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Football Watching Wines for Bowl Season
By John ~ December 16th, 2008.
This Saturday, December 20, is the beginning of the annual college football marathon, 34 games in 19 days culminating in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami on January 8. Those of us football fanatics are stocking up on our manly fare of burgers, chili, pizza, brats, chips, salsa, and cheese. Now we need some wine. After all, we do want to show a little sophistication.
When I think football, I’m thinking leather, dirt, locker rooms, and sweat, so I’m looking for some good inexpensive wines that will give me a little of that football feeling and that will hold up to this crazy diet. Several wines that immediately come to mind are:
- 2004 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet (Australia), approx $8
- 2006 Calina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva (Chile), approx. $8
- 2006 Atlas Cumbres Malbec (Argentina), approx $10
- 2005 Columbia Crest Two Vines Shiraz (Washington), approx $7
With 34 games, you’ll want to buy these by the case and save another 10-15%. Since I’m sure that you expect your teams to win, just as I do, you’ll also want to stock up on some bubbly to celebrate after the game. A couple of good inexpensive sparkling wines to consider are:
- Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs (Washington), approx $9
- Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava (Spain), approx $8
To make bowl season even more interesting, the Wine Peeps have decided to host a contest. Leave a comment below with your picks for the following 12 bowl games (one game for each bottle of wine in that case you’re going to buy) before Saturday, December 20, at 11am EST. The reader with the most correct picks wins a Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator.
In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker goes to the reader who correctly picks the winner of the National Championship game followed by who submits their picks first.
All times Eastern
Pioneer Las Vegas (12/20, 8pm, ESPN): BYU vs. Arizona
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia (12/23, 8pm, ESPN): Boise State vs. TCU
Emerald (12/27, 8pm, ESPN): Miami (FL) vs. California
Valero Alamo (12/29, 8pm, ESPN): Missouri vs. Northwestern
Pacific Life Holiday (12/30, 8pm, ESPN): Oklahoma State vs. Oregon
Brut Sun (12/31, 2pm, CBS): Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi (1/1, 4:30pm, ABC): Penn State vs. USC
FedEx Orange (1/1, 8:30pm, FOX): Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
AT&T Cotton (1/2, 2pm, FOX): Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech
Allstate Sugar (1/2, 8pm, FOX): Utah vs. Alabama
Tostitos Fiesta (1/5, 8pm, FOX): Ohio State vs. Texas
FedEx BCS National Championship Game (1/8, 8pm, FOX): Florida vs. Oklahoma
Filed under: American Wine, Argentine Wine, Australian Wine, Chilean Wine, Contest, Malbec, Red Wine, Shiraz/Syrah, Spanish Wine, Sparkling Wine, Washington State Wine
To start the ball rolling, let me give you my bowl game picks:
BYU
Boise State
Cal
Missouri
Oklahoma State
Pittsburgh
USC
Virginia Tech
Texas Tech
Alabama
Texas
Oklahoma
BYU
Boise State
California
Missouri
Oklahoma State
Oregon State
USC
Virginia Tech
Texas Tech
Alabama
Texas
Florida
BYU
Boise State
Cal
Missouri
Oklahoma State
Pittsburgh
Penn State
Virginia Tech
Texas Tech
Alabama
Texas
Florida
Whoa, I might not wait to see if I win before I get the Vinturi!
With fingers crossed, Here goes…
Pioneer = BYU
Pointsettia = TCU
Emerald = Miami
Alamo = Missouri
Holiday = Oregon
Sun = Oregon State
Rose = USC
Orange = V Tech
Cotton = Texas Tech
Sugar = Alabama
Fiesta = Texas
BSC Championship = Florida
Pioneer Las Vegas (12/20, 8pm, ESPN): BYU vs. Arizona- BYU
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia (12/23, 8pm, ESPN): Boise State vs. TCU- TCU
Emerald (12/27, 8pm, ESPN): Miami (FL) vs. California- Miami
Valero Alamo (12/29, 8pm, ESPN): Missouri vs. Northwestern- Missouri
Pacific Life Holiday (12/30, 8pm, ESPN): Oklahoma State vs. Oregon- Oklahoma State
Brut Sun (12/31, 2pm, CBS): Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh- Oregon State
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi (1/1, 4:30pm, ABC): Penn State vs. USC- USC
FedEx Orange (1/1, 8:30pm, FOX): Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech- Virginia Tech
AT&T Cotton (1/2, 2pm, FOX): Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech- Ole Miss
Allstate Sugar (1/2, 8pm, FOX): Utah vs. Alabama- ‘Bama
Tostitos Fiesta (1/5, 8pm, FOX): Ohio State vs. Texas- Texas
FedEx BCS National Championship Game (1/8, 8pm, FOX): Florida vs. Oklahoma- The Mighty Gators
Arizona
TCU
Cal
Missouri
Oklahoma State
Oregon State
USC
Texas Tech
Alabama
Texas
Oklahoma