Some folks’ fall plans include hayrides, corn mazes and haunted houses...and other folks know that Florida falls are STILL too hot for all that outdoor foolishness. For those in the latter camp looking for an indoor activity to get into the autumnal spirit, fire up your stovetops and smart TVs. We’re bringing you 10 perfect wine and flavored popcorn pairings to enjoy during your next scary movie marathon or Gilmore Girls rewatch.
Some folks’ fall plans include hayrides, corn mazes and haunted houses...and other folks know that Florida falls are STILL too hot for all that outdoor foolishness.
For those in the latter camp looking for an indoor activity to get into the autumnal spirit, fire up your stovetops and smart TVs. We’re bringing you 10 perfect wine and flavored popcorn pairings to enjoy during your next scary movie marathon or Gilmore Girls rewatch.
And no, we won’t judge if you crank your AC down and snuggle up under a blanket to simulate that ~fall feeling~.
Note: make your popcorn fresh, and that applies to all recipes on this list. Making popcorn yourself doesn’t take much more effort than microwaving a bag and tastes SO MUCH better. Just heat oil (vegetable, canola, avocado...whatever you prefer, as long as it can handle high heat) in a pan and, once it’s hot, coat the bottom of the pan with popcorn kernels and cover loosely with a lid. Shake occasionally as the kernels pop. Et voila, popcorn with none of that chalky residue on bagged popcorn and all the toasty goodness!
Popcorn and M&Ms are a classic, sweet and salty treat. Just pop your corn in popcorn butter or ghee instead of oil and toss a bag of M&Ms in the bowl with it.
For a fun, complimentary and contrasting pairing, try it with a glass of Butterfly Fields Buttery Chardonnay. As its name suggests, this wine’s buttery notes will get along nicely with the buttered popcorn while its acidity will offset the sweetness of the chocolate candy.
This one’s for the readers who dip EVERYTHING in ranch: wings, pizza, fries and, of course, popcorn.
You’ll need grated parmesan, dill, parsley flakes, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic salt to season this batch of popcorn. Then, pair it with a bottle of Rileys Lookout Sauvignon Blanc. This New Zealand sauvignon blanc’s bright citrus, green pepper and green grapes notes will accentuate all the salty, herbaceous zestiness of this popcorn choice.
Caramel corn (recipe here) is one of those snacks that simply must be served fresh, with the aroma of bubbling butter and brown sugar still lingering in the air. So, it makes sense to make it for your next movie night!
When it comes to wine pairing, sometimes sweet on sweet is the move. A glass of Ca’ D’Gal Moscato d’Asti Lumine is the perfect sparkling sipper for caramel corn, balancing the popcorn’s rich, buttery sweetness with a different bright, fruity sweetness that will satisfy those with a strong sweet tooth.
Our boss shared her husband’s super special popcorn seasoning recipe for this one, so you know it’s gonna be good. Here it is:
1 tablespoon high-quality olive oil
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon Maldon sea salt
Use the olive oil to pop your popcorn. Once it’s popped, remove it from heat and place it in a large bowl. Add garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, smoked paprika (YES, you need both kinds) and sea salt and mix. You can also shake if you have a bowl with a lid or a baking sheet or cutting board lying around. As we all know, recipe measurements are just a suggestion; add as much or as little of each spice depending on how much kick you want.
After a handful or two of the best savory popcorn you’ve ever tasted, pour yourself a glass of Tenuta Cavalier Pepe Lila Falanghina Beneventano. (Try saying that five times fast.) This white wine blend’s notes of lemon, honey and almond pair splendidly with the richness of the olive oil and the zest of the paprika.
Ask anyone from Louisiana: Tony Chachere’s seasoning is a Cajun’s ketchup. That stuff enhances every dish, including popcorn. Sprinkle a little (or a lot) over your next bowl of popcorn, followed closely by pouring a glass of Xplore Pinot Noir. Anytime you’re eating anything with a kick, pinot noir’s low tannins and refreshing acidity will complete a pleasing pair. This particular pinot’s notes of raspberries, strawberries and a touch of spice will add all the mellow smoothness that a good Cajun popcorn needs to laissez les bons temps rouler, cher.
Funnily enough, most movie theater popcorn butter is vegan. It’s true! A lot of the “butter” flavor in that liquid gold is just soy oil and a few other ingredients. So, it’s not too difficult to find or make vegan popcorn yourself.
However, the trouble might come from finding a delicious vegan wine to pair with it. (Watch our video about what makes most wines non-vegan and vegan wine recommendations here.) Never fear, because we have the perfect selection: Fox Run Dry Riesling’s notes of orchard fruits and lime refresh the tastebuds after every bite of warm, salty popcorn, getting you ready for the next handful.
It’s called everything bagel seasoning because it makes EVERYTHING better. Shake your trusty bottle of seasoning over your next bowl of popcorn (while it’s still warm so the seasoning sticks!) and you’ll never have regular buttered popcorn again.
Pair with Zinck Portrait Collection Pinot Gris, a wonderfully refreshing wine with notes of pear, apple and honey. This bottle’s balanced acidity allow it to stand up nicely to the robust flavors of, well, everything in everything bagel seasoning.
We’re sensing a theme here: if you can make it a dip or a spread, you can make it a popcorn flavor. For French Onion popcorn, all you need is dried shallots, dried chives, dried minced garlic, onion powder and salt. Toss the popped corn in the seasoning mixture and drizzle with a little popcorn butter if you fancy. You can also just toss a packet of French Onion soup mix into your popcorn bowl for an easy fix. Accompany it with a slightly chilled glass of 90-rated (James Suckling, 2021) Mary Talor Beaujolais-Villages. Beaujolais is a light-bodied, fruity wine with notes of crushed red fruit that pair perfectly with tangy French Onion flavors.
Salt and vinegar haters are vocal and abundant, but to them we say: more for us. You’ll just need butter, white balsamic vinegar, salt and maybe a little dill to make salt and vinegar popcorn, and nothing balances the bite of vinegar better than bubbles. Enjoy it with Domaine Saint Vincent Rosé, a sparkling wine that bursts from the glass with flavors of strawberry and Bing cherry that leave your palate refreshed between bites.
There are plenty of ways to make nacho popcorn, but we believe simplicity is key: with just butter, parmesan, cumin and paprika, you can throw together a bowl of popcorn that tastes like your favorite sports stands snack. Follow it up with a sip of 91-rated (Decanter, 2022) Santa Isle Sauvignon Blanc Grand Reserve; its tropical flavors of passionfruit, melon and grapefruit will cut through the earthy, smoky flavors of the popcorn seasoning for a pairing that’s nacho average movie night munchies lineup.
