| Wines For Your Super Bowl Party | | | | have a couple of other choices. You can pair it with a |
| A lot of people have heard that more wine is | | | | Syrah, take a Copain Tous Ensambles Syrah for |
| consumed every year in the United States now then | | | | example at about $20 and it'll work well. You'll have |
| beer. It's surprising to a lot of people and I don't | | | | to go to your local wine store for that one. |
| expect a large number of people switch to serving | | | | Personally, I prefer to either use my zin, or even |
| wine at their Super Bowl parties, but if you are | | | | better a glass of champagne! |
| interested in serving wine I thought I'd make some | | | | Veggie Platter: This is an easy pairing for anyone, |
| suggestions. | | | | champagne. Not only does the champagne work well |
| I've taken into account that most super bowl parties | | | | with the veggies, the women in attendance (your |
| are going to include some combination of the | | | | guests most likely to be eating the veggies) usually |
| following foods: Buffalo wings, potato skins, nachos, | | | | love champagne. Add an orange juice or |
| some type of fruit/vegetable platter that no one | | | | pomegranate juice to create a nice variety of |
| actually eats as well as burgers and hot dogs. | | | | choices. |
| We also need to remember that super bowl parties | | | | Potato Skins/Nachos: The zin works well here as well |
| typically run 4+ hours so it is essential to have wine | | | | as does the Syrah but I like a slightly different idea |
| that matches well with the food that you're serving | | | | here as I have lived in California for 25 years so the |
| at specific times. | | | | most important part of nachos is definitely the |
| Burgers/Hot Dogs: A good pairing is typically a big | | | | guacamole....so I choose a California Chardonnay. |
| California Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel. An | | | | Some good choices include Mt. Eden as well as |
| affordable, drinkable Zinfandel is Gnarley Head. It runs | | | | Chateau Montelena(about $17 retail) which is always a |
| about $10 a bottle and is widely commercially | | | | fun choice because the wine is great and you get to |
| available, you should be able to find it at your local | | | | tell the story about bottle shock in 1976 when this |
| grocery store. If you're picking a zinfandel you | | | | small California winery won the tasting contest in |
| typically want to select an old vine zinfandel because | | | | Paris. |
| the flavors will be much more intense. | | | | Best of luck with your pairing, thinking outside the |
| Buffalo Wings: Perhaps the ultimate wine pairing test, | | | | beer box on Superbowl Sunday can definitely lead to |
| these should work OK with your Zin but you also | | | | an enjoyable meal! |