Unless you’re living under a rock, you know that the 20th annual FIFA World Cup, a tournament for the men’s soccer (or football) world championship, is currently happening in Brazil and the United States is shockingly still in the game. A total of 64 matches were or are being played in 12 cities across Brazil and this is big stuff. The World Cup is live or die for most sports fans around the world and has been for decades. In the US, we’re far behind the curve in having only a brief, passing interest in previous years but finally, in 2014, we’re catching up! Football fever/ soccer sickness has struck Americans and it may never be the same again for us.
So it’s only fitting that when a mutual friend of ours, Guy Courtin, posted a reference on Twitter to wine and the world cup, copying both of us, we had a great idea for a blog post!
We’ll deem it “she said, she said” with our perspective on what you should be drinking from each country still in the finals. In some cases, we’ll recommend our favorite wines or the most appropriate ones for the tournament. In some cases, we’ll tell you to drink something else. It may be a stretch to find some bottles for the teams you’re rooting for, we’re not seeing Costa Rican wine lighting the import market in the US on fire…
And for you REAL soccer fans, please keep in mind that this is meant as a fun analysis of a game we both admit we know almost nothing about!
Argentina
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
Argentina’s signature wine is Malbec, a red wine originally from the Bordeaux region of France. Argentina has been growing Malbec grapes for 150 years, but these wines gained mass appeal in the last 20 years. Argentina now produces more than 70% of the world’s Malbec. The price point is great and the wines are usually consistent. Grab a wine from Riccitelli, Es Vino, Finca Las Moras or Remolinos Vineyards, crack it open and enjoy the game.
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
No offense my dear friend but…yeah, yeah – Malbec, Malbec, Malbec. I’m not going to argue that it’s at a height of delicious here. But to really show Argentine passion, I’m going to suggest the other grape of Argentina: the white Torrontés. Why? It’s a hybrid of Muscat d’Alexandria and Argentina’s historical grape, Criolla Chica, a red that was brought to South America by the conquistadors. This highly floral, honeyed, peachy, and acidic white is best when it’s from the province of Salta, which boasts vineyards at 10000 feet or more! Refreshing, delicious and sort of native to Argentina, you gotta do it.
Belgium
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
Drink beer. That’s all.
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
I agree on that Belgian beer is awesome, but it turns out that they after poking around, I’ve discovered that the Belgians do grow grapes and that it’s a growing industry there. Who knew? While Chardonnay is their big gun, I’m not sure you’ll be able to find a bottle so may I suggest some fine Belgian chocolate with ruby Port? Portugal’s not in it now anyway, so it’s not like you’re being disloyal with this pairing, right?
Brazil
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have not had a wine from Brazil. Just a lot of coffee. But Bento Goncalves is a wine town in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, and is known to be the wine capital of Brazil. The country has a few things going for it — 150 years of wine heritage and the area’s strong Italian-German heritage. Drink a sparkling and watch Neymar, he’s been deemed as the next David Beckham. You’re welcome.
She Said (Wine for Normal People)
They’re the host country. They’re favored to win. And they could theoretically celebrate with Brazilian wine (although, like Melanie, I’ve never had it). The far south of the country is making some good efforts at Cabernet/Merlot blends, so if you can snag one, do it. If not, you could always get a Portuguese wine from the Douro that’s massive, brawny and powerful – kind of like Neymar’s leg.
Colombia
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
Another region that I thought primarily produced coffee, carnations, and James Rodríguez (thank you Colombia), has two regions that produce wines – in tropical Sutamarchán known for Riesling and Pinot Noir and Consorcio del sol de Oro, where European specifications are followed to produce Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc wines. I haven’t had the chance to try Colombian wines yet, but the country appears to be progressing with the wines that it offers and I’m hoping they make it to Texas so I can.
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
Didn’t know about the carnations — cool fact DWC! For me, aguardiente (made from sugar and anise) is the way to go. That firewater will put you on your a** but is well worth it! Wine just isn’t their forte so I’ll go for the stuff that is.
Costa Rica
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
I spent a week last Summer with my family in Costa Rica and asked the locals if there were any local wines that were worth trying. They told me that I should drink the widely available Chilean wines … or coffee … or beer. Okay, I trusted them and anyway I always bring a case of wine on vacation.
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
Coming up with nothing for this. Besides coffee. And it’s almost tasty enough to forego vinous pleasures for.
France
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
Known for its incredible wines and being the largest producer in the world, France has a history of making wines since 6th century BC. Bordeaux. Champagne. Alsace. The Rhone Valley. The Languedoc-Roussillon. The Loire Valley. Provence roses. Choosing my favorite would be like shooting fish in a barrel, but if I had to choose, I’d probably go with Champagne from Pierre Peters or Billecart Salmon. If I had to.
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
This isn’t really fair. The wine world is your oyster if you’re a Francophile. Any region really will do. You can’t lose. But my suggestion: go bold and get yourself a wine from Cahors. Mostly Malbec, brawny and bold, and obscure enough so you’d have to really love France to know about it, I’d get one of these dark fruited, coffee, and earth flavored gems. But I agree with Melanie, there’s no beating Billecart Salmon…great stuff!
