Wine Pairings for Busy Parents (and aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and people who just like wine and kids’ snacks)

by Sep 4, 2018

It is back to school and that means things get a little crazy as we get back into the swing of things. Emily, Ryan and Tracy’s kids are back in class, Sarah is on nephew pickup duty, and at the end of the day, despite our best efforts to go low-cal, low-carb and healthy, all of us are at home grabbing leftover chicken nuggets and mac and cheese for dinner with the kids when in a rush.

Now you know, usually we grab a beer from Concrete Beach Brewery to go with it (there is nothing like a McDonald’s Cheeseburger Happy Meal and a Havana Lager – for real), but the good folks at Personal Creations have done some recon work and figured out the best wines to go with those leftovers to class things up a bit. Take a look at their research below. It’s awesome, Thanks for sharing Personal Creations!

The Best Wine Pairings for When You Eat Your Kids’ Leftovers

It’s the end of the day and your kids are asleep but, as usual, they have failed to finish their entire dinner. Why not turn what’s left into a gourmet dinner for you? Paired with a fancy wine, your kids’ leftovers will make for a classy dinner that parents can enjoy. Don’t worry if you’re not a wine snob; Personal Creations has done the research for you, including the temperature at which your wine bottles should be stored.

White Wines

White wines should be refrigerated before drinking. Typically, white wines pair with lighter fare such as fish, cheese, chicken, and hummus. Try the following pairings the next time you have leftovers on hand:

Pinot Grigio and Fish Sticks: The most popular white wine in Italy, pinot grigio is dry – meaning that it doesn’t have much residual sugar content after the fermentation process and goes with most foods.

Chardonnay and Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Chardonnay is a popular white wine in the United States and, as with most white wines, is served chilled. Chardonnay pairs well with leftover grilled cheese sandwiches or mac and cheese.  

Red Wines

Unlike white wines, red wines are typically served at room temperature, so if you don’t have time to chill your wine for a snack, try the following red wine and snack pairings:

Merlot and Hot Dog: Merlot has a high amount of tannins, which give it a complex flavor that pairs well with hot dogs or other hearty leftovers.

Pinot Noir and Cheese Crackers: Pinot noir is lighter in flavor than other red wines.  It can also be stored at room temperature, which is convenient, and makes an excellent wine to pair with cheese crackers (or cheese and crackers).

Are you more of a beer fan than a wine enthusiast? Try a lager with buttered pasta, a porter with string cheese, or fruit snacks and Belgian strong ale. Check out many more wine and beer pairings for kids’ leftovers at Personal Creations.