What Wine to Serve at Your Super Bowl Party
Most sporting events are associated with beer. Have you tried to get a nice glass of wine at a stadium? No luck.
But it certainly doesn’t have to be that way – especially if you’re watching those games, the Super Bowl in particular, at home or at a party.
Here's the problem: The hosts of sporting parties tend serve traditional party foods like wings, chips, dips, etc... How do you pair a wine with all that?
Well, we went to the best of the best to get an answer. Celebrity sommelier, Aldo Sohm, chef sommelier at Le Bernardin.
He suggested that when in doubt, go with champagne because it goes with everything (and is particularly important when your team wins).
And Sohm would know. In 2006, New York Magazine voted him "Best Sommelier in New York." The following year he moved to Le Bernardin and won the title of "Best Sommelier in America." Then in 2008 he was named "Best Sommelier in the World," by the Worldwide Sommelier Association, after a grueling competition which included blind tastings, a written exam and mock table service.
Hence his celebrity status.
But if you want to attempt to pair wine with pigs in a blanket and guacamole, Sohm has some suggestions: go with Proseccos or Rieslings if you’re looking for a white, and a nice Beaujolais if you are a red fan.
And one of the biggest mistakes sports fans make?
“Plastic and paper cups!!” says Sohm. “If serving a good wine, serving it in a glass makes all the difference.” That means save the red Solo Cup for the beer drinkers.
Go blue!
Questions for Our Wine Pro
What is your death row wine?
Hopefully I won’t find myself on death row that but if I found myself there tomorrow, a 1971 Barolo Monfortino, Piedmont Italy
What region produces the best wine?
I would say Burgundy and Champagne but Eric Ripert would argue Bordeaux! (and let’s not forget about Austria and its’ Grüner Veltliner!)
What will the U.S. wine industry look like in 10 years?
That’s a good question. Looking back, no one would have believed the success story of the wine industry in the U.S. I think people will get more conscious about what they eat and drink and they will become more knowledgeable about wine in general. Also, I think the demand for quality wines will increase making them more exclusive, and therefore harder to get.