The NFL WildCard playoffs are set!! So when planning your menu for the coming big games or the Superbowl, incorporating a selection of snacks and wines that complement each other can really elevate the experience. Here are some classic game day snacks paired with wines, complete with recipes and recommended wines:

1. Classic Buffalo Wings &amp; Riesling

Snack: Buffalo wings are a quintessential game day treat. To prepare, marinate chicken wings in a mix of hot sauce, melted butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, and garlic powder. Bake until crispy and toss them in more sauce for that classic spicy kick.

Wine Pairing: A crisp Riesling. Its natural sweetness and acidity can tame the heat of the wings and cleanse the palate. Look for a Riesling with a balance of fruity and mineral notes, offering a refreshing contrast to the spicy wings.

Wine Recommendation: <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/AJ-Adam-Dhroner-Hofberg-Riesling-Trocken-2018-w9143049e1">A.J. Adam - Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Trocken 2018</a>, $42.99

2. Loaded Nachos &amp; Zinfandel

Snack: For loaded nachos, layer corn tortilla chips with shredded beef, black beans, jalapenos, and cheese. Bake until the cheese melts and then top with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. This snack is a medley of flavors and textures.

Wine Pairing: A robust Zinfandel. This wine, known for its bold fruit flavors and a hint of spice, complements the meat and spices in the nachos well. A Zinfandel with notes of blackberry, cherry, and pepper would be ideal.

Wine Recommendation: <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Ridge-Lytton-Springs-Zinfandel-Dry-Creek-Valley-2021-w7007258mk">Ridge - Lytton Springs Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2021</a>, $59.99

3. Sliders with Blue Cheese &amp; Cabernet Sauvignon &ndash; Staff Favorite**

Snack: Mini sliders made with quality ground beef, seasoned with salt and pepper, and grilled to perfection. Serve on small buns with blue cheese, arugula, and a thin slice of red onion.

Wine Pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins in this wine cut through the fattiness of the beef and blue cheese, while its flavors of black currant, cedar, and herbs add an extra layer of complexity to the sliders.

Wine Recommendation: <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Concha-y-Toro-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Maipo-Valley-Terrunyo-Pirque-Viejo-Vineyard-2018-w9062227lv">Concha y Toro - Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Terrunyo Pirque Viejo Vineyard 2018</a>, $35.99

Wine Recommendation: <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Chateau-Lynch-Bages-Echo-de-Lynch-Bages-Pauillac-2019-w6428939kd">Chateau Lynch-Bages - Echo de Lynch Bages Pauillac 2019,</a> $58.99

https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Chateau-Lynch-Bages-Echo-de-Lynch-Bages-Pauillac-2019-w6428939kd

4. Cheese and Charcuterie Board &amp; Pinot Noir

Snack: Assemble a board with a variety of cheeses (think Brie, Cheddar, and Gouda), cured meats (like salami and prosciutto), nuts, fruits, and crackers. This offers something for everyone and encourages grazing throughout the game.

Wine Pairing: Pinot Noir. This wine is versatile enough to pair with the wide range of flavors on the board. Look for a Pinot Noir with notes of cherry, raspberry, and clove for a delightful match.

Wine Recommendation:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Bzikot-Pere-and-Fils-Volnay-2018-w664195310">Bzikot Pere &amp; Fils - Volnay 2018</a>, $51.99

5. Spicy Shrimp Tacos &amp; Sauvignon Blanc

Snack: Quick shrimp tacos with a spicy seasoning, topped with a slaw of cabbage, cilantro, and lime juice. Serve in small tortillas for easy eating.

Wine Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc. The zesty and citrus notes of this wine complement the spice and freshness of the tacos. A Sauvignon Blanc with hints of lime, green apple, and passion fruit would be particularly refreshing.

Wine Recommendation: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Gerard-Boulay-Sancerre-Chavignol-2022-w1366241xd">Gerard Boulay - Sancerre Chavignol 2022</a>, $38.99

Pairing wines with your NFL game day snacks can transform your viewing into a gourmet experience. Remember, the best pairings balance the flavors and intensity of both the food and the wine. Don&#39;t be afraid to experiment and find what combinations delight your palate the most. Enjoy the game and the feast!

