September 26, 2023
When it comes to lounging on the couch, there’s no better combination than a glass of wine and a bag of chips. They’re old-faithful indulgences, but can also be a source of real joy and comfort. But before we mindlessly tear open the foil and pop the cork, let’s explore how to elevate these pairings to bring out the best in both and take snacking to new heights.
Sande Friedman, who runs the beverage program at Di Bruno Brothers in Philadelphia, is a fan of applying intentional wine-pairing knowledge to everyday snacks for maximum enjoyment. She weighed in to offer guidance for pairing some popular salty snacks with their perfect wine. We also picked up our copy of “Big Macs & Burgundy: Wine Pairings for the Real World” by sommelier and writer Vanessa Price for some added ideas and inspiration from this super fun read.
Barbecue Chips with a Merlot-Based Wine or a Fizzy Red Blend
“BBQ chips are the best for standing up to a medium or fuller red wine,” Sande explains. “A safe zone would be a reliably soft Merlot-based red wine, but a more fun and creative zone that I wholeheartedly encourage would be Mariotti Smarazen Bianco dell’Emilia.”
This wine is a fizzy blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes, that has some peachiness that might remind you of a peach barbecue sauce. It’s a frizzante-style bubble, so it’s super casual and perfect for a backyard barbecue or drinking on your couch.
In “Big Macs & Burgundy,” Price recommends Central Coast Pinot Noir with BBQ chips as well.
Sour Cream and Onion Chips with French Chardonnay
“A regular snack setup for me is French Chardonnay (look for unoaked and medium weight) and sour cream and onion chips,” Sande says. “An elegantly bright lemon profile works wonders for balance…and for that sour cream dust they coat chips with, you’re still going to want a fairly substantial white, so you can’t do anything too light.” This pairing could also work well for salted potato chips served with French onion dip.
Pringles with Chenin Blanc
Pop open a can of Pringles for your next movie night with wine. “As another fairly neutral palate, I’ll go with one of my favorite general roast potato pairings and overall favorite grapes—Chenin Blanc.” Sande says. “This honeyed white grape of the Loire Valley at the base of Vouvray is a cult favorite grape of wine geeks everywhere. Since Pringles are such an all-American chip, try an all-American Chenin like Hobo Wine Co.’s Folk Machine Chenin Blanc.”
Truffle Chips with Champagne
“Everyone will default tell you that Champagne is the catch-all fun pairing for chips overall,” Sande says. “They’re not wrong, but I feel like if you’re balling out on real Champagne, you should go full out and get a luxury-flavored chip as well. My dream splurge this minute would be Moussé Fils ‘Spécial Club’ Brut (a rare 100% Pinot Meunier Champagne that is all things creamy and luxurious), paired with Torres Truffle Chips, potentially dunked in some really ripe Harbison or Amontigado cheese because why not. Live your life.”
Click here to read the original article
Click here to learn more about Mirco Mariotti
Click here to learn more about Hobo Wine Company
