We’re weeks away from “The Big Game” and we all know what that means… gatherings of friends and family to watch the commercials and the halftime show! Or, if you were lucky enough to have your team make it into the finals, then you’ll be rooting for your home team. Of course, not all of us are that lucky, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all get together and enjoy a nice evening of eating and drinking.
When it comes to planning a Super Bowl party most people serve up appetizers, pizza, and food that they can eat easily with their fingers. By not serving a huge sit-down meal, it makes it easier to mingle and watch the game as you graze on all the delicious offerings.
But what about drinks?
People often associate sports with beer drinking, but wine should always be an option at your Super Bowl parties as well. There are some great wines out there that can compliment various finger foods and appetizers as you’re watching the game. Wine might even compliment the food better than a cold beer would.
Let’s look at some of the great wine options you should serve during your Super Bowl party this year.
Wine Pairings For Your Super Bowl Party
1. Buffalo Chicken Wings
Buffalo Chicken Wings have become synonymous with sports since they were created. They are quick and easy to make, they can be held in one hand and carried around easily, and they are absolutely delicious.
And while there are any number of different sauces you can toss your wings in, buffalo sauce tends to be the most common, and the favorite, amongst most sports fans.
If you plan on serving buffalo chicken wings at your Super Bowl party this year, which you definitely should, we suggest pairing them with a slightly sweeter wine like a Riesling or a Gewurztraminer. The sugars in these wines will help reduce the spiciness of the buffalo sauce while the acid in the wine will compliment the ranch or bleu cheese you may be serving on the side.
If you’re looking for a good red wine to pair with buffalo wings, we would suggest a classic Pinot Noir.
2. Pizza
Another obvious food for a Super Bowl party is going to be pizza. Pizza, like buffalo wings, is easy to eat with one hand, everyone likes it, and it’s one of the best foods on the planet.
Pairing wine with pizza isn’t as straight forward as with buffalo chicken wings though because pizza can come with a variety of different toppings. Whether you like meat on your pizza, veggies, or just plain cheese, the type of wine you should pair with the pizza will change.
With an unlimited amount of topping combinations for pizza, it would be nearly impossible for us to list out all the best wine and pizza pairings, so let’s take a look at a few of the most popular types of pizza.
If you enjoy pepperoni on your pizza, you’re going to want to pair it with a nice glass of Chianti or Syrah. These wines will compliment the spiciness of the pepperoni nicely.
If you prefer veggies on your pizza, then we suggest going with a Sauvignon Blanc or a Chardonnay. These wines will pair very nicely with black olives, green pepper, mushroom, and other vegetables that are typically found on a vegetarian pizza.
And finally, if you’re a fan of just plain cheese pizza, you can’t go wrong with a Grenache or Syrah wine. These acidic red wines will help offset the cheese.
Of course, when it comes to Super Bowl parties, there’s a good chance you’re not getting the fanciest, most expensive, best tasting pizza you can find. More often than not these pizzas are going to come from a local chain restaurant, so you may not get the full experience by pairing wines with these types of pizzas, but it’s always great to know what wine pairs well with pizza regardless of where you’re at.
3. Appetizer Dips
It’s a Super Bowl party so you know there’s going to be dips.
Two of the most common dips at parties these days seem to be guacamole and spinach artichoke dips. These dips are very different flavors and ingredients so it’s important to pair them each up with different types of wines.
Guacamole pairs beautifully with a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc while the spinach artichoke dip would be best paired with something bolder like a Pinot Noir.
Regardless of what food you plan to serve at your Super Bowl party this year, making sure you have a few different bottles of wine on hand can make all the difference. Not everyone likes the same kind of wine, just like not everyone likes the same kind of beer or soda, so having a variety of beverages available will keep the party running smoothly.
If you’re looking to get a little fancier with your gathering this year, maybe keeping it more intimate with a full sit-down dinner, we’ve got some great articles on what wine pairs well with Cabernet Sauvignon.
Elevate your parties by knowing exactly what wine pairs well with the food you’re serving. It’s a great way to impress your guests!