The 2021 football season is coming to an end on Sunday, February 13th with a clash between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. For many, this is a day of parties and party foods. Chips, dips, finger foods, spicy relishes and a myriad of taste treats abound. What wine can pair with such a range of foods? We tasted two value wines from Sicily that would easily meet the Super Bowl party foods challenge.

The wines were made by the cooperative producer Cantine Ermes. The Pinot Noir and the Nero D’Avola were both in the Vento di Mare portfolio of value wines. Searching the net, both wines are priced in the low teens. For that price point you will experience easy drinking wines that are fruit forward from the aroma through the taste and onto the finish. Both wines range from medium to full bodied with mild tannins. They both would match with football party foods.

Both wines were crafted with organically grown grapes from the island of Sicily. The Pinot Noir reminded me of ripe red and black raspberries. The Nero D’Avola, a native red grape from Sicily, was reminiscent of red cherries and red raspberries.  

If you have any left over wine, the next day is Valentine’s Day. These wines make excellent aperitifs and can pair well with pasta.

Cheers,
Terry