What's your Chicken Wing Personality

National Chicken Wing Day - July 29, 2021

National Chicken Wing Day is celebrated July 29th. There is nothing better than meeting friends for “Wing Night” awesome conversation, sports games and a great bottle of wine – or a couple of great bottles – you gotta’ have a White & a Red just to be fair to the wings!

Wings have long been a staple of Southern cooking. But the hot wings in hot sauce was born in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York and fast became a social favorite. National Chicken Wing Day was proclaimed in 1977 on July 29.

So, are wings an appetizer or a meal? Do you share them or eat them all yourself? More importantly

What wine will you serve with your wings??

Whether you crank up the heat or choose a milder version, chicken wings are awesome. Most people seem to think they should be served with beer - What’s with that? Me – I want a great glass of wine with my wings. So, I have your next wing & wine night covered.

What Is Your Wing Personality?

Are You A More Mild Soul

A little barbecue, a little honey mustard or if you’re licking a barbecue sauce off your fingers, then reach for something red, like a Malbec or a Merlot. That sauce will be perfection with these reds. Like your wings a little sweeter, try a Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay will help counteract the sweet heat of honey mustard, and the Pinot Noir’s acidity pair best with the sweet BBQ sauce.

Are You Hot & Spicy

Are you a heat freak and like to challenge your taste buds with atomic wings, uncork a dry white Riesling or a Gewürztraminer the sweeter the better Although we love a good red, steer clear you’re out for spicy wings. But if you just can’t help yourself, try a nice soft Zinfandel. The smoother the taste, the better for your tongue.

Not going totally nuclear with spice, but a little hotter than mild, say Teriyaki or Jerk wings, sweeter reds will tame the spice. Open a Garnacha or Rosé and enjoy in this spectacular pairing.

How About Perfectly Seasoned

Maybe not spice junkie, but like some more complex flavors. Maybe you are just a little more rational than the spice junkie and enjoy lemon-pepper wings, Sauvignon Blanc is your ticket. The acidity and earthy flavors are the perfect match for your wings. Garlic parmesan your wing of choice, it’s the light refreshing Pinot Grigio all the way.

Hot Wines – Hot Wings

Check out these pairing ideas for some classic wings for your Wing and Wine adventure.

Classic Spicy Buffalo Pair with a Riesling, Viogner, or Gewürztraminer.

The true classic is made with butter & hot sauce, Buffalo wings come from mild to “sign a waiver before eating this.”

For a milder version of the Buffalo Wing try a Pinot Noir, Merlot or a Bordeaux

Lemon Pepper Pair with a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio Lemon wings need a zesty white. Whether you’re trying a dry rub or the less common wet sauce, lemon pepper wings offer a light, zingy flavor that’s typically less spicy than most of the wings on this list.

Honey Garlic Pair with a Sparkling Rosé or Müller-Thurgau GO BOLD try a Cab Sauvignon or Pinot Noir

Sweet and savory, Honey Garlic-based wings sacrifice heat for a big aroma, along with a tangy flavor.

Teriyaki Pair with a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling. A little more courageous try a Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo for a serious mouth explosion

Teriyaki is a sweet and tangy wing with dark bold flavors a versatile wing for wine.

Sweet Chili & Orange Pair with a Chenin Blanc, Light Beaujolais or a Carmenere for a flavor bang

This Thai-inspired wing pulls off both the sweet and spicy. Thai Chili sauce has less heat than other sauces so you don’t need really sweet to compete. An off-dry white or light red can easily stand up to these wings

Its all about the sauce and no matter how you sauce them, there’s a wing for everyone, and a bottle of wine to go with it! Mix and match to find your favorite wings and wines combo.

We will say it again and again -- Wine Pairs Well With Anything. Not just the fancy stuff! Just because there’s sauce on your fingers and your wine glass & you are tossing chicken bones over your shoulder doesn’t mean you can’t have the perfect wine to match.

The Last Word

Is there a wine for every wing - YES!! But there are still so many questions!!!

Are they a meal or a snack?

How many should I cook?

How - Air Fryer, Bar B Que, Baked,

Spicy or sticky, Sweet or seasoned?

What do I serve with them - Veggies, slaw, rice?

How about the dip - Ranch, Chicken gravy, Blue cheese, Melted cheese?

Share a big plate or your own plate (double dipping is Ok on your own plate)?

At the end of the day the big question is still the same Red or White?

Have a great Weekend

Rhona & Robin

Looking for something fun to do this weekend. Come in and see us, Shred a Mask, receive 20% your wine kit Choose your favorite wine and start planning your next wing night! Craft Wine is an amazing experience you won’t regret!

Go to the comment box below and share your favorite wing recipe