Super Bowl wing recipes and wine pairings that even the ref won't question
Whether you do classic Buffalo wings, air fryer wings or the latest trashed or dirty wings trend of frying, saucing and then frying wings again, one thing is deliciously clear: You must have wings for Super Bowl and March Madness. And if those wings are spicy (duh), you better put out some sweet wine to cool the burn.
First off, you need the best wing sauce recipes. And we’ve got three of the easiest wings recipes — like Carolina Mustard Blue Cheese — sure to score points with your team of sports fanatics.
Stop wondering which wines to choose with your tongue-flaming wings? We’ve got you covered with seven touchdown labels in the Wings & Wine Kit. Party-ready Sangria Red (no need to add fruit), fizzy orange Blossom and crowd-pleasing Muscadine Moscato are just three MVPs in this lineup.
Plus, you get Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Carolina Mustard Sauce to make that easy Carolina Mustard Blue Cheese Sauce we mentioned. We popped in Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Red Pepper and Onion Relish, too, which we suggest blending with your favorite ranch dressing for a creamy dunk. A few chopped, fresh jalapenos are a tasty addition to this dip.
Try the Duplin Gourmet Cherry Balsamic Grilling Sauce on smoked wings.
And the Bertie County Honey Roasted Peanuts? Well, they’re just for munching.
How to taste wine like a Duplin pro
See. Swirl. Sniff. Sip. Savor. Use this 5-step system for each wine on the tasting sheet included in your kit. Here's how.
See: First, hold a glass of wine up to a light and look at the color. It will allude to the variety of grapes used and what the wine will taste like. Is it Scuppernong? Nobel? Carlos? Another? Color also indicates flavor. A bright, saturated hue often means a more intense flavor. See if you can guess the grape and flavor before you sip.
Swirl: Consider the wine's body next. Swirl the wine in your glass to determine if it is light or heavy. You're looking for the viscous streaks running down the side of the glass after you swirl. They're called "legs." Sweeter wines will leave streaks to cling or move slowly. That means a heavier body.
Sniff: After you swirl, really dip your nose into the glass and inhale the aroma, which wine pros call the "bouquet" or "nose." Pausing to experience the bouquet heightens your senses and anticipation of the first sip. Think about what you are smelling. Is it fruity? What kind of fruit? Berries? Ripe banana? Musky honeydew melon? Pure grape? Are you getting floral notes like honeysuckle or gardenia? See if you pick up unexpected smells like pine or fall leaves. Describe the bouquet and discuss it.
Sip: Take a sip slightly larger than normal and hold the wine in your mouth for 3-5 seconds. Let the wine coat the tongue and the inside of your mouth. Wine releases more flavors as it warms on your taste buds. Before swallowing, purse your lips and breathe in gently, allowing the air to travel across the wine in your mouth to get the full flavor profile.
Do the flavors you're experiencing match the wine's nose? When and where are you tasting those flavors? Are you getting, say, banana bread on the first sip and then astringency or acidity at the end, which is called "the finish." Where do flavors hit you? On the tongue? On the side of your mouth.
Think back to the wine's body. Compare the texture of different wines, how they feel in your mouth. Light as water or heavier, like the texture of sweet iced tea? If you're sampling a sparkling wine, do the bubbles feel fine or medium in size. Compare your experience to the wine's description and see if it matches.
Savor: As you continue sipping, note how the sensation is slightly different from what you experienced when the wine was resting in your mouth on the first sip. This is the point when you taste and feel the wine's finish. As you continue tasting, note how the wine pairs with the Duplin Gourmet crackers and Muscadine Pineapple Habenero dip. See which wine you like best with those snacks and others you may be enjoying during your at-home or virtual tasting. Cheers!
Now, let's begin your wine tasting!
Orange Blossom
A wine to welcome Florida to the Duplin family as we celebrate the opening of our new location in Panama City Beach. Inspired by the place where warm, orange blossom breezes blow and summer never ends. Refreshingly juicy citrus notes and light marmalade sweetness sparkle in this finely carbonated wine.
