Game Day Vittles & Vino!

What are vittles? Vittles is an old-fashioned silly word for food. The word actually sounds like it should belong in a black and white western movie like Red River with John Wayne. The word vittles also has some antiquated roots to it. Amusingly enough, a group of word nerds traced the foodie word “vittles” back to the Latin word “victuals” which means nourishment, provisions, or sustenance. Hilarious, right?

Game on! Prepared lots of tasty vittles aka provisions, and have plenty of good vino too. I’m still thinking about the Paso Wine Tasting Tour which visited Houston in late September, and where I tasted all those incredible wines. The Paso Robles Wine County is renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon, and which I agree are first-rate wines.

For example, these four fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon’s can be easily found in grocery store locations within the Houston metropolitan area:

• DAOU Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

• J. Lohr Wines 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

• Hope Family Wines “Austin Hope” Cabernet Sauvignon

• Ancient Peaks 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

For my game day party, I needed full-bodied robust red wines for a serious “Swiftie” watch party. Like all of Taylor Swift’s fans out there, I was glued to the TV watching the Sunday night football game where the Kansas City Chiefs beat the N.Y. Jets. Yes, and Taylor Swift finally put Travis Kelce on the map. LOL. I have to admit, I’m a fan of Taylor Swift, her music, and now her new boyfriend Travis Kelce.

According to Artificial Intelligence, Taylor Swift’s AI profile assessment suggests she could occasionally order a glass of white wine, and could prefer a nice glass of Sancerre or other Sauvignon Blanc? Who knows? For Sunday night football, and for a fan-filled Swiftie watch party we’re drinking plenty of luscious Cabernet Sauvignon with dark fruit flavors of black cherry, plums, chocolate, cocoa, and vanilla spice. Go Chiefs!

Sunday night football “Vittles & Vino” included:

• Pulled pork sandwiches drizzled with tangy honey barbeque sauce, crunchy bread & butter pickles paired with DAOU Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Hearty blue cheese wagyu burger arugula salad, sliced tomatoes, purple onion, and bacon bits paired with the J. Lohr Wines 2020 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Shrooms baby, these are not the magic mushrooms, but they taste like magic. Bacon cheddar cheese stuffed mushrooms, a killer combo I’d say, or @KillaTrav (Travis Kelce on Instagram) pairing with the Hope Family Wines “Austin” Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Smoked turkey legs pairing with Ancient Peaks Winery 2020 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.

Fascinating how the “Taylor Swift effect” has generated record-breaking female viewership in watching football. The “Taylor Swift effect” refers to the significant influence Taylor Swift, a global icon, has on pretty much everything. It’s all about how her actions, decisions, and how her statements can cause substantial ripples. For instance, when she endorses a product, it often sees a surge in sales. According to an online Boston.com article “Taylor Swift bigger than the NFL? The numbers don’t’ lie.”

Truth is on game day whether it’s football, baseball, or basketball alike all are better with good eats, and good wine. This week the Houston Astros won the ALDS playoffs in baseball, hopefully they win the ALCS next, and then game on for another world series. Let’s go Astros!

For the Astros game day, nibbling on lemon pepper wings was quite fun, and sipping another Paso Robles wine the 2021 DAOU Discovery Rosé. The DAOU Discovery Rosé is made in the classic Provence style with 100% Grenache Noir grapes. Aromas of peach and orange blossom juicy on the palate with strawberry and cherries. It’s real easy to sip Rosé all day watching baseball.

My Swiftie game day party for Sunday night football was definitely a memorable foodie and wine evening. My gal friends are now reborn football fans looking forward to the next game where Taylor Swift will appear. Like last evening, a thrilling Thursday night football game. Taylor Swift showing for a third time to cheer on Travis Kelce, and then watch the Kansas City Chiefs win over the Denver Broncos. So much excitement.

Tonight, Friday the 13th, I will have to settle for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour movie premier, popcorn, and a Coca-Cola. Love it!

Cheers!!

P.S. Along with my bestie wine writer Katrina Rene “The Corkscrew Concierge” we tasted so many great wines at the Paso Robles Wine Tasting Tour. Here we are in the photo below with Christopher Taranto with the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

This is Meegan Huff with Cass Winery , and we tasted Cass Winery Mr. Blanc, 2021 Grenache, 2021 GSM, and 2019 CAB.

Castoro Cellars 2021 Chardonnay. Did you know, Chardonnay is my favorite subject?

Apparently an “AI” Artificial Intelligence profile version of Taylor Swift says she enjoys a chilled glass of Justin Winery 2022 Sauvignon Blanc?!?

This Fulldraw Vineyard Grenache Blanc was my favorite white wine at the tasting. The 2020 Bamboo “BAMBU” Grenache Blanc made with 91% Grenache Blanc and 9% Clairette Blanche grapes. Delicious.

Another favorite white wine of mine was the Eberle Winery 2022 Paso Robles Viognier.

Tablas Creek Vineyard wines are always simply incredible. Loved tasting their 2022 Patelin de Tablas Rosé, and their Patelin de Tablas Blanc.

And, another amazing Tablas Creek Vineyard fine white wine is their 2020 Esprit Blanc De Tablas.

“Keep in chill like a Sauvignon Blanc” says @KillaTrav aka Travis Kelce via his Instagram. This handsome guy sporting his sharp-looking velvety pants. I’d say the same for Riboli Family Wines and their San Simeon 2022 Sauvignon Blanc. Keep it chill.

My most favorite vino at the Paso Robles wine tasting event was the DAOU Vineyards 2020 Soul Of a Lion. I can’t recall which sports commentator mentioned during the Kansas City Chiefs & Denver Broncos game say “Patrick Mahomes is the heart of the Kansas City Chiefs… BUT, Travis Kelce is the soul of the Kansas City Chiefs.” Cheers, to the Soul Of a Lion!