Great Game Day Wines
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the Blue Jays are now headed to the ALCS. And you probably know hockey is back. Which means if you are a Toronto sports fan (or just really want to be), this is a very good time indeed.
We have countless numbers of friends and colleagues who played hooky yesterday to host parties for the deciding Game 5 of the Jays & Rangers series. And if there was ever a day to take off work for a baseball game, that was a pretty good one. We probably won’t be seeing that kind of crazy drama in the next series, but there is definitely exciting times ahead – and most definitely more Game Day parties to enjoy.
With that in mind, we’ve created some awesome wine pairings to go with your favourite sports foods so you can watch your favourite Toronto team win in style.
Sparkling
Napoleon Bonaparte famously said, “I drink Champagne when I win, to celebrate … and when I lose, to console myself.” So you better have some bubbles on hand no matter what the outcome of the game. Beyond just being a fabulous party trick to douse you and your friends in jubilant froth after a hard fought victory, sparkling wine is actually very conveniently food friendly. Hot wings? Check. Nachos? Check. French Fries? Definitely check.
The crisp acid and palate cleansing bubbles allow for sparkling wines to go with just about anything from cheese & charcuterie plates (our munchies of choice for game day) to more casual pub grub fare like potato skins or quesadillas.
We like: Jansz Premium Cuvee, Tasmania, Australia NV $26.95 Vintages 566828
Syrah
It’s October. It’s doubtful the Dome roof will be open for anymore games this season, and unless you’re already planning your Winter Classic hockey excursion, any other sporting event you attend this fall will either be in a bar, home or closed stadium/arena. To warm you up, reach for a robust, rich and spicy Syrah. Not only will it answer the craving for a comforting red, it goes really well with your classic game day foods like beef chili or sliders.
We like: Montgras “Antu” Syrah, Collchagua Valley, Chile, 2012 $17 Vintages 425900
Riesling
For those you who like to order in Chinese, Indian or Mexican dishes, Rieslings are your friend here. A lot of people will reach for a Gewürztraminer to pair with intensely flavoured dishes because of its lower alcohol and strong aromatics, but we prefer the bright, fresh, crispness of Riesling. If the food is very fiery, we’ll opt for something with a bit of sweetness to counter the heat, but if it’s fairly mild, though deeply flavoured (like a Thai green curry, for example), we’ll go with a dry Riesling that’s full of lime and mineral with a ton of lively acidity to keep the palate fresh.
We like: Thirty Bench Riesling, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, ON 2014 $18.95 Vintages 24133
Pinot Gris
When having a few friends over, we like to have wines with larger crowd appeal – and Pinot Gris, the more flavoursome alter ego of Pinot Grigio – does the trick. A team player if there ever was one, Pinot Gris will please the Grigio crowd and still interest those looking for a bit more complexity in their wines. Plus, dry Gris have a refreshing tang that will pair well with creamy dips and roast white meats like pulled pork or chicken kabobs with tzatziki sauce.
We like: Cave de Ribeauvillé Collection Pinot Gris, Alsace, France 2014 $19.95 Vintages 390633
Barbera d’Alba
This is the everyday red of Piedmont. Bright and accessible with zingy acidity and red fruit charm, there’s an easy going flexibility to this wine which is perfect for pizza – both meat and veggie.
We like: Paolo Conterno Bricco Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy, 2013 $18.95 Vintages 744714