 
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The NFL WildCard playoffs are set!! So when planning your menu for the coming big games or the Superbowl, incorporating a selection of snacks and wines that complement each other can really elevate the experience. Here are some classic game day snacks paired with wines, complete with recipes and recommended wines.

Big Games are set! Here are wine pairings for your favorite game snacks!

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, joins Robert Tas to talk about the wine list at Audrey, a traditional south-eastern inspired restaurant with a menu that serves local and seasonal products to showcase the best of the South.

Wine List Review of Audrey in Nashville, Tennessee

Tina Johansson

Audrey

Audrey

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

Hi Tina, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems, value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

TJ: Thank you, Robert. Today we&rsquo;re talking about Audrey, a restaurant in Nashville. It&rsquo;s run by Sean Brock, a chef many will recognize from his interesting episode in Netflix Chef&rsquo;s Table. Audrey is his flagship restaurant and as all of his cooking it&rsquo;s devoted to the flavors and produces of the Southern cuisine. The name Audrey actually comes from his grandmother who has inspired Brock&#39;s cooking.

RT: Yes, and as focus is on local and seasonal products the menu here is ever-changing to showcase the best of the South. The menu consists of classics like cornbread, heirloom apples and grits, all cooked and presented with a modern take. How would you like grilled deer skewer with hickory oil, or ember-baked Candy Roaster squash? I&rsquo;m very intrigued!

TJ: So am I! Both by the food menu, and by the wine list. The list shows real width. It has all the classics like Burgundy, Rioja and Napa Valley, but also unknown origins like Greece or Slovakia showing all that is the world of wine today. The sparkling wine section is also quite big here. It&rsquo;s the type of list where there is something fun for everyone.

RT: Sounds like a real interesting list. So, what would be your pick with a classic Southern dish like Jimmy red grits, here served with cured egg yolk and bay laurel? It&rsquo;s quite unique flavors from the almost extinct Jimmy red corn, a variety Sean Brock helped bring back from near extinction.

TJ: I would do as the Italians do in the northern part of the country with their polenta and pair with a lighter style of red wine, but something more fruit-driven to match with the red corn used here. So let&rsquo;s travel to the south of Italy and to Sicily with an extremely juicy red from Vino di Anna, the 2017 Jeudi 15. Fresh enough to cut through the creaminess of the grits but with enough red berry flavor to also handle the natural sweetness of the red corn.

RT: Yes, what a fun wine! And since I know you said that the list is very broad, is there something extra fun to drink in Audrey? Something you might not come across on many other wine lists?

TJ: Yes, so many bottles! Like I said they hold wines from fun origins like Slovakia and Greece, but the one wine that catches my eye is the 2021 Testalonga El&nbsp; Bandito. It&rsquo;s a Chenin Blanc from South Africa with skin contact. All the color, flavor and also tannins that gives astringency comes from the skin of the grapes. When you make red wine, you always keep the skins in the juice during fermentation to capture all of this in the wine, but for white wine usually you don&rsquo;t. But, in a skin contact white the skins are left in just like with red wine. That means the color turns more to orange than white and the wine is more structured and flavorful. For me it&rsquo;s a great style of wine to pair with food!

RT: Sounds like a fun style of wine, I know skin contact wines are getting more popular so it&rsquo;s definitely something to try for those who haven&rsquo;t yet. And finally, if you were celebrating a birthday in Audrey, what would be your special bottle for the night? Maybe something sparkling since you said they had quite a big section, both with Champagne and other sparkling?

TJ: Yes, I would definitely choose one of their fun sparkling wines! And even though they keep wines from almost every wine making country here, I&rsquo;m a sucker for Champagne so I would celebrate with the 2018 Marie-Courtin Blanc de Noirs, made from pinot noir only in a richer style, very suited for the food here.

RT: That sounds great, I can&rsquo;t wait to dine, and of course drink, in Audrey. Thank you so much for another episode, Tina.To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to:

Info@CorkRules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists wherever you get your podcasts.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

END

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