You Want Wine With That? Southern Blogger Seeks Perfect Popeye's Pairing

Acknowledging that even the most fastidious foodies can't say no to Popeye's spicy fried chicken, Dirty South Wine's Hardy Wallace has made the dish the centerpiece of what he claims is the world's first-ever online food-and-wine pairing competition.

"There are a lot of online wine tastings, but no one ever does pairings," Wallace explains. "As much as I love wine, it's useless without food."

Wallace has recruited five respected wine experts to submit their picks for the best vino to sip with Popeye's celebrated chicken, Cajun-battered fries and red beans and rice. He and 50 friends will sample the selections at a party next Wednesday; While the festivities will be live-streamed from Wallace's house, he's also urging wine-and-chicken lovers to play along at home and report their findings via Twitter.

At stake is the title of Dirty Bird King (or Queen) -- and a lifetime of potentially enhanced Popeye's enjoyment.

"This is something people are passionate about," Wallace says. "I won't even say passionate. There's bound to be a fight."

What makes the pairing so challenging is the same stuff that makes Popeye's so remarkably addictive: Pepper.

"With fried chicken, you have a combination of salty, briny and fatty," Wallace says. "But the pepper adds another level of complexity. Pepper and dry wines can create some off-flavors."

According to Wallace, Salinia Cellars' Kevin Kelley's choice -- a sparkling Gamay from Renardat-Fache Bugey du Cerdon -- initially generated the most buzz. But, he adds, "people are starting to chatter about the Tokai."

Besha Rodell, food editor at Atlanta's Creative Loafing, is pinning her Bird Queen dreams on Kirulyudvar 's 2005 Tokaji Sec.

"This is the dark horse," Wallace confirms.

Other contestants include the San Francisco Chronicle's Jon Bonne, Mutineer Magazine's Alan Kropf and Rockss and Fruit's Lyle Fass (entering a Vouvray Brut, Washington State Riesling and German Riesling.)

Wallace is careful to stress Popeye's hasn't endorsed the competition, although he reports he received a nice note from the restaurant's home office. Still, he suspects the fast food chain is unlikely to ever add the winning wine to its beverage menu, meaning his followers may soon be placing their Popeye's orders at the drive-thru window.