How-To: Pair wine with Snack Food

Without a wine culture built up around it, there are no hard and fast rules for which wine to drink with all your football game food. But we are willing to give some recommendations.

Buffalo Wings: We’ve tried this before. Rich, buttery, and spicy: Pair with a full bodied sweet Riesling.

Pizza: This isn’t so unusual. Pair it with a full bodied Italian red to complement the peperoni and tomato sauce.

Chips, Pretzels: Salty food is a bit of an puzzler. Try it with something equally as biting, like a crisp white wine.

Chili: With or without beans, a deep, earthy Merlot will hold up best.

Burgers: The balance of earthy and fruity flavors of a well crafted Cabernet Sauvignion will bring out the best flavors in your burger.

Nachos: Another experiment we’ve tried, we’d recommend something a crisp white, to avoid competing with the complicated layers of flavor.

Its not often that you snack in courses, so pairing wine with a couple of wings, a handful of chips and a bowl full of chili makes it hard to find the perfect wine. So ultimately, just pick a wine you love, have some options for your friends, and just enjoy the day. Or you could just go with beer.