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

Gage & Tollner

Grant Wood

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Gage &amp; Tollner

Hey Robert, glad to be back on and chat about another fabulous list.

To start with this list, I think it is important to point out that on one hand, this truly is a great list but on the other, this is one of the more daunting lists that we&rsquo;ve seen for your average guest looking to dine out. So, I think this is a great opportunity to really help the traditional guest navigate a list that is as compelling as this one.

When coming to a restaurant as compelling and unique as this, it&rsquo;s important for the guest to be armed with questions that help their server or sommelier to better help give them the best road map to finding the right bottles to match what they want to get from their dining experience. On this note, keep in mind that a place that has this type of list also has the staff that is passionate to speak confidently about the selections that they have put on their list.

So right away I noticed a lot of classics on their menu from cocktails to appetizers, to sides, and to the main events and desserts. So, for me, I feel you&rsquo;re safe regarding pre-dinner drinks that suit your fancy. Be it a classic cocktail, a glass of refreshing white, you can really run the gamete of pre-game themes to kick off your evening.

In regards to the wine list, my eyes on their by-the-glass offerings were immediately drawn to the 2020 Getariako Txakolina by Txampian which is a racy, slightly spritzy white from northern Spain that I could drink straight from the bottle or in the classic Galician tradition to drink from a porr&oacute; which is one of my favorite party tricks at home. Otherwise, I have to shout out to Raj Parr&rsquo;s project in Santa Barbara, Sandhi. This is an incredible new-world chardonnay that delivers so much pleasure and drinkability that will change anyone&rsquo;s preconceived notion that Cali chard is another butter-bomb.

For bubbles I would gravitate towards the Champagne Heri-Hodie, Roger Coulon 1er cru, NV extra brut as it is a superb &ldquo;grower&rdquo; Champagne with class and elegance. Or, for a bit better value, consider the Cr&eacute;mant du Jura BBF by St&eacute;phane Tissot which is made in the same fashion as champagne but from the alpine region east of Burgundy.

Moving on to reds, you have some amazing choices at really great values as well. This is a place to really explore your palate at prices that don&rsquo;t make you seek out side-hustles to afford them. The 2017 Palette by Ch&acirc;teau Simone is a revelation. The 2020 Vieilles Vignes (old vines) Beaujolais-Villages by Jean-Claude-Lapalu is a stellar value and so food friendly. If you really want to ball out on an amazing wine from California, then you must go with the 2017 Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Easily one of one of my favorite producers of Cabernet in my hometown of Napa Valley. Randy Dunn&rsquo;s son, Mike, has since taken over and he is an absolute hoot to taste with.

Overall, I would consider this as an &ldquo;insiders&rdquo; wine list that really speaks to the wine-lover in me. My best advice? Let your server or sommelier take you on a journey that excites them in the moment and let your wild side take the wheel as this is an engaging list that invites you to relieve yourself from the shackles of the mundane or otherwise &ldquo;safe&rdquo; way of life.

I hope that this is a helpful guide to drinking better and having a more interesting conversation at the table. As always, cheers to you, and cheers to those you love!

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BRAT

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Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is a Pauillac estate that has been producing wines since the 18th century. The vineyards are located on a hilltop overlooking the Gironde estuary, which provides excellent drainage and a unique microclimate. The estate is known for producing powerful, richly flavored wines that are capable of aging for decades.

Relaxed eatery serving sustainable seafood plus beer, wine & cocktails in bright, beachy digs.

Dante

Geronimo

La Mercerie

Bar Primi

Kirby’s Steakhouse

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homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Seamore’s - Upper East Side

Giuliano Rosati

Pinot Grigio 2020

Pinot Grigio

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Barcino

Cava Belle Epoque Brut NV

Blend

Cava, Spain

Nortico

Alvarinho 2018

Albarino

Minho, Portugal

Terrazas de los Andes

Reserva Malbec 2019

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Maison Marcel

Rose 2021

Blend

Provence, France

Frenzy

Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand

Prelius

Vermentino 2019

Vermentino

Maremma Toscana, Italy

Gaintza

Getariako Txakolina 2020

Hondarrabi Zuri

Pais Vasco, Spain

L'Umami

Pinot Noir 2020

Pinot Noir

Willamette Valley, USA

Auvigue

Le Moulin du Pont Saint-Veran 2018

Chardonnay

France

Gaintza

Getariako Txakolina 2020

Hondarrabi Zuri

Getariako Txakolina, Spain

Torres Ribera del Duero Cleste Crianza Pago del Cielo, Spain 2018

Tempranillo

Castilla y Leon, Spain

Catena

Malbec NV

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Maison Marcel

Rose NV

Blend

Provence, France