When Sizzler Met Fizzle

Champagne and its sparkling wine counterparts pair wonderfully with almost any dish. The high acidity of wines stimulates your taste buds, making your mouth water and crave food, while the bubbles cleanse your palate after each bite, inviting you to take another.

But what makes Champagne/ Wine and fried foods such a perfect combination? For starters, their textures complement each other. When you think of fried food, you often associate it with bubbles, creating a sensation of crunch in liquid form through effervescence and bright acidity. The freshness and vibrant acidity of sparkling wines pair excellently with rich, decadent fried foods, as the acidity cuts through the richness.

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Any sparkling wine you prefer, including those that are slightly sweet or made using methods other than the traditional Champagne process, can substitute for Champagne with any fried food you enjoy. In the spirit of sparkling wine season, here are five specific fried food and sparkling champagne/ wine pairings worth toasting to. Cheers!

By Ishita Kamra

Une Femme Champagne 1er Cru Brut The Juliette NV

Pairing champagne with fried chicken is a delightful mix of sophistication and comfort that enthusiasts rave about. This combination is a testament to its universal appeal. The wine's acidity cuts through the chicken's richness, while the subtle sweetness of a brut, often understated on its own, balances the dish's acidity and saltiness. This sweetness functions similarly to how it does in ketchup, BBQ sauce, various Southeast Asian cuisines, or even American Chinese dishes.

Cavit Prosecco

Prosecco is often seen as Champagne's rustic cousin: a bit less polished in its winemaking process and texture, but equally zesty and lively when paired with food. Italian cuisine, in particular, excels at combining sparkling wine with fried foods. Just look at any Italian wine bar menu and you'll see the word "fritti" frequently. These little fried bites, known as fritti, paired with Prosecco, are a cornerstone of Italian aperitivo culture. But Prosecco isn't just for snacks; it can complement a full meal, dessert, or even breakfast cannoli. Imagine the perfect pairing of Prosecco and cannoli, with the wine adding extra bubbles to the fried shell. So, take the cannoli, and don't forget the Prosecco.

Bruno Zanasi, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro D.O.P.

Lambrusco, with its fruity profile, light fizz, and gentle tannins, is the hidden gem of Italian wines. Pairing Lambrusco with pizza is not just a clever match; it's a relaxed lifestyle choice. But why stop there? Imagine Lambrusco with fried pizza delights like mozzarella sticks or even mozzarella-stuffed arancini. The combination of Lambrusco and mozzarella sticks is a match made in heaven. The slight sweetness and ripeness of the wine, along with its rich texture, perfectly complement the creamy cheese and salty crust, especially when you dip those mozzarella sticks in tomato sauce.

Laetitia Brut Cuvée Arroyo Grande Valley

By now, you’ve likely enjoyed the delightful combination of salt, fat, acid, and heat that sparkling wine and fried food bring to the table. Let's enhance the salt factor with an extra element: brine. Some of the world's finest sparkling wines are cultivated on fossilized seashell beds or in coastal regions where the salty sea air influences the grapes, making them a perfect match for oysters. When both the oysters and grapes come from the same area, it’s a game-changer. The minerality shines through, even when you choose to deep-fry them, which is highly recommended.

We are talking about none other than, oysters and sparkling wine which are an incredible pairing seen worldwide, and it’s showcased perfectly here. The briny salinity of the oysters’ pairs beautifully with a Brut Cuvée from Laetitia Vineyard. The rich texture of the oysters is balanced by the light and airy bubbles, with hints of lemon chiffon and fresh bread.

Moscato D’Asti

This, right here, is the classiest junk food pairing imaginable.

It's easy to forget that potato chips are fried, especially when they're always within reach. This makes pairing them with sparkling wine even more enjoyable, as you might not even need to leave your kitchen to create this delightful combination. Any bubbly you have on hand can turn a simple bag of chips into a celebration.

Italy's Moscato grape produces a wine that is generously fruity. If you think this means it's overly sweet, that's a misconception. In skilled hands, Moscato is vibrant and balanced, especially when it has bubbles. This is particularly true when you add some spice to the mix, like with barbecue or other spicy-flavoured potato chips.

The magic lies in the Asti Spumante, which tastes like apricots and nectarines. The bubbles and acidity cleanse your palate, allowing the spice from the chips to shine through the fruit and bubbles.

From the August 2024 issue of FHM India.