Snacks & sips: which wine to pair with potato crisps?

Wine pairings are an art in themselves. It is not for nothing that every self-respecting restaurant has sommeliers and sommelières whose (sole) task is to accompany the culinary voyage of discovery with the appropriate wines. Imagine a humid Friday evening with invited guests, all of whom know a little too much about wine. Chips of different flavours are laid out in beautifully decorated bowls for aperitivo. Sound familiar? Sure, but which wine goes with which chips now? Falstaff is happy to help with the epicurean partner search.

Classic with champagne

The epitome of elegance: a glass of champagne. In front of it the bowl with potato chips, flavour "nature" - a stark contrast, in exactly which the fascination of the combination lies. The saltiness of the chips complements the complexity of the champagne, and the fizz adds a pleasant note to the overall experience. Caution: not every champagne is suitable for this pairing. Leave Blanc de Blancs or Brut Natures to the left. Because what belongs here in the glass is a balanced cuvée with slightly higher sweetness in the Brut spectrum. An excellent choice would be the NV Veuve Clicquot Brut.

Bell pepper chips and Rioja

For those who like the smoky and spicy notes of bell pepper chips, a classic Rioja is an ideal companion. It is important to choose a Rioja that is not excessively tannic. A Crianza like Viña Real from Bodegas CVNE, regardless of the vintage, offers the perfect balance here. The fruitiness and sweetness of the peppers combine harmoniously with the powerful character of the wine.

Barbecue and Grenache

When barbecue-flavoured chips come into play, Grenache seems to be the first choice. The 2021 Les Cardinaux Côtes-du-Rhône Villages is a smooth and round Côtes du Rhône dominated by the Grenache grape. This wine complements the smoky and spicy flavours of barbecue chips with its fruity notes, creating a lasting taste experience.

Sea salt chips and fine bubbles

A bold variation on the classic chips is the version with fine sea salt. These chips, with their "subtle" salt content, call for an upscale champagne. For example, there is a Champagne Grande Réserve "Bouzy" Grand Cru Brut from Andre Clouet. The high quality, versatility and fresh texture of the taut bubbly set sea salt chips apart and make for a refined and enjoyable pairing.

Truffle Chose

Probably the most luxurious way to cut potatoes into paper-thin slices, deep-fry them and then sell them in packages with little content at high prices: truffle chips. Many give themselves the illusion of real truffle, while the reality of the amount contained is unfortunately often limited to only a few hundredths of a percent truffle. For a suitable pairing, it cries out here for a partner that does justice to the unique, earthy taste of the noble tuber, or the penetrating truffle oil contained in the chips: the choice falls on a Rias Beixas. This sparkling, fresh white wine from the northwest of Spain, also jokingly known as "Spain's Scotland," with its floral, delicate and mildly harmonious notes, makes an excellent accompaniment to truffle chips.

Chenin Blanc to Sour Cream & Onion

"Sour Cream & Onion" - an absolute classic from the world of fried potato slices. A classic Chenin Blanc is suitable for this flavour. Its lively acidity balances the greasiness of the chips and adds freshness to the pairing. The fruity aromas typical of Chenin Blanc, from green apples to citrus, contrast with the savoury chip notes, and the wine's pleasant dryness highlights the spiciness of the onion flavours. Here, the 2019 Ihringen Chenin Blanc would be a fitting choice.

Salt and Vinegar?

When the tangy spiciness of Salt & Vinegar Chips takes centre stage, the wine inevitably takes a back seat for a moment. These chips are difficult to pair with wine because of their omnipresent vinegar flavours, and if you're honest, you should just leave it alone. Instead, reach for a craft beer or a well-made cider. These drinks provide a refreshing contrast to the spicy acidity of the chips.

Fish and seafood

They say they exist... the people who find nothing more delicious than a packet of shrimp or seafood flavoured chips. However, our ancestors already knew that "De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum": There is no arguing about taste. And for this reason, there is also a worthy companion for this (probably small) group of chips enthusiasts: here, a Muscadet is recommended, more precisely a "2019 Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Goulaine". Its fresh, clean character complements the maritime essence of the chips, making this thoroughly eccentric pairing a captivating experience.