Baseball is back! Step up to the plate with some fun food & wine pairings for the game
The nice weather is creeping in, windows are opening up in your home, flip flops are coming out of the closet, and the radio and TV are projecting the sounds of baseball in the background.
The change in seasons is evident as you witness the buzz in and around your city as people crowd Landsdowne St. in Boston, 161st and River in New York, One Citizens Bank Way in Philadelphia, Willie Mays Plaza in San Francisco, and West Addison St. in Chicago to name a few.
All the scents of summer are crashing into your nose, and since we profile a lot of wine pairings with dinners throughout the year, we thought it would be fun to pair some wine with classic, baseball oriented foods.
You may not be flagging down a wine guy from your seat in the ballpark for a glass of wine, but you’ll probably have friends over in the comfort of your own home, or hit some cookouts for a game.Toss on your mesh hat, and a huge $6.25 pin on your shirt, and offer some traditional ballpark fare at home!
Small Pickings:
Peanuts: A Sauvignon Blanc that offers creamy citrus (Fumé Blanc style) or Gewürztraminer will have you cracking and sipping.
Popcorn: A slightly chilled, crisp Chardonnay or even Sancerre with its vegetal flavors will work well.
Cracker Jacks: This one is tricky, but we got it. The pick is Marsanne, which is a wine that is waxy with almonds and citrus.
Some Good Eats:
Hot Dogs: Merlot is a good choice for most condiments on your dog. If you’d like to be more adventurous, a hot dog with relish and peppers pairs nicely with a sweet, fruity Riesling. This combination is quite refreshing.
Classic Burgers: I’d recommend a Syrah/Shiraz, or even a spicy Zinfandel. Both wines can handle different variations of burgers.
Sausage and Peppers: The smell of sausage and peppers is haunting, even when you’re not that hungry sometimes. Chianti is a perfect match for this guilty pleasure.
Bonus Snack: For my San Francisco peeps…
Garlic Fries: Champagne or Riesling can handle the strength of this one
Now dig in, and good luck this season.
Cheers,
Jim from Hello Vino
