ve got just the pairings for you.

Hot Chicken Wings and Terra d’Oro Moscato – So how many hot wings can you take before your mouth is on fire? You can break your record by pairing your wing fest with the Terra d’Oro Moscato. It has a sweet, creamy lemon flavor followed by bright fresh apricot and white peach. Crisp acidity keeps the mouth feel rich and balanced to the finish. This wine was made for spicy foods.

Chips & Salsa or Guacamole and Tapeña Garnacha – In this case, we’re talking tortilla chips and either salsa made with ripe red tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices or guacamole made with avocados, cilantro, and lime juice. With either dip, the wine has to be Garnacha and only the Tapeña will do with soft tannins and rich berry flavors. It’s a lively wine with a spicy finish.

If you’re having chips as in potato or some other type of chip with French onion dip, then the Tapeña Verdejo is the way to go. The wine has tropical fruits and ripe peach flavors. It is crisp with a refreshing acidity that will balance the creamy, oniony flavor of the dip.

Lit'l Smokies® Cocktail Links and Jameson Irish Whiskey & Ginger Ale – One of the great things about “big” sports match-ups is the food. When else would you be eating Lit'l Smokies Cocktail Links? We should have more of these types of games. Those little cocktail links can pack a powerful flavor punch so you need a drink like the Jameson & Ginger to stand up against it.

Take 2 oz. Jameson® Irish whiskey and 4 oz. Canada Dry® ginger ale and pour over ice; squeeze a lime wedge over the drink and drop it in. Grab a paper plate, stack it with the cocktail links and BAM! a mouth full of yummy flavors.

Celebrate Your Team’s Win with Ruffino Prosecco DOCG – Be prepared to celebrate your team’s win with a bottle of sparkling wine. You’ll definitely want to pop open the Ruffino Prosecco with crisp bubbles bursting with apple, pear and citrus flavors. This sparkling wine is quite versatile and can be enjoyed with almost all the football fare you can throw its way. However to really get the best flavors out of the popping tiny bubbles, drink this Prosecco with either Oreo®, triple-chocolate chip or shortbread cookies. Go wild and try it with all three!

¹The term SUPER BOWL is a registered trademark owned by the National Football League.