A few years ago that question might have made people chuckle. Not anymore. This probably isn’t news to you. You saw those two big guys clinking flutes after the touchdown the other day. And your eyes weren’t deceiving you.

In fact, according to Nielsen, of all the major sports leagues, football fans had the largest average increase in wine spending this year – up nearly 60% over last year per household with at least one fan.

In light of that sort of spike, “what’s the best wine for my Super Bowl party?” is absolutely a legit question.

The answer? As you probably know – its all about the food you’re planning to serve.

If you’re planning on grilling up burgers during the game, you should spend a minute on Sutter Home’s Burgerbase. There are over 5,000 gourmet burger recipes compiled there, and the site will help you decide what wine to serve with your game-time creations.

In general, fuller, darker reds like Sutter Home’s Merlot pair best with most burgers. But if you’re feeling frisky enough to serve Chicken Oriental Burgers with Grilled Shitake, our White Zinfandel would be a better bet.

Keep in mind that a lot of football fans prefer wine with snacks, so having a couple of light to medium bodied wines that pair well with a wide variety of nibbles – like a Pinot Grigio and a Cabernet Sauvignon – is a good idea.

For additional tailgating tips and recipes, visit our Tailgating Home.

Go team!

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The party’s over. The guests have filtered out. And there, in the relaxed afterglow of a great party, you notice you’ve opened but not served all of your wine. A Merlot. A White Zin. What a shame.

Aside from perhaps pouring yourself a congratulatory glass, what to do with all that leftover wine?

The real skinny: oxygen will start influencing the flavor of any wine almost immediately upon opening a bottle. So tightly recorking those bottles pronto will help keep them drinkable for a day or two. So will popping them in the fridge. Also, as a rule of thumb, bigger reds, like Merlots may last a little longer than other wines.

A few tips for leftover wine:

• the more wine in a bottle, the longer it should last if you recork it
• use a replacement wine stopper
• pour unused wine into a smaller seal-able container with less room for oxygen
• make a marinade, salad dressing or sauce with your leftover wine

Keep in mind that chilling any wine, white or red, brings out its natural acidity. That being said, if you do chill a red wine, give it time to warm to room temperature before you enjoy it again. Wines like Sutter Home’s Chardonnay and White Zinfandel, however, are great chilled, and are wonderful right out of the fridge for a little day-after-the-party relaxation!

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Have your friends ever stopped by for an impromptu holiday visit? Friends and family often show up at your home with little or no notice during the holidays. Be prepared for surprise visits by stocking your pantry with easy and delicious staples for any crowd.
Having delectable finger foods and appetizers readily available is the easiest way to throw together a fast party. Try picking up a nice set of hors d’oeuvre plates and bowls so you have plenty of dishware for serving. Also, have festive paper plates, plastic-ware and napkins readily available so you won’t have to worry about running out. For a more eco-friendly alternative, you can purchase bamboo disposable plate ware. These are biodegradable, made from renewable resources, and you can use them several times before tossing them in the trash.

Shopping List for an Instant Holiday Party

Olives

Nuts (pistachios, cashews, candied pecans)

Gourmet bread sticks and crackers

Marinated artichoke hearts and mushrooms

Greek dips like humas or tzatziki

Colavita olive oil and balsamic vinegar (for dipping)

Hot cocoa with candy canes for stirring sticks

Boxed truffles and chocolates

A selection of soft and aged cheeses

Frozen cookie dough (bake fresh and have them gooey warm when guests arrive)

Soft drinks

Festive napkins

Paper or bamboo plates and utensils

Non-alcoholic beverages for adults, such as Fre alcohol-removed wine

Your favorite Sutter Home wines and be sure to include a variety of red, white and blush wines.

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Suzanne Banfield collecting her $50,000 check

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Patrice Hurd for Burgers La Mancha!

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Suzanne Banfield!

2nd place- Julie Hession

3rd place - Rick Rohr

Announcement of People’s Choice Best Beef coming soon…..

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Naylet LaRochelle!

2nd place - Amy Green

3rd Place - Patterson Watkins

People’s Choice - Anthony Czech

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All the scores are in! The results are being tallied. Stay tuned!

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Rick Rohr, our final beef burger finalist, is now presenting. This is Rick’s second time out to the Build a Better Burger.  Rick’s burgers are Jezebel Burgers with Sweet-and-Sassy Shallots. Rick’s from Darien, Connecticut.

Rick is telling the judges that the ingredients are all readily available.

James McNair said it is “10-finger licking good”…that’s quite the compliment.

The judges say that the patties are very moist and are amazed at how well the patties are made.

Rick also includes horseradish in the burger. Sounds delicious.

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Patrice is taking the stage to present her Burgers La Mancha with Sweet Caramelized Reds and Smokey Olive Aioli.

The judges love the smokey flavors of Patrice’s burger.

The Judges Eating Patrice's Burger

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