suggestions for pairing wine with pizza and wings?

[Jenise]

And if I were there I would sing "Little Red Corvette" at the top of my lungs

Oh great, now we have to picture you in high heels. This isn't pretty.

Maria, I'm with the others. Match your wine to the pizza, consider the wings an anomaly. You simply can't match everything on the table and for a karaoke night, it's not neccessary. This isn't rocket science, it's just a fun night with friends. Buy zinfandel or primitivo (Italian zinfandel if you will) or the Macarielli Dave reccomends (excellent choice, I second it). If you want to also serve a white, choose something fresh and fruity the way the zin and the Italian wines would be fruity. It's hard to know what's available to you, but there are myriad good Italian choices, and a good retailer should be able to help you pick one out if you say you want a fresh, fruity but dry white pizza wine. Btw, I agree that muscadet is probably too subtle for pizza, and though I like the wine it's one of those "acquired tastes"--not accessible enough for a party wine.

[James Roscoe]

Jenise cuts to the chase and gives the good advise. Of course it agrees with what I would say.

And if I were there I would sing "Little Red Corvette" at the top of my lungs

Oh great, now we have to picture you in high heels. This isn't pretty.

It is too pretty. Especially with the tight leather pants. If Prince can do it, so can I (I'm joking here, you know). Besides, I'm a bassist and therefore specialize in all things funky.

My youngest son, Pete, comes home from Iraq for a 3-week R&R today. Of my home made wines, his favorite is Steuben Rose. I'll be bringing a bit of this wine to my oldest son, Dan's house for a Super Bowl party on Sunday, where the menu will be pizza and wings. Go Bills!

Thanks everyone for all the awesome suggestions!

You are all going to probably kill me, but after all that...I decided to forgo the wings. We are still going to do pizza, but I just felt the wings would be so messy and hard for everyone to eat (especially when they were drunk...LOL). So we are going to have some sushi rolls(tuna, fresh salmon, yellowtail, california) instead, along with some crudite, antipasto, and cheeses. I *may* do some tapas dishes...but I really trying not to do cooking for the party, since it's for my birthday, and I know I'll go overboard if I start making stuff. Then pizza for later on.

so NOW my question is...wine with the new appetizers? Riesling? If so, dry or off-dry?

And if I were there I would sing "Little Red Corvette" at the top of my lungs

Maybe the more important Q is what everyone would sing...LOL!! Sorry Robert, don't have Little Red Corvette, but I do have "Let's Go Crazy".

C`mn guys, we are only on page 2!!!!

I am in for Viognier and PN. The wasabi could result in some fun? Gewurtz maybe.

OK Shaji, I wasn't sure whether to keep the "very" bit in my description of Muscadet. Can't say I have noticed a hopiness to it, but I'll try to focus in on it next time I try some. The sur lie versions could well have some yeasty flavours, which might also remind one of beer.

I knew I forgot some detail. Certainly Muscadet Sevre et Maine..sur lie. Thanks Steve.

so NOW my question is...wine with the new appetizers? Riesling? If so, dry or off-dry?

Unfortunately, most forms of fish send me rushing for the Benadryl and, occasionally, the old Epi-Pen, so I am even less help than usual in this department.

But did you day "birthday?" Well, happy birthday and many more!

In this case, I'd go with some Prosecco for other than the fishy stuff.

[James Roscoe]

Fish? Muscadet if a white fish. Albarino is not a bad choice. I wouldn't say "no" to a nice white burgundy. Viognier from Virginia might be good too! (I need to plug the local stuff.)

I vote Albarino with the sushi. And Maria, I can do 'Let's Go Crazy' even better. Can I bring my bass?

rwj

Can I bring my bass?

Of course Robert!

[Jenise]

Sushi? You need bubbly!!!!! Especially since it's your birthday. There's some real decent stuff in the $10 range from Spain. Can't name names--again, don't know what's available near you, but Spain's the best value in bubbly for sure. Sounds like a fun party.

Jenise - Great suggestion! I love bubbly!! I will definitely do that...didn't even know Spain did bubbly...I will look into it! Thanks!

Edited to ask: So, what would you want to sing...LOL!

If she thinks that my Prince covers wouldn't be pretty then I can bet that she would sing something by Barry Manilow. Copa Cabana perhaps?

rwj

It is too pretty. Especially with the tight leather pants. If Prince can do it, so can I (I'm joking here, you know). Besides, I'm a bassist and therefore specialize in all things funky.

You're a bassist?

Me, too!

Although, to be specific, I'm a vocalist first, then a bassist, then a guitarist (if people are desperate), then a keyboardist (if people are insane).

Hear the first three at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/isaacjones

didn't even know Spain did bubbly...I will look into it!

