By Jade Palmer, Hop City Krog Wine Manager
Wine has the (somewhat unfortunate) reputation of being unreachable and snobby. However, wine is anything but. Wine and food have existed together since time immemorial. Where there have been big feasts, they were often accompanied with wine. I am a big advocate of opening a “fancy” bottle of wine just because. And there’s little more I love in the world than pairing wine with some of my favourite comfort foods and snacktivities. Welcome to the world of high-low pairings, where we pair wines with junk food for a match made in heaven.
Francois Crochet Sancerre - $39.99 paired with Cheetos
Everyone loves Sancerre. So much that demand is higher than supply - it’s tough to find Sancerre these days, but we’ve got a lovely one from Francois Crochet. Think mineral-forward with notes of citrus and salinity. Why does this pair with Cheetos? Ask Vanessa Price, author of the book Big Macs & Burgundy, the veritable bible of high-low pairings. The minerality of the wine cuts through the cheesy goodness of the Cheetos. I highly recommend chilling a bottle of this wine, grabbing a party-sized bag of Cheetos, and posting up on the porch for a few hours.
Babylonstoren “Babel” Red Blend - $17.99 paired with ribs
This Shiraz-based blend from South Africa is practically begging to be paired with grilled and smoked meats. It’s full of blueberry, blackberry, plum, baking spices, and vanilla notes. All of that wrapped in a juicy wine would pair beautifully with some grilled or smoked ribs. Perfect for the beginning of summer. Bust out the grill, smoker, or the Doordash app (if your fave BBQ place delivers), get some ribs, and enjoy a lazy summer evening with this wine.
Roland Champion Eclat des Craie Blanc de Blancs - $59.99 paired with fried chicken
My friends and I have parties dedicated to fried chicken and Champagne, no joke. Sometimes, we class it up with some caviar and creme fraiche, but there’s nothing quite like a glass of Champs with a fried chicken leg from Publix. It’s a texture thing - the crispiness and fattiness of the fried chicken is cut by the laser sharp bubbles and flavors of the Champagne. This Champagne is loaded with green apple and fresh citrus notes, as expected from a Blanc de Blancs. Trust me, grab an 8 piece combo from Publix and this wine and you won’t ever be the same.
