Click on the image above to play the video
It’s easy to pair a gourmet meal with wine, but what about our favourite game snacks? Here to help us is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com.
Welcome Natalie.
Great to be back with you! We’re going to drink outside the box with these unusual but delicious pairings.
Sounds good! We’re starting with popcorn – got a wine for that?
Yes, what would be better with popcorn than Bread & Butter?!
Bread & Butter Pinot Grigio
California, United States
But here’s the twist, when you dig into popcorn, you want something to cut through the buttery richness like this crisp Pinot Grigio from Bread & Butter with its vibrant citrus notes.
The goal is to refresh your palate. While we could also pair popcorn with a buttery chardonnay, and Bread & Butter has a terrific chardonnay, that would be like wearing pearls and a diamond necklace on Maple Leafs’ game night – it’s just overkill (!)
If you’re getting take-out, this wine would also be great with a Margherita pizza.
Excellent! Is there a wine for pretzels?
No need to cry in your beer ;) The Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc is bold and expressive, just like you are when your favourite soccer team scores a … what is it, not a touchdown but a oh yes, a goal (!)
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand
The grapes are grown in Marlborough, the country’s best region for Sauvignon Blanc.
Feel free to smell or taste.
Pretzels are salty, so you need a wine with racy, vibrant acidity to match those tangy flavours and to make your mouth water. Acidity is to wine as salt is to food: it brings forward flavour. This wine would also work well with a bucket of fried chicken.
How about some cheezies?
The classic pairing for cabernet is a finely aged British cheddar cheese, but the guidelines don’t change between fancy pants food and our favourite snacks. We’re still looking to match the texture, weight and flavour of what’s in your glass with what’s on the plate — or in the bowl.
I’d recommend a smooth, juicy, full-bodied Australian Cabernet or Shiraz from [yellow tail].
[yellow tail] Cabernet
Australia
[yellow tail] Shiraz
Australia
Feel free to smell or taste.
Both wines are both bursting with juicy ripe dark berries and plums so they’d also be terrific with hamburgers too. They’re perfect when you’re watching a Raptors game as they support the team with these special edition wines that also include a Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.
Next up we have classic M&Ms. Looks like you have a cocktail for this one.
To broaden our choices, we’re going with a Southern Comfort Game Time Cocktail.
Southern Comfort
Kentucky, United States
Your drink, whether it’s wine or a cocktail, needs to be sweeter than the dessert otherwise it’ll taste bitter by comparison. The bonus with Southern Comfort is that the higher alcohol content of 35% balances the sweetness and spice. And sometimes you need something a little stronger to watch the fourth quarter.
This cocktail is built simply in the glass with fresh citrus juices, grenadine, two ounces of Southern Comfort and two ounces of Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Fill with ice and garnish with a pineapple wedge. Now we have a touchdown … or is it a hat trick? Whatever, it’s a winning combination!
Feel free to smell or taste.
Any final words of wisdom or advice?
Game night pairings don’t need to be fancy to be fabulous. Your sips and snacks can be perfect teammates if you’re willing to make some bold moves on and off the court — or sofa!
Thank you, Natalie! Where can we find you and these drinks online?
On Instagram, I’m at @NatalieMacLeanWine and online, my website is nataliemaclean.com.
Posted with permission of Global Television.