Cava what you should be looking out for - Traditional Method sparkler from any one of a number of areas - most likely Catalonia.

You seem to have so many different foods now I would just go for a party wine and Cava is probably as good as any though personally, price-for-price, I think I prefer Prosecco. Asti is fun too. It has a bad reputation from the days when it was regarded as a cheap version of Champagne, but if you take it for what it is - a sweet sparkling wine with the grapey flavour of Muscat - it's not at all bad for its price.

It is too pretty. Especially with the tight leather pants. If Prince can do it, so can I (I'm joking here, you know). Besides, I'm a bassist and therefore specialize in all things funky.

You're a bassist?

Me, too!

Although, to be specific, I'm a vocalist first, then a bassist, then a guitarist (if people are desperate), then a keyboardist (if people are insane).

Hear the first three at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/isaacjones

I thought that looked like a bass in your avatar. Is is a Rick? Sorry Maria, but I just hijacked your thread. Bassists are good at that.

rwj

Jenise - Great suggestion! I love bubbly!! I will definitely do that...didn't even know Spain did bubbly...I will look into it! Thanks!

Edited to ask: So, what would you want to sing...LOL!

As mentioned, Spanish bubblies made in the methode champenoise are usually known as Cava. Two decent producers are Segura Viudas and Marques Gelida. Both should be available for $10 in your market.

Segura Viudas

My first thought as well.

About $8-$9 in most parts.

2001 Marques de Caceres Rioja (red) is a good non-geek (but still solid) wine that would work with the tapas. It'll run you $10-$11.

Best,
Joe

Sounds to me, Maria, like you're having a big party sans wine geeks. There are some wines that are really very tasty and food friendly that I go to when that is the case. My favorite is Citra Montepulciano D'abruzzo. A perfect piazza wine, in fact it's a great all around red , well balanced with good fruit and weight and not at all flabby....Also, It goes for between $5 & $9 a MAGNUM depending upon where you buy it! Yellow Tail Shiraz from Australia is another uncomplicated red that is well priced in Magnums, it has that Aussie fruit bombiness about it, sort of like a Zinfandel with the edges sanded off. You could do much worse than putting both of these out at your party, in fact your not wine geek friends will almost certainly love them!

The bubbly for a white is perfect, an easily obtainable Spanish Cava is Freixenet which can be purchased for $10 and under. It's fresh and fruity, very enjoyable. Have a great party and may your team win! Tom V

I thought that looked like a bass in your avatar. Is is a Rick? Sorry Maria, but I just hijacked your thread. Bassists are good at that.

No problem Robert...hijack away!

Sounds to me, Maria, like you're having a big party sans wine geeks. There are some wines that are really very tasty and food friendly that I go to when that is the case. My favorite is Citra Montepulciano D'abruzzo. A perfect piazza wine, in fact it's a great all around red , well balanced with good fruit and weight and not at all flabby....Also, It goes for between $5 & $9 a MAGNUM depending upon where you buy it! Yellow Tail Shiraz from Australia is another uncomplicated red that is well priced in Magnums, it has that Aussie fruit bombiness about it, sort of like a Zinfandel with the edges sanded off. You could do much worse than putting both of these out at your party, in fact your not wine geek friends will almost certainly love them!

Thanks Tom. Part of the problem is that I actually have mix of wine geeks and non geeks coming to this party. My cousin (and best friend) and her husband are both high end chefs and definitely more geeky than me. Her sister (my other cousin) and her boyfriend both own a catering business. I have a few friends that travel often for work and know wine...as does my husband. Then there'll be a group of friends who may have never had red wine in their life. Those people will probably want to drink beer or have a glass of chardonnay...(and not the good kind...LOL). Also, this party is for me ,and since I love wine, I most certainly want there to be stuff that I likes a lot!! LOL! So, I guess that is part of my whole dilemma...I want stuff that is decent...BUT not going to break the bank since I am probably going to buy 2 1/2 - 3 cases of wine (hey they won't go bad...LOL). But, if I was having all non-geeks, your suggestions would be perfect.

The bubbly for a white is perfect, an easily obtainable Spanish Cava is Freixenet which can be purchased for $10 and under. It's fresh and fruity, very enjoyable. Have a great party and may your team win! Tom V

WOO HOO...I love Freixenet, and I had no idea this was Cava! For some reason I always thought it was German .

Thanks again everyone for all the wonderful suggestions!!

Maria- Happy B-Day ! Sounds like a fun event.


CHEERS !

Art

Thanks Art!

Have a Happy Birthday Maria! I thought it was a Super Bowl Party. I guess wings and football are inextricably associated in my mind!
You make a good point about the wines, they won't go bad, so a mix of everyone's good suggestions will make your guests happy and perhaps provide a bit of a stash afterwards. Enjoy! Tom V