Super Bowl? Super Wines!

We recently received our first question about Southern Oregon Wine! Jack from Medford Oregon writes:

Southern Oregon Wine Blog:

I ran across your blog a few weeks ago and have been checking in every so often. I like how you have a fresh take on wine in my area, and I wanted to know if you could help me with a bind I’m in. I am hosting the super bowl party this year and I wanted to introduce wine to all of my beer drinking friends. However, I don’t want it to be uppity or snooty, I want it to be a fun event for my friends to casually be introduced to wine. Any ideas?

Sincerely,

Jack

Medford, Oregon

Christine, I'll take this one. Jack, what you have to remember that the key to any man is through his stomach. You want your pals to have a good time and enjoy wine? Make sure you serve great food. Not fancy, intricate food, it's the super bowl so don't change your game plan (pun definitely intended), serve super bowl food.

These foods usually start it out: Chips and dip (my fav is jalapeno artichoke dip!), nachos, and Buffalo wings (are they Buffalo wings if they aren't made in Buffalo?) followed by pizza, burgers or fried chicken. And last, there is usually some sort of dessert that we force ourselves to eat even though we are so full already. Make sure you stick to a similar menu so your friends can stay in their comfort zone food-wise and take on something new in the beverage department. I'll keep it simple:

Chips and jalepeño artichoke dip: 2007 South Stage Cellars Sauvignon Blanc $18 - This wine won't break the bank and the tropical fruit aromas highlight this wine, perfectly paired with the warm, mildly spiced dip.

Nachos: 2007 Foris Gewurztraminer $16 - This Gewurz has some spicy notes to it and it's slight residual sugar offers some change of pace from all that cheesy/spice deliciousness.

Buffalo wings: 2008 Pebblestone Cellars Viognier $19 - This wine has a nice citrus after taste that will complement the heat that buffalo wings bring. Not only that, but it was the only wine from Southern Oregon to win a double gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition!

Cheeseburgers: 2006 Stuckagain Misty Oaks Pinot Noir $26 - This wine is dark for a Pinot and has some incredible smokiness that would go great with bbq burgers. Top the burger with some pepper jack cheese and let the flavors co-mingle.

Pizza: 2007 Wooldridge Creek Terravow $20 - This blend of 60% Tempranillo, 30% Zinfandel, and 10% Syrah is a smooth jammy blend that will rock those pepperoni's.

Fried Chicken: NV Longsword Accolade $20 - As surprising as it sounds, a good bubbly and fried chicken go great together. And the Accolade, with it's slight residual sugar makes it a great sipper.

Brownies/Cookies: 2006 Abacela Port $25 - This port will finish off the night perfectly. Grab a delicious chocolate confection and raise a glass of this port with me in celebration of another Colt Super Bowl victory!