Looking to elevate your Super Bowl spread of nachos, wings, and chili to the next level this year? Why not try swapping out beer for wine? Jonathon Alsop of the Boston Wine School joined Jim Braude and Margery Eagan on Boston Public Radio to discuss the best pairings for those who love both football and wine—and aren't willing to compromise.
There are a few strategies for achieving the optimal wine/football pairing. The first is to pair wines culturally with the event, says Alsop. "Football is, in some ways, an all-American game. Have a night of all-American wines: California Zinfandel, California Petite Sirah, California Fume Blanc," he suggested.
The other is to pair wines with the flavors of the snacks you'll have on hand. "Think about your traditional Super Bowl foods. Chili, barbecue, nachos, that kind of thing. In terms of that kind of food, I absolutely love Red Zinfandel," Alsop said.
"I mean, you think about all of these classic tailgating foods, classic Super Bowl fare, it's all these bright, obvious, direct [flavors.] There's no subtlety of flavor. Zinfandel is exactly the same way. Red Zinfandel is a wine that does not make you guess," he continued.
But for those set on going a more classic route and serving up beer on Super Bowl Sunday, Alsop says that's okay too.
"Don't tell anybody I said this, but there is more to life than wine. I think, one day a year, you can drink beer," he said. "I mean, come on."
To hear more from Jonathon Alsop, tune into his full segment on Boston Public Radio, above.
