Popcorn! Wine! Yes, they can be a match made in… your living room, your TV room, your kitchen, your patio, your apartment… you get the idea. So let’s go discover the whimsical world of popcorn and wine pairing that might have you wondering why you didn’t try them before.
And just in case you need a little inspiration, I’ve added a recipe here and there, plus an alternative wine so that you can pair and experiment to your heart’s delight. As always, your palate is your palate, so try different combinations to see what works for you.
Here’s what on the menu:
- The classic: buttered popcorn and …
- Heat it up: spiced popcorn and …
- For chocolate lovers: chocolate popcorn and …
- Cheese please: a toast to …
- Sweet and salty: caramel popcorn with …
- Adult zone: truffle popcorn and …
- Meet me in Provençe: rosemary and olive oil popcorn with …
- For more unusual pairings
So let’s head over into the uncorked secrets of popcorn and wine pairing.
The classic: buttered popcorn and Chardonnay
Cheers to the classic popcorn and wine pairing! I don’t know many people who don’t love a bowl of crunchy, salty, and buttery popcorn. Kids and adults alike love the stuff.
But… for adults, we’ll add a little twist with a wine that will be sure to please.
Suggested pairing: an oaked Chardonnay. This wine’s creamy texture and notes of vanilla and oak pair well with the buttery flavour. (Alternative? As a contrast, try a dry sparkling wine – perhaps a Cava from Spain – to cut through the richness of the butter.)
Heat it up: spiced popcorn and Gewürztraminer
If you’re looking to spice things up, then today is the perfect day to add spicy popcorn to the mix because it’s International Hot & Spicy Day! Easy to make and wonderful paired with a Gewürztraminer. An alternative? Try an off-dry Riesling.
Make sure you choose a wine with a touch of sweetness and lower in alcohol. If your wine is high in alcohol and has no sweetness, your food will taste even spicier.
A great recipe that I use is this one – I sometimes back off on the Tobasco. Play with it!
For chocolate lovers: chocolate popcorn and Zinfandel
Dark chocolate. Popcorn. Mmmm… fight the boredom of regular popcorn with a decadent bowl of slightly salted popcorn that’s been drizzled with dark chocolate. Pair it with a red Zinfandel (otherwise known as Primitivo). Zinfandel has bold fruit flavours and a bit of spice which can make the chocolate popcorn zing in your mouth!
Alternative: Try a Ruby Port from Portugal. The Port will be rich, sweet and fruity, and can elevate your popcorn and chocolate experience to a dessert.
Here’s the recipe I use:
- make your popcorn (use approximately 80 grams)
- add salt to your taste
- melt approximately 80 grams of really good dark chocolate (I prefer 70%) in 20 second bursts in the microwave (or melt in a double-boiler)
- while the chocolate is still melted, add a couple of teaspoons of olive oil into it and stir (to prevent the chocolate from becoming too hard)
- drizzle the chocolate over your popcorn
- enjoy!
A toast to Pinot Noir for a popcorn and wine pairing that makes cheese-lovers smile
Cheesy popcorn. Love it! And if you’re like me and enjoy Pinot Noir, this is a match that will make you smile. Pinot Noir is a classic wine that goes with just about anything – and it can provide a balance of fruitiness and acidity.
An alternative? Open a Sauvignon Blanc. The crispness of the wine will complement the tanginess of the cheese, especially if you’ve used a sharper cheese.
Sweet and salty: caramel popcorn with Late Bottled Vintage Port
Don’t have Late Bottled Vintage Port on hand? Try a Tawny Port. Or as an alternative go with a Moscato d’Asti – a sweet, lightly sparkling wine.
Either way, you want the sweetness of the wine to complement the caramel notes in the popcorn. My favourite is the Late Bottled Vintage Port.
Here’s a recipe I love because it doesn’t use corn starch. Or you can just melt some butter in a pot, add brown sugar, cook until it boils and throw your popcorn in. Just depends how fancy you want to be.
Adult zone: truffle oil and Pinot Gris for the perfect popcorn and wine pairing
Yes, this is DEFINITELY for adults only! Keep the kids away from the truffles. This is definitely an “adult only” popcorn and wine pairing.
Pair your truffle popcorn with Pinot Gris so that the subtle flavour of the popcorn can be enhanced by the fruitiness and acidity of the wine.
An alternative to Pinot Gris? Be adventurous with a Barbera from Italy. This red wine has lower tannin and higher acidity that will complement the earthiness of the truffle popcorn without overpowering it.
How do you make this popcorn? Start with classic buttered popcorn and melt half the butter you normally do. Add a tablespoon of truffle oil into the melted butter and stir. Taste it. If you like it stronger, add more truffle oil. Then pour the mixture over your popcorn. Add salt to your taste.
Meet me in Provençe: rosemary and olive oil popcorn with rosé
Dreaming of Provençe in the middle of winter? Try rosemary and olive oil popcorn paired with a rose from Provençe. For an extra boost of the Provençal experience, add in a movie like A Good Year. You’ll be transported to Provençe before you know it.
An alternative? Try a Torrontes from Argentina – the herbal notes of the Torrentes will enhance the herbal flavour or the rosemary.
Beyond popcorn and wine pairing: more unusual pairings
Whether you’re going for a popcorn and wine pairing or anything else, it’s always fun to experiment. For some fun ideas about wine and food pairings, listen to my conversation with Allie Pearce. That episode is called Upside Down and Inside Out: Wine and Food Pairings Re-imagined!
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