While Scandal’s Olivia Pope may be the queen of the wine and popcorn pairing, we think we still have a thing or two to share. So we teamed up with our friends at Wise to create the ultimate wine and popcorn pairing guide! Whether you’re a classic butter type, or the more adventurous popcorn-Cinnabon hybrid lover, we’ve got some recs for you. The next time you’re looking to get your fix of fruits (grapes) and veggies (corn) consider these tips!
Butter Popcorn – Light Red
Let’s start with the basics. Who wasn’t obsessed with buttered movie-theater popcorn growing up? Now that we’re all a little older, something a little more grown-up (and healthy!) might be preferable. Wise’s air-popped popcorn is free from trans fats and pairs perfectly with a light bodied red, like a Pinot Noir or Grenache. The popcorn has a more creamy and muted flavor that won’t be overpowered by a red with a little bit of flavor but not an overbearing body.
White Cheddar Popcorn – Rosé
What’s better than a laying out on a picnic blanket with a chilled glass of rosé and an array of cheeses? Nothing. Nothing is better. But subbing in white cheddar popcorn for those stinky cheeses comes pretty close. Plus, Wise’s air-popped white cheddar popcorn has way fewer calories than a block of cheese, and it pairs excellently with a fresh rosé of really any hue. Whether you’re a francophile when it comes to the pink drink, or slightly more versatile, there isn’t a rosé out there that wouldn’t play well with this lightly cheesy snack.
Cinnabon Popcorn – Sparkling Wine
Time to kick things up a notch. For those with a sweet tooth, air-popped Cinnabon popcorn is basically as good as it gets. And since we’re already being festive, might as well pop open a bottle of bubbly! We’d recommend going with something on the drier side, like a Spanish Cava, so as not to find yourself on complete sugar overload, but we’ll leave that part up to you.
Hot Cheese Popcorn – Sweet White
Bring on the heat! We’ve got just what you need to keep things spicy without going overboard – a sweet, white wine! Wise’s air-popped hot cheese popcorn is bursting with flavor but leaves out the preservatives, so you can really get into it! We’d suggest partnering this popcorn with a German Riesling, definitely chilled and the lower alcohol-content the better. That way, when things really start to get hot, you can knock back this fire-quencher all the more easily.
Sea Salt – Full-Bodied Red
Sea salt is never a bad idea – whether it’s on caramel or salmon, it’s always a success. The air-popped sea salt popcorn from Wise is no exception, and when it comes to deciding what to drink with it we’d point you in the direction of a dark, full-bodied red like a Syrah or Malbec. While these wines can be more powerful in flavor, sea salt is one of those ingredients that can rise up to the top making sure it’s not left behind. Pour yourself a glass, pop open a bag and try it for yourself!