Muscadine Moscato
Three years in the making, Muscadine Moscato sent our winemakers on a search for the finest Moscato wine to meld with Duplin's famous muscadine. "We're the first to do this, and no one can do it like we can," Dave says. "Muscadine Moscato is the best wine we've ever made, hands down.”
Smooth and sweet, with the Muscat grape’s natural hints of nectarine and white peach, Muscadine Moscato is beautifully sophisticated yet at home in any setting. Lightly chilled or ice-cold, this wine pairs with everything from filet to fried chicken. Like Dave says, “It’s hard to drink just one glass.”
Pelican Red
Pelican Red combines mid-harvest muscadines with Pink Catawba grapes. Catawbas are a cross between Vitis Labrusca and the European cultivar Semillon. Native to France, Semillon is a golden, thin-skinned grape used in sweet and dry wines. Historians aren’t sure who first crossed these two grapes, but early vines were said to have grown on a so-called “Rose Hill property” in Maryland.
With just 7% sugar, Pelican Red is mid-sweet with a smooth floral finish.
Blackberry
Earthy sweetness bursting with blackberries brings us back to summer days spent picking wild blackberries. Our winemakers use fresh North Carolina berries for this Duplin favorite. Expressive chilled or at room temperature, Blackberry pairs wonderfully with honey-glazed ham, brown-sugar-braised short ribs, spice cake and rich holiday meals.
Visit our recipe page for some scrumptious Blackberry drink and dessert recipes.
Lime Cotton Candy
Be the center of attention when you bring Cotton Candy Lime Jell-O shots to a neighborhood barbecue. Citrusy, sweet-tart flavors rise through berries and spun vanilla for a truly unique wine. Refreshing on the rocks, Cotton Candy Lime is the go-to with chips, grilled or fried seafood, crisp salads or a big platter of french fries. Add sparkling lemonade, white rum, fresh mint and plenty of ice to Cotton Candy Lime for a tasty twist on the classic mojito.
Sangria Red
Made from a blend of ripened red muscadines, citrus and strawberry, this wine is wonderful by itself or paired with fresh fruits. On a hot summer day, we like to freeze this wine in ice cube trays. We drop those "wine cubes" into Sangria Red to keep the wine cold without losing flavor!
Our winemakers add the essence of sweet strawberries and a touch of citrus. One of the easiest wines to pair. Congenial Sangria Red pretty much goes with everything, but especially nachos.
Mothervine
New World explorers of the 1500s couldn’t believe so many wild grapes grew along the shore of what would become North Carolina. That same century, someone on Roanoke Island planted what has been named the Mothervine, a Scuppernong thought to be America’s first cultivated grapevine. Duplin acquired cuttings from the nearly 450-year-old vine in the early 2000s and released this sweet, fruity wine in 2008. With just one vineyard of Mothervine grapes, Duplin releases a limited amount of this wine.
Sweet Bourbon Sauce
Duplin Gourmet Food's Sweet Bourbon Glaze is sure to set your tastebuds dancing! Great for good 'ol southern foods and grilling. Add a distinct flavor to your grilled salmon, pork, and chicken
Muscadine Carolina Mustard Sauce
Duplin Gourmet Foods brings a taste of the low-country straight to your kitchen. This traditional Old South recipe, combined with flavors of the Muscadine grape, is perfect for ribs, chicken, or pork.
Cherry Balsamic Grilling Sauce
Very rich and pleasantly smokey, this Cherry Balsamic Grill Sauce mixes tart and sweet and spruces up any dish!
Muscadine Red Pepper & Onion Relish
Duplin Gourmet Food's Muscadine Red Pepper & Onion Relish is a sensational blend of sweet and savory flavors that combine to create the perfect condiment! Straight out of the jar, it’s the easy way to add complexity and another layer of flavor to your favorite sandwich or main dish.
Honey Roasted Peanuts
These Honey Roasted Peanuts from Bertie County, NC are lightly salted with a light coat of sugary honey. Perfect for your next gathering with family and friends.
