It’s that time of year — tailgating season! No matter who you’re with or where you are, cheering on your favorite team isn’t complete without delicious foods! If you’re like me, I like a good glass of wine with pretty much anything I eat. So here are some suggestions for wine and tailgating pairings. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
1. PEPPERONI PIZZA + CABERNET FRANC
Probably my favorite tailgating food. Oh who am I kidding? I can eat pizza for any occasion! The best part is that various pizzas call for different wine pairings. The basic: pepperoni pizza pairs well with a Cabernet Franc. Why? Because the acid and tannins in this wine are a great counterbalance to the pepperoni flavor and tomato sauce.
Other options to consider:
- Hawaiian pizza + Riesling
- Margarita pizza + dry Rosé
- Meaty pizza + Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah
- Vegetable pizza + Pinot Noir.
Not sure what to pair with pizza? I found that Pinot Noir, Malbec and Zinfandel tend to pair well in general with pizza.
2. HOT WINGS + RIESLING
An off-dry Riesling is the way to go with almost any spicy dish, including hot wings. The sweetness of the wine helps curb the heat from the wings. Not a fan of spicy hot wings? Here are a few alternatives to consider:
- BBQ wings + Zinfandel
- Garlic Parmesan wings + Pinot Grigio
- Mild wings + Merlot
- Lemon Pepper dry rub wings + Sauvignon Blanc
3. CHIPS + BUBBLY
Sparkling wine pairs really well with this salty snack. Try a Prosecco or champagne with plain chips. Different flavor chips do call for other wines to try – the fun part is experimenting to see what pairing you enjoy! Some ideas:
- Chips & Salsa + sparkling Rosé
- BBQ chips + Zinfandel or Shiraz
- Salt & Vinegar chips + Pinot Grigio or Sparkling
- Sour Cream & Onion chips + Merlot
- Hot chips + Riesling
4. PULLED PORK + MALBEC
Malbec pairs well with this dish because it has the right acidity level for the tomato-based sauce and spices typically found within it. Zinfandel and Shiraz will also compliment this dish. A good white wine alternative is dry Riesling. Of course different sauces will lend themselves to different wine pairings. But a Malbec is always a good start.
5. BURGERS + PINOT NOIR
Pinot Noir is one of the most food friendly red wines around. The lighter body, acidity level and tannins are well balanced and don’t overwhelm food flavors. This makes it a perfect pairing with just about any type of burger, no matter what spices are in the burger or toppings you layer on it. Some other ideas for you to try:
- Beef burgers + Cabernet Sauvignon or oaked Chardonnay
- Turkey burgers + Pinot Noir or Pinot Gris
- Veggie burgers + Rosé or Viognier
When in doubt, Pinot Noir and Sparkling wine generally tend to be very food friendly when it comes to tailgating dishes. And remember, food pairings are suggestions. If you have a favorite pairing that is unique, go for it! And share it with us below! You are the best judge of your palate and what you enjoy will always be the best pairing!
Leave a Reply