It's football season, and what's a football game without tailgating? Most people think of beer, or one of those spicy-tomato and celery stick cocktails, but there are great wines for tailgating, too.
Tailgating Wines
It's football season, and that means it's time to hook up the smoker, load the coolers, and pack a picnic basket - because what's a football game without tailgating? Most people think of beer, or one of those spicy-tomato and celery stick cocktails, but there are great wines for tailgating, too. This month I'll give you some recommendations for tailgate wines, as well as how to pack your car for maximum ease and enjoyment.
Since so much of tailgating food is either grilled, smoked, or spiced, the usual suspects for red wine apply: Grenache, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah - especially any bottling labeled "old vine". These wines have the right balance of fruit, spice, and thick body to stand up to barbeque sauce, Buffalo dip, cheeseburgers, and grilled bratwurst. If you're roasting pork, but not spicing it very heavily, look into a Tempranillo as well - I absolutely love Tempranillo with a plain pork chop or tenderloin. A few of my favorites include:
Pennywise Petite Sirah - $14
OZV Zinfandel - $15
La Granja Tempranillo - $7
Evodia Grenache - $17
Plungerhead Zinfandel (Lodi) - $16
Van Ruiten Zinfandel - $15
If you're in the mood for something white, consider Pinot Grigio and Chenin Blanc, especially if you have shrimp cocktail! A lightly- or moderately-oaked Chardonnay is always a crowd-pleaser, too. And if you've gone really spicy with the food, like 3-alarm chili or mega-ultra-hot wings, pack a cold Riesling or Gewurztraminer. I recommend:
Indaba Chenin Blanc - $12
Toad Hollow Chardonnay - $15
Kris Pinot Grigio - $15
Banyan Gewurztraminer - $18
Now lets talk about logistics. If you don't have a waiter's corkscrew, now is the time to get one: it's small and easy to use, and it will open beer bottles too. Really nice picnic hampers usually have a fabric pocket for them. Also look for screwtop bottles or "Zork" corks, which don't need any tools to open.
As far as servingware goes, nobody should complain about a red plastic cup, but there are also plastic disposable and reusable stemmed wine glasses for an extra touch of elegance. Several Australian firms pack single-serve wine bottles with a small glass built in; the whole thing is about the size of a beer can, and it's a perfect serve-and-forget package.
If you're traveling a long way to the game and it's a sunny day, go ahead and put the red wines on top of the cooler, but not buried in the ice. That's the best way to simulate a cellar temperature of 60° F while you're on the highway. Make sure the wine is packed for easy access - putting up folding tables and laying out the cheese tray are much easier when you've got a glass of cheer on hand! Once you arrive, pull your wines out of the cooler and keep them in the shade, and they'll be ready to go.
That's all you should need to know - make sure to pack sunscreen, dig out your old college sweater, and enjoy the game. Cheers!
