Sparkling wine food pairings

Imagine the unimaginable: An open bottle of sparkling wine has been left too long and is no longer drinkable. Add it to vinaigrettes. Or pour it into a cheeseclothcovered Mason jar, wait six months and, voila! Champagne vinegar.

Among the wine world’s most versatile pairing partners, thanks to its range of styles, sparkling wine goes beautifully with a vast array of foods, from the humble (popcorn, fried chicken, potato chips) to some of the most revered (caviar, lobster, truffles).

Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial Rosé + Cracked Pepper & Honey Butter Popcorn

Epitomizing a high-low aesthetic, Moët & Chandon’s Nectar Impérial Rosé (LCBO 549527, $89.80), a radiant, juicy Champagne with crunchy acidity, revels in the honey-butter sweetspiciness of fluffy popcorn.

De Chanceny Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut + Holiday Chicken & Waffles brunch board

De Chanceny’s Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut (LCBO 211466, $20.00) has the acidity to tame fried chicken’s richness and the biscuity herbaceousness to enhance a waffle’s toasted lightness—making it a perfect partner to our recipe on page 249.

Mumm Cuvée Napa Brut Prestige + Crab Linguine with Chili & Cilantro

Pair Mumm Cuvée Napa Brut Prestige (LCBO 217273, $29.95) with chili-crab linguine: The wine’s bready aromas and fresh citrus flavours are excellent foils for the touch of heat.

Hungaria Grand Cuvée Brut + White Chocolate & Clementine Shortbread Sandwiches

Generous acidity in Hungaria Grand Cuvée Brut (LCBO 619288, $13.25) tempers the white-chocolate creaminess of shortbread, while the wine’s natural citrus flavours complement the clementine sandwich-cookie filling.