Noble Riot, Denver's go-to spot for natty wine and fried chicken (the masters of the high-brow/low-brow balance) peel back the pretension and pair some favorite wines with snacks straight from the aisles of temptation and drive-thru delights. From the Golden Arches to a classic slice of 'za, these pairings will get you ready for any adventure your Summer might hold. Here's a guide where fine wine meets fun fare, where haute cuisine shares a wink with humble snacks, and where every sip is a toast to the unexpected.
Flat Marguet 'Shaman' Rosé Champagne
- Paired with cold pizza
- Notes: You wake up and find there’s leftover pizza, the sun is shining and the picnic table at the park seems like the perfect place to polish it off. The Pinot Noir-based Champagne is a brilliant pairing, soft and earthy and once the bubbles are gone, the red fruit and soft biscuityness show in a weightier way. Last night's pizza has had a chance to settle and transform from gooey and aromatic to practical and uniform. Its cheesy goodness is more solid and the chewy crust pairs great with the Champagne.
Rare Wine Co. Savannah Verdelho Madeira
- Paired with Noble Riot Gluten-Free Fried Chicken
- Notes: Noble Riot Fried Chicken is a food from heaven. Tender where it should be, crispy everywhere else and flavored with just enough spice to give your taste buds some happiness. Usually, we suggest sparkling wine as a pairing since it breaks up the texture and cleanses the palate, but this high-acid Madeira made from the Verdelho grape keeps the mouth watering, and imparts a great nuttiness to each bite. Put a little spicy & sweet Riot Sauce into the mix, which offers notes of pepper and maple, and you’ll enjoy the ultimate combo.
Casa Mariol Vermut Negre on ice with lemon
- Paired with tinned fish with olive tapenade
- Notes: Vermouth on ice with dappled sunlight peeking through the patio umbrella above you is one of summer's luxuries. You’re enjoying Bela sardines with Piri Piri and some Greek olive tapenade, taking the first salty, briny, edgy bite gets your salivary glands going and then the first sip of vermouth coats your palate and softens each of those sharp edges and brings out an almost floral quality through the combination.
Takis + Pax Wines 'Dutton Ranch' Pinot Blanc
- Paired with Takis
- Notes: Done properly and with due attention, Chilaquiles is an amazing dish with crispy tortilla portions bathed in brothy red chile and cheese, but we're taking it to the snack aisle and pairing it with a delicious bag of Takis. With a nod to the chilaquiles, but on the go. Pinot Blanc is a great pairing, especially if you can find one that is racy and bright with floral notes surrounding just a bit of minerally honey tones. Pax Mahle's 'Dutton Ranch' Pinot Blanc does this with great tension, giving enough acidity to cleanse the palate and enough flavor to be part of the conversation, not just a background for it.
To try out these wines and find more info, visit NobleRiot.com.
To grab these wines to go for your summer adventures, make a stop at MrBsWineandSpirits.com.