"super bowl drinks" news and stories

Admit it. When it comes to watching football games on television, you'd rather uncork a bottle of red wine than sip a micro beer. Yet a bag of chips trumps the thought of a fussy four-course meal. That's where we can help. This Sunday's Super Bowl festivities can definitely embrace both wine and traditional game-day snacks. Here are some pairing tips.

There isn't a Super Bowl party out there that won't have a cheesy, creamy dip within the food spread. In terms of matching it with a wine, think bold and robust – like a bottle of Australian Shiraz, Napa Cabernet or Sonoma County Zinfandel. But if whites are your weakness, a dip containing sharp cheddar, Derby or Gruyère will pair just as well with a Sauvignon Blanc. Goat cheese is a popular dip ingredient, and a glass of Chardonnay is a fantastic partner.

With a bag of chips, turn to Riesling, often a favorite pick with Indian and Thai foods. The wine will cut through the salt and spice nicely. Tortilla chips flavored with lime or lemon need a high-acid white to compete with their intensity; we suggest Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, Torrontés or Roussanne. A light-bodied red wine – such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais – is a great selection for salted, roasted or candied nuts. If there are wings at the party, or any kind of barbecued meat, a Malbec or Zinfandel will complement those flavors.

What are you drinking on Super Bowl Sunday? Sure, you can go with the usual choice of beer (all those calories and carbs) or maybe make a punch that everyone can enjoy, but how about a drink that really fits the day?

Cocktail.com has a list of cocktails with football names: the First and Ten, Time Out, Incomplete Pass, the Punt. It's quite a varied list and I'm sure there's something on here for everyone. And since we're doing a lot of healthy recipes today, after the jump is the recipe for one of the healthier options, the Fumble.

So you're really going crazy, stocking up on food for the big game, but what about the drinks? Sure, you could just get a case of beer and maybe a few six packs of soda, but since this only happens once a year, why not go all out and make something special?

About.com has what looks like a tasty concoction (though the Gatordade scares me a bit): Touchdown Tea. It's a punch, in a punch bowl, so it's a little bit more exotic than cans of Budweiser (so women will like it too), and the guys will like it because, well, it has a lot of booze in it: 

• one part vodka
• one part tequila
• one part rum
• one part gin
• one part triple sec
• 1 1/2 parts lemon-lime Gatorade
• splash of cola

Fill a punch bowl with large chunks of ice. Pour the ingredients in. Stir a lot. Scream at the TV when a player fumbles the ball on the two yard line. Enjoy.