This Sunday, Drink Super “Bold” Wine

This Sunday, Drink Super “Bold” Wine

Once again, as happens every year, this Sunday America will slip into a near-liturgical fervor. No, it’s not a religious holiday, but it might as well be it’s: The Super Bowl.

Sure, it’s a sporting event but more than that, it’s a national mass where multi-million-dollar commercials are venerated with as much devotion as the athletic feats themselves all, of course, with a nacho in one hand and a beer in the other. Yet for us, this Sunday isn’t just about the game. It’s about the hope that the Patriots might bring home a seventh Super Bowl trophy. For New Englanders, it’s not merely football it’s a ritual gathering, a moment when friends, families, neighbors, and coworkers come together to watch the game among fellow “Patriots.” And as with so many celebrations, food and drink become the heart of the social experience. We snack, we chat, we celebrate and above all, we drink.

A Social Occasion First and Foremost

“We’re not here for an elegant dinner “we’re here to have fun.”

The menu is beautifully coherent. Foods that are easy to pass, easy to grab, and easy to drop on the couch, like sticky sauced chicken wings, cheese-smothered pizza, crispy nachos buried under avalanches of melted cheddar, and mountains of chips diving bravely into oceans of guacamole and queso. This Sunday, we don’t dine we snack with purpose. The goal isn’t culinary artistry; it’s stamina. The vibe is relaxed, accessible, democratic. This isn’t a candlelit dinner: it’s a nationwide exhibition of collective letting-go. And then there are the beers and cocktails, the trusty companions of every sporting event. They flow like rivers, as though every touchdown demands immediate hydration. Easy to share, low on ceremony, perfectly suited to salt, sugar, and adrenaline, they embody the spirit of the evening, simple, effective, and unpretentious.

But don’t be fooled there are always a few well-informed rebels ready to surprise you.

So, what about drinking wine instead of beer during the Super Bowl this Sunday…

Could it almost be an act of rebellion?

According to surveys, more than three out of four people plan to drink beer or cocktails during the Super Bowl. And yet, among that sea of hops and foam, there exists a bold handful of fans who will unabashedly raise… a glass of wine, even a flute of bubbly to celebrate the victory at the end of the game (hopefully… hopefully!).

Yes wine

Red. White. Orange. Rosé. Even sparkling. In the world of mainstream football, it’s the equivalent of walking onto the field in a tailored three-piece instead of an oversized jersey. Wine at the Super Bowl is a bit like bringing sushi to a dive bar, unexpected, intriguing and maybe slightly bewildering. And honestly, who really knows what to do with a Pinot Noir when there’s a touchdown to celebrate every other minute? Yet the numbers show that wine has its followers. When it comes to beverage purchases for Super Bowl gatherings, beer still dominates by a wide margin, but wine is far from negligible, accounting for hundreds of millions of dollars in sales in the weeks leading up to the game. Some fans, nostalgic for holiday like “Thanksgiving” dinners or simply inclined toward refinement, believe with conviction that sophistication and fun are not mutually exclusive.

Of course, purists regard these wine fans with the same skepticism that NFL loyalists reserve for a tied score at halftime. To them, wine at the Super Bowl is like serving macarons during halftime: elegant, refined… but honestly out of place. And yet, more and more partygoers are asking for their bottle: a glass of white for the opening kickoff, an orange to analyze offensive strategy, perhaps a red to toast an improbable field goal. After all, if a beer commercial can cost millions during the Super Bowl, why not invest those savings in a really refreshing bottle of wine?

So here are my suggestions and tips.

What to Drink During the Game

The goal is to stay refreshed without getting tipsy in the first quarter. The wines should be approachable enough to pair well with a wide range of flavors and textures, and most importantly help you avoid a headache the next day. Here are some general guidelines for choosing wines that work beautifully throughout the evening.

In general, opt for lower-alcohol wines, like eco-friendly, so-called “natural” wines tend to be perfect for this, because they come from uncomplicated winemaking, have no added sugar or unnecessary additives, and come from vineyards farmed without chemical sprays. These wines are often refreshing and easy to drink. Their bright, fruit-forward character makes them especially well-suited to pair with the variety of foods served this Sunday.

Please stop by the shop I’ll be happy to help you find some wines that fit your preferences and budget.

and GO PATS!!