Wine Secrets That Kick Off Your Best-Ever Super Bowl Party or Pro Bowl Bash

How sweet it is to enjoy Americaýs midwinter pro football spectacles: the NFL playoffs culminating in Super Bowl Sunday! Then the Pro Bowl arrives as a pleasing bonus a week later!

Like pseudo holidays, the games are savored by a gazillion fans nationwide -- from season ticket holders and the football faithful to those weekend watchers who barely know the difference between a touchdown and a touchback.

Where will YOU be during this season of pigskin popularity, publicity and party-going?

Most of us will be watching the action on TV -- surrounded by traditional TV-watching fare like cheeses, chili, chips and dips, ribs, wings, salads, tacos, burgers and bratwurst.

And what will everybody be drinking with those tasty treats? If you think the answer is ýbeerý -- think again. Whether youýre tailgating in Tampa, partying in Pittsburgh, bar-hopping in Baltimore, or making merry in Manhattan, Arizona or Philadelphia, youýll want to toast your favorite team with something saucier. Of course weýre talking about wine, the libation that traditionally cascades (think champagne!) throughout every winning locker room.

Nowýs the time to prepare what youýll serve or order in the way of wonderful liqueurs and wine cocktails, in all their diversity and delectability. Youýll want to know about the reds, whites and rosýs, spritzers, cocktails, punches, ciders and hot toddies that will score at your football bash. And thatýs just the beginning. Youýll also want to include flavorsome ýmocktailsý for the under-21 crowd and all those designated drivers.

Some football-esque wine creations that will make the best splash at your championship celebration:

Saucy Sistersý Super Bowl and Pro Bowl Recipesý

ýQuarterback Sack Punchý
1 gallon apple cider
1 cup sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 bottle (or less) Everclear (190 proof grain alcohol)
Combine first three ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 15 minutes. Add one bottle Everclear. Simmer on stove to re-warm. Do not boil! Serve in coffee mug.

ýMVP Martiniý
ý ounce Maraschino Liqueur
2 ounces Vodka
2 ounces Pear Nectar Juice
1 Maraschino Cherry for garnish
Put liqueur and juice into cocktail shaker with ice. Stir and strain into martini cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry.

ýNo Penalty Pina Coladaý (non-alcoholic)
2 cups Fresh Cubed Pineapple
ý cup Pineapple Juice
ý cup Cream of Coconut
1 cup ice cubes
1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream
Combine juice and cream in blender. With the motor running add the pineapple and ice. Process until smooth. Add ice cream and process until smooth. Makes one blender full.

ýTurnover Toddyý
7 ounces Hot Tea
1 tablespoon Honey
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
Pinches of Cinnamon, Ground Cloves and Nutmeg
Lemon Wedge for garnish
In an Irish Coffee Glass, pour honey, lemon juice and spices. Top with hot tea and stir. Garnish with lemon.

And hereýs information to know about ýSuper Winesýý including three wines that are team players for any Super Bowl match-up. Theyýre universal and go with all the foods youýll be serving at your tailgate get-together or while sitting around the televised game:

Dry Riesling ý-(dry white wine). Rieslings come in different sweetness levels. If youýre choosing a domestic Riesling, very often the label will indicate ýdry.ý If itýs a German Riesling, look for the words ýTrockený or ýKabinett.ý

Pinot Noir -ý(dry red wine). Not as heavy or tannic as a Cabernet Sauvignon, itýs equally at home with barbecue ribs or veggies and ranch dip. Advice: Do not try to get by with the cheap ones. Because the Pinot Noir grape is temperamental and sensitive to climate conditions, itýs expensive to produce.

Champagne --(sparkling wine). This is a celebratory drink, but you donýt have to win to enjoy it. Champagne is the life of every party!

And donýt forget to include wine delights for dessert! Some people try to create good pairings by matching sweet wines with sweet foods, but we think dessert wines are best as desserts in themselves. Not only are dessert wines sweet and satisfying, a three-ounce serving has less fat and fewer calories than a serving of any other dessert (an average of 130 calories and no fat compared to 300 calories and 18 grams of fat for a slice of cheesecake). Top off your pro football celebrations with a dessert wine thatýs sure to score with your guests. We can recommend any of these flavorful, ýlateý harvest wines and fortified wines ideal for desserts: Sauternes, Barsac, Beerenauslese, Tokay, Madiera, Port, Sherry.

Barbara Nowak and Beverly Wichman (bestselling THE SAUCY SISTERS' GUIDE TO WINE) are restaurant reviewers, wine-tasting facilitators, corporate trainers and hosts: Sauced! on Nashvilleýs WLAC and http://WebTalkRadio.net. (615) 790-7240 (TN); saucies@saucysisters.com; http://www.saucysisters.com

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