Champagne & Kettle Chips
One of the best parts of working at Wine Press is tasting all the wine. I mean, I’m pretty sure that's why most people want to work here in the first place. It's different here though. Each staff member has a unique palate and picks up on so many different flavors. So, I did some investigating, a strange tasting session that really got me thinking.
Our favorite snack foods that go with some of our favorite wines as well! We don't develop these strange affinities without being lovers of food too. To cut the indulgences of working in the wine world, our lives aren’t very glamorous BUT we definitely make the most of it. Here’s some of our favorite pairings that make us feel bougie, and our go-to’s after a long day.
It's no secret Mariana has 2 affinities that I’m sure nobody else in the store would know more about: agave and fortified wines. So, when I asked her what her favorite pairing was, without hesitation she said, “Madeira and buttered popcorn”. Dang she’s right though. Who needs a thriller of a movie with popcorn when El Maestro Sierra, 12yr Amontillado is the excitement you need?
If you’re reading this, chances are Chris has told you about all the Champagne’s you should try in the store, and then some. It comes as no surprise also that when I asked him what their favorite unusual pairing was, the answer was “Blanc de Blancs and an entire bag of Cape Cod kettle chips”. Savage. For those who don’t know, “Blanc de Blancs” means that the style of Champagne was made entirely from white grapes. This style of bubbles usually has a little more acidity than your usual wine, but it's a perfect balance to some salty kettle chips! A great choice for this sort of snack would be the Christophe Mignon, Brut Nature and a coat of banana scented SPF 30+ (well ok not to eat- 2021 we are having good skin-care routines and hydrating) side note: this is the vibe we are keeping for the rest of 2021 also).
Collin initially said “nachos and High Life beer” which, classic, but someone with his specificity-level definitely has some all-time classic but unusual snack pairings he’s hiding. I mean… have you read his music blog?
For me, it’s caviar and Ruffles chips with Evening Land, Chardonnay (Matthiasson’s Linda Vista is another good one). We didn't say this had to be cheap, right? Sometimes you just have to treat yourself. Indulging on the weekends is how I take care of myself (and it should be yours too), hence the whole “working in a wine store” thing.
The most unknown wine to pair with food is probably those wines we categorize in the skin contact section, otherwise known as the “orange” section. It’s a newer style of wine for most people, but I think it's the most whimsical to pair with truly whatever you're thinking after the first sip! With most orange wines it’s difficult to find out what the wine profile is going to be before opening, so I’ve done some of the work for you! La Tollara, Il Ranuccio is a great delicately fruit-forward orange wine that would do so well with maybe a summer salad that has the addition of nuts and berries or some fruity gelato!
Picture this, you’re hungry and nothing is open except for 7-11 with nearly all the snack food you could think of. You have a bottle of super Tuscan wine with you. What are you grabbing? My choice is Doritos. In case I didn't already mention it, we are a no judgement-zone here on this blog. P.S my dream is to have a frozé machine at 7’11. Dreams do come true.
I think a snack we have all been looking forward to for a long time is a Fenway frank. Do I really need to go into how iconic it is in the Boston area? We always want what we can’t have, and since Fenway was closed for a season and we are JUST getting back to being able to sit in the stands again, I think a pairing is necessary here. I swear the most nostalgic part of living in Boston is the franks with your $20 soda. But I would prefer to have a Frank with something a little more interesting. The Osmote “This is Red” Pét Nat is a summer crusher for sure! Indulging in a red pet nat has become a favorite treat of mine and this is a fun one. I think this wine absolutely calls for a cookout with some franks & friends to enjoy it with.
I think it's only appropriate to wrap this unusual snack pairing blog up with some dessert. Most of us learned in a wine course that it is very hard to pair sweets with wine because you are always trying to match the level of sweetness, savory-ness, saltiness, fattiness, and umami of wine to your food instead of contrast (explains why a lot of these pairings fit pretty well). But dare I say it, Shochu and milk chocolate has become a favorite end-of-a-long-shift snack of mine. Yes, this keeps me awake much longer than I needed. Don’t knock it till you try it.