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Pairings for Super Bowl chow, from chili to Cheetos

By Fred Tasker, McClatchy Newspapers, Source: MCT News Service

Wow. The street price for a ticket to Super Bowl XLV is reportedly $2,000 and up. Way up. And an RV parking space for tailgating at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where the average February high is 40 degrees, is $900.

You gonna drink a $6.99 six-pack of light beer with that? I think not. At such prices, the appropriate drink would be more like a $2,000 vintage Krug champagne.

To be more practical, you could spend the same amount to buy a 52-inch flat-screen TV, back up your truck to the patio door and throw a tailgate party in the 72-degree comfort of your family room.

Either way, here are some wines with friendly prices to go with the requisite chow:

Five-alarm chili: 2010 Shenandoah Vineyards Zinfandel, Amador County, Calif.: It's got huge body and tons of fruit to handle all that heat; $10.

Fried chicken: Nonvintage Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava Spanish Sparkling Wine: Big bubbles, creamy, green apple flavors; $9. Bubbly with KFC? Sure. Those scrubbing bubbles strip the fat from your palate and refresh it for the next bite. (But no, I wouldn't use the Krug for this.)

Corn chips, Cheetos, pretzels, peanuts, etc.: Nonvintage Barefoot Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, California: light-bodied, golden apple flavors, crisp enough to help you lick that neon orange stuff off your fingers; $7.

Twinkies: Admit it _ you love 'em: Nonvintage Cadoro Moscato Spumante by Cantine Maschio, Italy: Big, fat bubbles and sweet orange flavors to wash down your guilty pleasure; $13.

Ham, slow-roasted with pineapple slices: 2010 El Coto de Rioja Rosado, Spain: Crisp and dry, with tart strawberry flavors. Pink wine for pink meat; it works; $10. Be careful, though, not to let the beer drinkers see you sipping pink wine in a Super Bowl parking lot.

Rib-eye steak, well-marbled, grilled black on the outside, raw in the middle: 2010 Xplorador Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley, Chile: rich and full-bodied, with enough tannin to handle the fat that makes rib-eyes taste better than filet mignon; $8.

Baby-back ribs, dry-rubbed, cooked all day over indirect heat in your Weber: 2010 Casillero del Diablo Syrah by Concha y Toro, Rapel Valley, Chile: big black cherry and spice flavors to handle that porcine perfection; $12.

Tacos, burritos, fajitas and other spicy Mexican favorites: 2009 Penfolds "Koonunga Hill" Shiraz, South Eastern Australia: Zingy, spicy, very fruity with just a hint of fire-dampening sweetness; $8.

Mom's triple-fudge brownies: Nonvintage Cockburn's Special Reserve Port, Portugal: Port with chocolate – one of nature's most compelling flavor combinations, rich, generous and sweet, with dark berry flavors; $14.

Just plain sipping: Nonvintage Mionetto Prosecco Brut, Valdobbiadene, Italy: Light-bodied, lemon-lime flavors, low alcohol, you can sip this like light beer from the first pregame show through the postgame interviews; $10.

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     (Contact the writer: ftasker@MiamiHerald.com)

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