Raise your glass - Celebrating Super Bowl Sunday with a difference

Jason Clarke, Contributor

Superbowl Sunday is a few days away, when the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos square off for Super Bowl XLVII (48). For the typical Super Bowl lover, beer is the order of the day, not to mention burgers, wings and hot dogs, along with the assortment of chips and dip. Not that I have anything against beer, but if you are looking for something to enjoy outside of beer, I have a few options worth considering.

The ever popular wine cooler is great for these kinds of activities. Scouting the shelves, I could only find Arbor Mist which comes in a variety of flavours and makes for easy sipping while watching the game. Wine coolers like this are a mix of fruit and wine, which makes it fun and very refreshing. Not to mention a lower alcohol content than traditional wines. A personal favourite is the mango strawberry Moscato. Absolutely great for a hot Sunday if you are in-between the kitchen and watching the game.

cold and crisp

For those who are not overly keen on wine coolers and are more hardcore wine lovers, something bubbly works well, too. A Prosecco or Cava are ideal options for something cold and crisp that works with all the chips and dips you are likely to consume during the game, and because it's a little bubbly, a great way to celebrate when your team wins. I always enjoy the Freixenet Cordon Negro simply because of its versatility. I can always pop a bottle and enjoy it alone, or use it to make a signature cocktail. Mimosas are always great and super easy. Half glass of your favourite sparkling, and half glass orange juice or any other juice you may want to try.

A Chardonnay is also something to consider. Typically very buttery, a cheese platter with some crackers and fruit are an excellent pairing option as well. If you like entertaining like I do, an easy option to add are shrimp skewers with pineapples and sweet peppers. Lightly season with salt and pepper and a little basil or use a little Mrs Dash Herb and Garlic, then pop them in the oven and bake for a few minutes until the shrimp is properly cooked, and drizzle with syrup from the canned pineapples. Some easy options to consider are Yellow Tail, Little Penguin, Hardy's, and Beringer.

Whites and sparkling not your cup of tea, or should I say glass of wine? Red varietals are superb, especially with burgers or hot dogs. You already know my weakness for Malbecs, but a full-body wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Shiraz/Syrah are also great varietals that could work with just about anything you are likely to serve up from the grill or oven. I came across the Fat Bastard Shiraz, and the name alone had me in stitches, which is why I couldn't help but try it.

For a quick and easy burger, Reggae Jammins burgers hit the spot with a nice slice of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup and mustard and you are good to go. If time won't permit, you can always order a platter of niceties from Bin26 or Uncorked Wine bars.

These wines are available in most supermarkets islandwide.

I am not an expert, merely a wine enthusiast sharing my thoughts and experiences. Feel free to share your own experiences at wineenthusiastja