Drink Charitably!

I can normally find just about any occasion to drink wine.  As I’ve mentioned before, it goes so well with everything…and makes everything so much better.  One of the things I’ve discovered is that it is a blast to pair the appropriate wine with particular sporting events.  And as there is never a shortage of sports, there is ample opportunity to try all sorts of wines.  I also think it is fun to pair wines that have some other connection to the sporting event — specifically the teams playing. 

So if I’m watching Kansas City play, say, the 49ers on Monday night football – maybe I’ll choose a wine that matches Dungeness Crab found off the coast of San Francisco…or maybe I’ll have a wine that goes great with ribs.  Or maybe I’ll have both.  Or maybe I’ll find a wine that goes perfectly with a blow-out, which in this hypothetical game, would certainly happen.

But now it is the Grand Game.  For me, there is nothing quite like the World Series — even when it is two teams I couldn’t care less about — such as the Phillies & the Rays.  So do I have cheesesteaks…stone crabs…both?  Or do I go for something more esoteric — some random association with these two towns that perhaps have nothing to do with food at all.  Maybe something with a high mineral component symbolic of the sand at Tampa Bay, or maybe it is a bottle of something I got from my brother, symbolic of the City of Brotherly Love. 

I’m not really sure what I’m going to have once the rains stop — but I do know that this approach to sports, wine, and the perfect pairing certainly makes it a lot more interesting to watch — and a lot more fun prepping for a game.  Got any good ideas for me?  And not just for the World Series — how ’bout some upcoming football games (pro & college, please)?  Basketball season is starting.  Hockey?  Help me out — I’m looking for some good sports & wine pairings — be creative!  And as always, drink charitably!