When plain salted popcorn is seasoned with a few added ingredients, like herbs or cocoa, and then paired with wine, do you really need anything else for dinner? No, better idea, invite your girls over for night in to watch all your fave shows, and make it a gourmet Popcorn Wine Pairing dinner. Set up a simple buffet with an array of savory and sweet popcorn flavors to munch on, along with things you already have at home. Kraft paper rolled into holders for popcorn, flowers from the garden or local market, and a few festive fall pumpkins is all you need to quickly pull together a tv binge night with friends that is just a bit more lovely than everyday life lounging on the couch with unattractive sweats. Yes, I’m just as guilty!
Brown Sugar Honey Popcorn + Merlot
Douro Red {Merlot or Malbec – Zinfandel works well t00}
Merlot is velvety and although earthy, it possesses the slightest sweet fruit undertones. That subtle sweetness, is all it needs to pair well with chocolate and caramel. Rich brown sugar, velvety honey, this deep red wine creates the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
Ingredients {serves 4 to 6}
5 1/2 cups – Popped Popcorn {use unseasoned or original flavor}
1/4 cup – Unsalted Butter
3 tablespoons – Pure Honey
1/2 cup – Brown Sugar
Recipe
Place popped popcorn in a large bowl. In a small sauce pan, brown you butter. Remove from heat, add in the honey and sugar. Bring to a boil, and cook until it thicken slightly {about 3 minutes}. Drizzle your brown butter sugar mixture over the popcorn, and carefully stir until all the kernels are coated. Spread onto a parchment lined baking sheet. allow to cool and harden. Place in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Olive Oil + Sauvignon Blanc
A dashing of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper is as classic as you can be, but olive oil makes this popcorn special. If you have it on hand, drizzle the popcorn with truffle oil for a decadent treat.
Vinho Verde {Sauvignon Blanc}
Vinho verde is my favorite wine. It is even crisper and drier than our known Sauvignon blanc. Not only bit of sweetness in it, which is why I love it so much. It’s a light wine with a hint of sparkle, which is the perfect simple pairing to classic popcorn.
Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Olive Oil Popcorn
Ingredients {serves 4 to 6}
5 1/2 cups – Popped Popcorn {use unseasoned or original flavor}
3 to 4 tablespoons – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste
Recipe
Place popped popcorn in a large bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil, and season. Stir until all the kernels are coated. Place in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
Parmesan Sage + Chardonnay
This is not your typical cheddar or special cheese sauce coated popcorn. This is a more delicate take on cheesy popcorn. I thinly sliced very good parmesan because I know my girls, and they love their cheese. The cheese is salty spicy good! The sage is the perfect earthy addition to compliment the crisp Chardonnay. This is one of the most delicate and gourmet pairings.
Douro White {Chardonnay}
Chardonnay is crisp and well rounded, and just demands a sharp cheese and earthy herbs making it the perfect pairing for salty cheese popcorn. The Douro region in Alentejo is the most dominant wine region in Portugal, and their white wines are big, and rich with tropical tones, unlike American slightly oak versions. This unexpected wine flavor profile is what makes it perfect with dense cheeses.
Ingredients {serves 4 to 6}
5 1/2 cups – Popped Popcorn {use unseasoned or original flavor}
1/4 cup – Unsalted Butter
2 tablespoons – Dried Sage
about 1/4 to 1/2 cup – Parmesan Reggiano {thinly shaved}
Crush Red Pepper Flakes, optional
Recipe
Place popped popcorn in a large bowl. In a small sauce pan, melt the butter. Remove from heat, drizzle over the popcorn, along with the cheese to taste, and season with sage and red pepper. Carefully stir until all the kernels are coated. Allow to cool completely. Place in an airtight container up to a week.