One of the things I learned in my wine education studies (hey, I’m now officially WSET-2 certified with distinction – wow!) is learning the basics of how to pair wine with food.
But what does wine pair with? mood?
I know that for me, I usually choose a bottle of wine (or other drink) based not just on what I eat, but how I feel.
Here are some interesting examples…
- Sunshine and smiles? Rose time.
- A celebratory mood after get off work? Give me bubbles.
- Cold and rainy nights? Warm up with bold red.
- A fun and easy weekend lunch? A mocktail, please.
I eat and move intuitively and mindfully (asking myself and my body what I really want and need), and I’ve found that a similar approach to wine and other beverage choices really brings a lot of joy to my life.
And, whenever possible, I choose to be happy!
If you, too, want to add a little drink fun into your life, read on for some of my favorite drink and mood pairings of late!
Mood: It feels wonderful, but it’s a cold weeknight and you don’t want to leave the house.
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Pair with: Los Vascos Cromas Gran Reserve Carmenère 2019
Why we dig this pairing: Carmenere is a big, bold grape that will warm your soul. The bottle also shows off its beauty. There are flavors of blackberries, plums and black cherries, with a hint of white pepper and herbs. It’s all balanced by soft, silky tannins and just the right amount of acidity. This is not surprising, as Los Vascos wines are made using the same techniques as Bordeaux Grand Cru and come from Chateau Baron de Rothschild (Lafite). Yes, it’s fancy — but at about $20 a bottle (disclosure: we’re a Vivino affiliate), it doesn’t break the bank.
Mood: When a friend you really love comes over and you want to introduce them to something new.
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Pairing: Owl Brewing Spiced Milk Tea and Cranberry Liquor Tea
Why we dig this pairing: Not only is this fun and festive drink tastier than your typical hard seltzer (in our opinion), but it’s also made with premium ingredients like freshly brewed tea mix flavored with real fruits and botanicals. With flavors like Spiced Milk Tea and Cranberry, Darjeeling Tea and Hibiscus and White Tea, Raspberry and Lemon, they’ll never be boring. We also cheer Owl’s Brew for being gluten-free, vegan, and female-owned!
Mood: You want to give back, but you’re not ready to attend a big fundraiser with a big crowd.
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Pairing: A bottle from Humanity Wine Co. Wine Club
Why we dig this pairing: Recently, we received a shipment from Humanity Wine Co., which is not only a great way to donate to a good cause, but also a fun way to try some new wines. You can see our full wine tasting experience and thoughts in our Insta Stories, but they gave us four bottles of delicious wine from family-owned wineries and boutique vineyards. So, what’s the best part? The company gives back 50% of its net proceeds to charitable causes, so with every sip of its delightful drink, you’re giving back to these amazing causes.
Oh and if you are looking for fun games although To taste some of these wines, try SipperParty! It requires no knowledge of wine and can be played via the app by anyone willing to taste and rate it, in addition to the benefits mentioned above. Grab some buds and try them!
Mood: When you want to have a few beers, but don’t want to feel like you just had a few beers.
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Pairing with: A can (or two) of Bravus.
The great thing about Bravus is that it’s not a beer replacement – in fact it is yes Real beer, just with an alcohol content of less than 0.5%. Using a proprietary brewing process, these beers taste like craft beers but are vegan, dairy-free, low in calories, sugar and gluten. Our favorite is the IPA!
Mood: You want to drink something really delicious…but you’re in the back of the car.
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Pairing: Clean, cool NEFT
Made from just two ingredients (ancient, non-GMO rye grain grown in Lower Saxony and spring water from the Austrian Alps, for those curious), NEFT is a premium sipping vodka you can take anywhere, And it stays ice cold! It comes in a portable and unbreakable bucket, very similar to a jerry can, that can be refrigerated for several hours.
Mood: You want something fun to drink, but still sober.
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Pairing: So. many. Options!
Really good, fun non-alcoholic drinks used to be rare, but over the last few years the sober curious market has figured that out! Lately, our office has been receiving a lot of interesting, delicious, and totally sophisticated bartenders and drinks. Which one do we love!
Curious Elixirs (disclosure: also an affiliate because we absolutely love these) are non-alcoholic cocktails infused with adaptogens and complex flavors without being too sweet (hooray!). Created from premium ingredients by world-class bartenders, herbalists and food scientists, each concoction has its own purpose, from energizing to relaxing. With fun gourmet flavors like Blood Orange Spritz, Holy Basil + Ginseng and Juniper Cucumber Collins Lemon + Ashwagandha + Angelica, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on the party at all.
For wine lovers, the non-alcoholic Oddbird wine is unlike anything we’ve had before (and in a good way). To create world-class, traditionally crafted wines, the wines are sourced from the best vineyards in France and Italy, aged for up to 12 months, and then the alcohol is removed using a unique method that preserves flavour. We found that Oddbird Low Intervention Organic White No. 1—a natural white wine made from local grape varieties Vespaiola and Garganega—has the sweetness of pear, honeycrisp apple, honeycomb, and candied lemon, while Oddbird Low is slightly sweeter. Sweet. Uvention Organic Red No. 1—a natural red wine made from Merlot and Pinot Noir—has flavors of apple cinnamon, cranberry, and just-ripe blackberries. By far the most interesting North American wine we’ve had!
For those looking for a little sparkle and sweetness, you can’t go wrong with Mingle Mocktails. Crafted with natural ingredients and no chemical additives, you can get festive flavors like Cranberry Cosmo, Blackberry Hibiscus Bellini, Cucumber Melon Mojito, Moscow Mule, and Blood Orange Elderflower Mimosa. Available in standard 750 ml bottles or 12 oz cans, there are sizes to suit every occasion.
Some delicious options, right? Now what we need to know is: How are you feeling? What would you pair it with? ——Jane