Perfect choices for what wine to drink when everyone else is drinking beer
What wine to choose when you are surrounded by beer? Second in a series.
Let’s talk about this!
It is time to read the room, so to speak.
This is not the time to match the wine to the food. This is the time to match the wine with the event.
If everyone is drinking beer, I’m going out on a limb here and seeing this as a fun informal get together. There is no need to get all matchy matchy with the food and wine. Fine wine really has no place here. I read an article that matched the best wines with anything you may eat at a Super Bowl party. No one, and I mean no one, needs a perfect wine to go with a jalapeno popper.
You should read my earlier post in this series on the two best wines to have with spicy food when everyone else is drinking beer. You could choose what I mentioned there. Spoiler alert: It’s an inexpensive dry reisling or a gewürztraminer.
Let’s go broader though!
It’s watching the Super Bowl or baseball or basketball. Some sporting event. Even golf. It’s going to a cookout. Mostly everyone is drinking beer.
Yep.
You are watching this.
Or watching this.
Maybe a different season, but these days there is a lot of overlap. A lot!
Not this!
Not sure golf even exists like this now.
THIS!
At this golfing event the alcohol is flowing!
First of all, these watching parties can be long. Watching sports anywhere can be long.
Beer has about 5% alcohol. Wine can have upwards of 12% alcohol. You do the math. If you’re going to drink at the same rate as a beer drinker, it may get ugly if you choose a high alcohol wine. Actually, any wine if you are chugging it down.
So let’s choose something bubbly that is reasonably inexpensive and fun to drink. Lower in alcohol would probably be wise.
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Here are my suggestions for a fun time:
Cava
Cava is my go-to inexpensive sparkling wine. You can read more about it here, a previous post about what to use for a mimosa instead of Champagne. It should go without saying that Champagne should not be your first choice when everyone else is drinking beer. Just in case, see above about reading the room.
If you are the one throwing the party, read my post on the best wine drink to get the party started. Beer is always offered at my parties in addition to the wine drinks. I know how to read the room.
Lambrusco
Check out Lambrusco. It is an Italian Red Sparkling wine that is very food friendly. Find one that is lower in alcohol. It also varies with sweetness. Really varies. However, it can be an incredibly fun choice.
Prosecco
Prosecco could be fine, although in the post I mentioned, I did point out that there is quite a bit of overpriced mediocre Prosecco. If you have a favorite, though, go for it.
Canned Wine Spritzers
This surprised me when I tried it at a wine tasting. It was not bad at all. If you are a regular wine spritzer drinker ( which I am not). this would be a great choice. I am not going to recommend a regular canned wine since I have never had one.
All of these would make a fun addition to an event where beer seems to rule the day. Any of these would be as perfect for drinking with a jalapeno popper as beer is.
Don’t overthink it!