Germany
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
For me, Germany personifies what a good Riesling wine should be. It’s floral, fruity and elegant and can range from dry to sweet. Dr. Loosen, a family wine dynasty that has been producing wines for over 200 years, makes world class wines. If I can find one, I reach for the Dr. Loosen Erdener Treppchen Kabinett. Why? Because it rocks – lots of apple, pear, minerality and a flintiness that makes up this wine works perfectly for my palate. But, I think we were talking about soccer … Germany is good, but the U.S. did well against them. I remain hopeful.
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
Ok, I’m with Melanie on this one. Riesling is the obvious choice and it’s one of my favorite wines (check out these podcasts with Riesling expert Stuart Piggott to hear a dorkfest on it), so I’ll say an off-dry Mosel Riesling with bone-rattling, jaw clenching acid and beautiful lime, peach, and jasmine flower flavors, this will keep you awake and your mouth watering while you’re waiting for that elusive GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!
Netherlands
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
The Netherlands – specifically Amsterdam – is known for a perfectly legal substance sold in coffee shops. What does that have to do with football? Well nothing. Except maybe you’ll chill out a bit in the rest of the country (where it is illegal) knowing that you won’t be actively prosecuted as an individual user. As for wine … well … let’s just say the focus is elsewhere.
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
Yeah, they make wine in the Netherlands but I think it’s best we stick with their historical ties and one of their awesome contributions to the wine world: draining the Left Bank of Bordeaux so those gravel soils could grow kick ass Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. If you’re rooting for the Dutch, you’re going to be drinking well with this suggestion!
Switzerland
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
I didn’t know much about Switzerland other than chocolate and fine watches. But there are over 40 varieties of grapes that grow in Switzerland. I have tried none of them. Valais, which produces approximately half of the country’s wine, is known for having good pinot noirs and is the most widely planted grape. As for recommendations, my experience has been buying several Swiss watches (future family heirlooms) and eating my weight in chocolate.
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
I too am a fan of Swiss chocolate and watches (although I have the cheap Swiss Army ones so they will NOT be heirlooms!) and I did have wine when I was in Zurich but it wasn’t memorable. There isn’t a ton of Swiss wine makes it outside the country’s borders, but that’s changing as import regulations have relaxed and producers need to find markets for their wines. Although most is white, bland, and neutral, there are a ton of native grapes that may make some cool stuff in the future. For now, I’d go for Dôle, a Pinot Noir/Gamay blend that’s light and fruity and can help you maintain a neutral disposition while watching the Swiss play for the win! If you can’t find that, try a northern Italian wine (Switzerland borders Germany, France, and Italy and the Italians are the only ones out) like the sparkling and delicious Franciacorta, from the Lombardia region that borders Switzerland!
United States
She Said (Dallas Wine Chick):
The fact that we are still here and so many Americans actually have tuned into the game is shocking, but pretty cool. Through my own research and several Wine Bloggers Conferences, I’ve had the chance to try wines from all over the United States. Choosing would be very hard, but I can tell you that my most recent favorite comes from Larkmead Vineyards, an off the beaten path winery near Napa, where the Solari red blend scored a total GOOOOAAAALLLLL. Sorry – caught up in the moment….
She Said (Wine for Normal People):
America is a wine powerhouse and we’re working on becoming a football/soccer powerhouse too. Although it’s American by way of Croatia, I’m still saying Zinfandel is the way to go if you’re a US fan. It’s so American – big, bold, loud, and spicy. Nearly 10% of California’s vineyards are planted to Zin, and if you’re looking for a quick buzz, these are usually pretty high in alcohol too. For nuance and style, I’d stick with one from Mendocino County, where the layers of flavor tend to make wines that are more than just showy fruit bombs. I love Navarro Vineyards and I’m not afraid to say it!
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You can drink your way around the world with our ideas and if your team gets eliminated, you can move to the next best option and maybe drink even better. The parallels of soccer/football to wine is striking – as the world has become more global, we’re getting exposure to the great wine and great sport traditions the world around.
What did we miss? Drop a comment and let us know what you would have included for your favorite team!
Elizabeth Schneider, who remains one of my favorite winos, is a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, Certified Specialist of Wine by the Society of Wine Educators, internationally followed wine blogger and podcaster (both can be found on: winefornormalpeople.com and the podcast is available on iTunes), and owner of the wine education company Wine For Normal People, that specializes in teaching interactive, live online classes. She is also author of the forthcoming book, Wine For Normal People. Elizabeth has an MBA and has lived in Northern California and worked for the largest winery in the world doing marketing and training programs. She has toured wineries around the country and the world from California, to Italy, to France, to South Africa, to her native Long Island, and appears as a wine expert in publications and other media channels. Despite the credentials, Elizabeth considers her most important accomplishment to be the fact that she has managed to remain a normal person, despite her exposure to lots of wine snoots! Follow Wine for Normal People on Twitter @normalwine and on Facebook.
