Buffalo chicken dip and an ice-cold beer is a trusty football season pairing, but we’re bringing our A-game to our fantasy football bracket-building parties this year: we’re talking chicken wing and wine pairings. How exactly do you pair wings with wine, you may ask? You look to the flavor, of course!
Buffalo chicken dip and an ice-cold beer is a trusty football season pairing, but we’re bringing our A-game to our fantasy football bracket-building parties this year: we’re talking chicken wing and wine pairings.
How exactly do you pair wings with wine, you may ask? You look to the flavor, of course! From buffalo to garlic, BBQ to teriyaki, we’ve found the best wine pairings to complement the flavor profiles of every kind of chicken wing you might serve at your football festivities this year.
It’s time to play armchair quarterback and kitchen counter sommelier. Keep reading for our favorite wine and wing pairings.
It wouldn’t be wing night without buffalo wings. This classic wing has a bit of a spicy kick, which is nicely balanced by a lightly sweet, acidic white wine. Two Princes Riesling delivers flavors of apple, apricot and peach with an off-dry finish and lovely minerality. The high acidity will also pair well with the cool, creamy dill flavors in ranch dressing, if you choose to dip your buffalo wings.
BBQ sauce is a bold flavor that requires an equally big and bold red wine. When you need loud, in-your-face flavor, it’s time to look for a California wine. Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec, made by pioneers of biodynamic farming in California, showcases flavors of smashed red fruits, licorice, spice and pepper.
As delicious as it is, garlic is a flavor that tends to overstay its welcome in the mouth (and on your breath). That’s why a bubbly, refreshing sparkling wine makes a great match for these wings. The clean, refreshing style of Prosecco cleanses the taste buds and prepares you for your next bite of wing. This Prosecco comes from an over 900-year-old family winery and dazzles the palate with flavors of citrus, honeysuckle, white peach and melon.
Mojo is a spicy, citrusy marinade, so you’re going to need a crisp white wine with plenty of citrus flavor as well to pair with it. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc has the refreshing acidity and elegant citrus flavors to make it a perfect pairing for this style of marinade. This wine is light-bodied, yet full of deliciously fruity flavors like passionfruit, guava and fresh herbs that will play nicely with this Cuban marinade.
Asian cuisine often blends sweet and spicy flavors for a unique tasting experience. If you’re serving teriyaki wings, you’ll need a wine with enough fruitiness to tease out the sweet flavors in the teriyaki sauce without overpowering the savory flavors of soy sauce, garlic and ginger. Reach for an interesting white wine, like a gewurztraminer, that can match the teriyaki glaze’s exotic flavors. This one from Zinck in France has a distinct flavor profile of mandarin, lychee, peach and honeysuckle.
...And speaking of sweet and savory, honey garlic wings are always an excellent addition to the game day watch party spread. You should select a wine with honey notes to match the honey in the wings, but with other savory notes so the pairing isn’t overly sweet. The rich and varied flavors of this California chardonnay include white peach, lemon curd, pear, honeycomb, puff pastry and almond with a lip-smackingly creamy finish. The wine’s hefty acidity will balance the wings’ garlic notes, making for a truly touchdown pairing.
Crispy, crunchy fried chicken wings need to be paired with a wine with rich tannins to cut through the fattiness of the wing and balance its bold flavors. This Napa Valley cab has ripe dark fruit flavors, a medium body and moderate acidity for a wine that can hold its own but still provide a silky-smooth tasting experience. In other words, it’s got enough punch to pair with the crunch.
