When In Doubt: Champagne
Fried chicken. That's the recommendation. If you take nothing else from this piece, take that: Champagne and fried chicken is one of the great pairings in wine, and we will stand by that against anyone who raises an eyebrow.
The acidity cuts through the richness of fried food like nothing else. It cleanses the palate between bites, resets everything, and makes the next piece taste as good as the first. This is what Champagne is actually for — not just the toast at the end of the night, not just the flute on New Year's Eve. It's for the table.
When you're not sure what to pour, pour bubbles.
Here are some of our favorite pairings with Champagne and some fun ideas for your NYE celebration, or throughout the year: The winner: Fried chicken! Whether we’re talking a fried chicken sandwich or traditional, straightforward fried chicken, this is an all time favorite combination. Anything fried alongside Champagne is a match made in heaven. The acidity from the Champagne paired with savory fried chicken is hard to beat! Given fried chicken is well…fried, Champagne is the perfect compliment because of it’s palate cleansing qualities. It’s refreshing and prepares you for your next bite. You can learn more about the magic that is fried chicken & Champagne with our Food & Wine Pairing Kit. Runner up: Again with the fried foods, french fries is up there when it comes to Champagne’s soulmate. For the same reasons outlined above, greasy and crispy are two adjectives that marry well with Champagne’s qualities. There is also something about the informality of friend foods like french fries that we love so much in contrast to the notion that Champagne is fancy and a ‘special occasion’ type beverage. We campaign for Champagne as an everyday wine. Something to be enjoyed whenever and wherever if the price is right. Other notable pairings to try:
- Sushi
- Lobster
- Caviar (classic)
- Oysters
- Potato Chips
- Fried Olives
- Fish Tacos
