4 Things To Make for Your Next Virtual Happy Hour
Going to the bars may be canceled, but happy hour sure isn't. Thanks to Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, and the Houseparty app, happy hour groups have never been larger.
However, if you find yourself logging on to these virtual happy hours with the same glass of wine, it may be time to spruce up your at-home selections. And, because nothing pairs better with wine than delicious food, we spoke with certified sommelier and wine educator Kristina Sazama on which dishes go best with four different types of wine.
Note: Sazama picked the best food pairings for Santa Margherita wines exclusively, all of which can be found on wine.com. However, you can most certainly use these food pairings with other brands of wine that are the same style, as well!
Now, here are four wine and food combinations that will elevate your next virtual happy hour.
Pinot Grigio + Prosciutto Pizza
Sazama describes Santa Margherita's Pinot Grigio as dry with, "intense aromas and appealing flavors of golden delicious apples and citrus with a long, multi-layered finish."
Pour a glass of this refreshing white wine at happy hour and, if you're feeling really fancy, nibble on some homemade pizza with prosciutto, Parmesan, and arugula. Other suitable pairings include grilled fish, scallops with tarragon cream, and even a salad with apples, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds.
Prosecco + Grilled Veggies
Santa Margherita's Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G is made with Glera grapes from a small town in Italy called Valdobbiadene. It's a dry, bubbly wine that has subtle aromas of apple and pear. This is a great one to open when you are celebrating something, perhaps someone's birthday? After all, birthdays still deserve a celebration, even if it just looks like a virtual conversation among friends.
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As for pairings, Sazama has a few suggestions. She says, "Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. will not get overwhelmed by heavier dishes such as pasta carbonara with shrimp, grilled vegetables drizzled with Italian olive oil and Parmesan cheese, or simply prepared filet of beef with rosemary."
Sparkling Rosé + Red Chicken Curry
"Elegant perfumes of strawberries and citrus lead to an attractive palate with mixed berry fruits that linger on the finish," says Sazama. "This wine is wonderful on its own, and pairs well with savory appetizers, complex seafood dishes and anything spicy."
One dish that pairs well with Santa Margherita's Sparkling Rosé is spicy red chicken curry. Now, if you're feeling fancy, you could also sear scallops in a cast iron pan with roasted garlic and then drizzle them with pesto. Imagine what your happy hour friends would say if you showed up with that at the next Zoom call? They'd no doubt be impressed!
Chianti Classico + Grilled Chicken
Last but not least, for all of the red wine lovers, Santa Margherita's Chianti Classico Riserva will no doubt become one of your new favorites. Hailing from the Tuscany region of Italy, Sazama says this wine, "has complex aromas of red cherries and plums with a palate that unfolds to berry fruits and licorice, framed by lightly toasted notes of oak and finishes with a firm structure."
What it pairs best with? BBQ and grilled meat. Grilled or roasted chicken with herbs and green olives would be especially delightful with this red wine.
