Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining Party Food & Drink The Ultimate Wine Pairings for Your Favorite Super Bowl Foods Take your game-day spread to the next level. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 27, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Whether your team earned a spot in it or not, celebrating the Super Bowl is more than what's happening on the field. An American tradition for over 50 years, this championship game has become an annual excuse to prepare an indulgent spread, pour your favorite adult beverage, and kick back on the couch. Though wings and beer dominate most viewing parties, we were curious about the wine, so we asked sommelier Laura Burgess to help us find the perfect varietals for game day. Pair our top-rated bottles with these favorite Super Bowl snacks. 4 Foolproof Wine and Cheese Pairings Even Connoisseurs Will Love 01 of 15 Buffalo Chicken Wings: Albariño A peach and lemon-scented Albariño from Spain tames the flames of spicy buffalo sauce. Plus, the varietal’s high acidity helps cut through the greasiness of fried chicken wings.Try: Martin Codax Albariño 02 of 15 Barbecue Chicken Wings: Grenache If your wings are drenched in a sweet, smoky barbecue sauce, try a wine that’s equally flavorful. A juicy grenache offers hints of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry to contrast thick, peppery sauces and highlight the tang of vinegar-based sauces.Try: Thacher Grenache 03 of 15 Spinach & Artichoke Dip: Grüner Veltliner This Austrian white has fresh citrus and pear flavors that help elevate the earthy spinach. Its natural acidity is a welcome chaser to a rich, creamy spinach-artichoke dip.Try: Schloss Halbturn Koenigsegg Velt. 1 Grüner Veltliner These Are the Wines That Pair Well With Everything, Says a Sommelier 04 of 15 Pulled Pork: Zinfandel This light red is low in tannins, which means it won’t overpower the intricate flavors of slow-roasted pork. Fruit-forward notes—like jammy raspberry, tart cherry, and fresh blackberry—complement the flavors of barbecue sauce, too.Try: Limerick Lane Estate Grown Zinfandel 05 of 15 Mac and Cheese: Chardonnay Decadent and cheesy mac and cheese meets its match in Chardonnay. Golden apple flavors help cleanse the palate between each rich bite.Try: Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay 06 of 15 Potato Skins: Sparkling Wine With so many delectable flavors—earthy potatoes, salty bacon, tangy sour cream, fresh scallions—finding the right pairing can be a challenge. But effervescence helps run interference between the fatty and spicy elements, while citrus and apple flavors brighten the best of this game-day classic. Feel free to pair your bubbly with potato chips, too. (We swear by Cape Cod brand.)Try: Veuve Clicquot Brut 07 of 15 Pizza: Barbera Considered an everyday wine in Northern Italy, the light tannins and bright cherry flavors of Barbera complement a wide range of pies, from veggie to meat lovers. It's our go-to pizza wine.Try: Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne 08 of 15 7-Layer Bean Dip: Beaujolais Made from the gamay grape, this light-bodied red wine bursts with wild berry aromas but is still clean, crisp, and dry. It’s the perfect answer to the trifecta of creamy, spicy, and tangy flavors in this classic party dip.Try: J. M. Aujoux Claire Chanté Vieilles Vignes 09 of 15 Beef Sliders: Syrah This rich, full-bodied varietal’s smoky tones complement char-grilled beef burgers. Plum and blackberry flavors with hints of earthy spice round out each bite.Try: Dusty Nabor Syrah 10 of 15 Hummus and Veggies: Pinot Grigio Like our favorite hummus (whether smeared on a pita, cracker, or veggies), Pinot Grigio is light and bright. A hint of lemon showcases the citrus and sesame flavors of this dip.Try: The Four Graces Pinot Gris 11 of 15 Guacamole: Sauvignon Blanc This spicy, citrusy, fatty dip needs something to brighten the citrus notes of the lime but cut through the oils of the avocado, according to sommelier Alex White of Monello, a Minneapolis restaurant. If guacamole and chips are on your table, he suggests a Sauvignon Blanc from a coastal area like Chile, where the sea spray adds salinity to the wine, making all the wonderful flavors of the food and wine pop like an umami explosion.Try: Casa Silva Sauvignon Blanc 12 of 15 Smoked Ribs: Montepulciano d'Abbruzzo No matter how you like your ribs—BBQ sauce, dry rub, or naked—the fruit-forward notes of Montepulciano enhances them. The mountainous region of Abbruzzo (in southeastern Italy) provides this big-bodied wine with great acidity, which works magic when paired with the richness of slow-cooked pork.Try: Gran Sasso Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 13 of 15 Mozzarella Sticks With Marinara: Malbec The dryness and fruity notes of Malbec perfectly complement the epic duo of mozzarella sticks and marinara. This wine is dark violet in color with a rich nose of berry, coffee, and herb.Try: El Esteco 2017 Malbec 14 of 15 Chili: Lambrusco The subtle sweetness of Lambrusco balances out even the spiciest chili. This lively, semi-sparkling red sells at an approachable price, making it a staple wine for any holiday party host.Try: Riunite Lambrusco 15 of 15 Pimento Cheese: Cabernet Sauvignon The peppery tang and creamy texture of pimento cheese pairs perfectly with a bold, balanced, and full-bodied red like California Cabernet. You'll find elements of heat, spice, and richness in both parties.Try: Trinchero Napa Valley Mario's Cabernet Sauvignon Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit