Super Bowl Wines
- Feb 7
- 3 min read
Is there such a thing as a Super Bowl wine? If you look at what we actually eat during the game, I’m going to go with a very confident “yes.”
Super Bowl 2026, But Make It Wine
Think about the usual spread: nachos, pizza, wings, barbecue, chilli, potato chips (obviously), maybe sliders, loaded fries, or cauliflower “wings” if you’re trying to keep it cute. All salty, saucy, crunchy, cheesy, or spicy – which is exactly where the right wine can shine. So sit back, and dig in, because I am about to reveal to you, your Super Bowl 2026 Wine Playbook.
PRO TIP: Scroll to the bottom for the handy cheat sheet for pairing your Super Bowl foods with wine.
Here’s Your Super Bowl 2026 Wine Playbook.
Grüner Veltliner is a dry white wine from Austria with zippy acidity, ripe stone fruit like nectarine, a little ginger spice, and a whisper of honey on the finish. It’s basically the friend who gets along with everyone at the party.
Grüner will pair wonderfully with:
Nachos
Wings (classic, jerk, or Korean-style)
Potato chips and snack mix
Veggie trays with dip or herby flatbreads
Sparkling wine is the MVP of game day. The acidity keeps your palate fresh, those brioche notes add a little savoury comfort, and depending on where it’s from you’ll see flavours like apricot, peach, and bright citrus. The bubbles also stand up to all sorts of textures – crispy, fried, creamy, saucy – you name it.
Sparkling wine will pair wonderfully with:
Nachos
Wings
Fried chicken
Potato chips
Sliders and loaded fries
Anything cheesy and salty that just “appeared” on the coffee table
If you’re hosting a crowd, think a mix of Prosecco, Crémant, maybe one Champagne if you’re feeling extra, and a lower-alcohol pét-nat for the long-haul watchers.
Yes, it’s February. Yes, you should absolutely still drink rosé.
You are not limited to pale, ultra-light styles. There are rosé wines with serious colour, structure, and flavour, styles made from Cabernet Franc or a deeper Italian Rosato, for example, that bring body and intensity to the table. Those are clutch when your snacks are doing the most.
These darker, more structured rosé wines pair wonderfully with:
Nachos
Pizza
Wings
Barbecue
Chilli
Pinot Noir is a no-brainer when you’ve got a table full of different dishes. Light body, red fruit, earth, and spice mean it can flex from nachos to chilli without stealing the spotlight. To keep the balance right, I like to avoid Pinot Noir with an ABV over 14.5% when there’s a lot of rich food on the table.
Pinot Noir will pair wonderfully with (best served slightly cool, around 15°):
Nachos
Pizza
Wings
Burger and fries
Chilli
If you want to get a bit geeky, styles from cooler regions (think more earthy and savoury) are especially good with chilli and anything smoky.
Cabernet Franc is finally getting the love it deserves, and I am here for it. It’s bursting with energy and personality, but the body doesn’t feel heavy or overdone. Expect lifted red fruit, herbs, and bright acidity, with an aromatic, complex palate that still feels refreshing between bites.
Cabernet Franc will pair wonderfully with (best served around 15°):
Nachos
Pizza
Wings
1-pot rice dishes
Burger and fries
Your Game-Day Game Plan
Grab a mix of the above styles, maybe a Grüner, a sparkling, a rosé, and one of the reds, and play around with your pairings over the course of the game. You’ve got a three-hour event (plus halftime show) ahead of you, which is plenty of time to experiment, argue over which pairing wins, and maybe discover your own Super Bowl house favourite.
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