Take a bite of freshly fried French fries and then quench your thirst with beer.
This is a scene commonly seen not only when drinking at home but also at izakayas. French fries are a quintessential casual snack, but they actually pair exceptionally well with sparkling wine.
Here, I would like to explain why French fries and sparkling wine go so well together.
The Relationship Between French Fries and Alcohol
Generally, when it comes to alcoholic beverages paired with French fries, beer, highballs, and sours (chuhai) come to mind. Why have these drinks become the classic pairings with French fries?
There are two main reasons:
- They are casual foods, so people don't think too deeply about it
- People want to refreshingly wash away the saltiness and greasiness
Let's consider each of these reasons.
They are casual foods, so people don't think too deeply about it
While there are some upscale French fries, most are offered at casual prices.
Few people would bother to bring out expensive, sophisticated drinks to pair with them. Furthermore, think about the scene at an izakaya.
Rather than ordering with pairing in mind, aren't they often ordered "just because"?
In other words, few people order while carefully considering pairings.
People want to refreshingly wash away the saltiness and greasiness
While they may not think deeply about pairing, there are those who would like to enjoy food and drinks in the best possible combination.
In a sense, this is the mindset of people who have taken a step beyond the "anything is fine" stage.
From experience, we have the impression that "French fries are greasy and salty." (For now, let's assume we're not using ketchup, mustard, sour cream, or other condiments.)
And beer, highballs, and sours—these are served cold with strong carbonation and a refreshing mouthfeel.
In other words, it's inevitable that these drinks pair well with the charred aroma, saltiness, and mild flavor of hot French fries, and once you take a bite, your body craves drinks with these characteristics.
Why Sparkling Wine with French Fries?
While there are established classic combinations, why am I proposing that "French fries pair well with sparkling wine"?
Before stating the reasons, let's look at the characteristics of typical sparkling wines. (Excluding rosé and high-end Champagnes.)
- A drink served well chilled
- Strong carbonation
- Fresh and aromatic fragrances like citrus and flowers
- Crisp acidity with a refreshing mouthfeel
Of course, there are differences between sparkling wines, such as nutty flavors and depth from barrels, and whether they're dry or sweet, but generally speaking, this is the typical image.
While I won't say they're exactly the same as the drinks mentioned earlier, just looking at the characteristics suggests they might pair well with French fries.
Now, let's take these characteristics and delve deeper into the appeal of this combination.
They Enhance Each Other's Deliciousness
First, let's look at what characteristics French fries have.
The crispy texture and savory aroma on the outside obtained by deep-frying. The mild flavor that's not overly assertive and the fluffy texture inside...
Their appeal lies in their simple nature that you never tire of eating. (Even when deep-fried, vitamin C degradation is relatively minimal, so they're nutritionally good too.)
Also, French fries are known for their saltiness. Precisely because they have a mild flavor, you can feel the saltiness more compared to other foods, and it's said that we humans keep eating them seeking this mineral content.
Now, this is where sparkling wine comes in.
Cold sparkling wine cools down freshly fried hot French fries. The interplay of textures between the crispy crunch and fizzy carbonation.
The mineral quality of the saltiness feels compatible with the refreshing mineral notes found in sparkling wine.
Furthermore, the fresh citrus and floral notes of sparkling wine envelop the French fries as if seasoning them, creating a vibrant impression in your mouth.
And finally, the refined acidity washes away the oil from the French fries, resulting in a refreshingly clean finish.
Precisely because French fries have a mild flavor, the complex flavors of sparkling wine are brought to life, making them even more delicious.
Unlike other drinks that simply wash away the oil to refresh your palate, this is a pairing where "sparkling wine and French fries enhance each other's qualities," which is why I recommend it.
Casual Sparkling Wines Are Recommended
Incidentally, while we say sparkling wine, there are many varieties. They range from casual options to high-end bottles costing hundreds of thousands of yen.
Ideally, following the basic principle of wine pairing—"matching the class of what you're eating"—it would be better to choose a casual sparkling wine.
While French fries are mild and bring out the qualities of sparkling wine, this doesn't mean they don't diminish its appeal at all.
High-end sparkling wines are characterized by their delicate complexity, and there's a possibility you won't be able to fully enjoy their flavor.
Therefore, for pairing with French fries, casual options like Cava, Prosecco, carbonated wines, or affordable Japanese sparkling wines would be good choices.
Please try various sparkling wines while searching for the best combination.
Enjoy French Fries with Wine Too!
French fries and sparkling wine.
Some of you may not have made this connection before.
However, by understanding the characteristics of French fries, I believe you can see that they pair exceptionally well.
From today, try sparkling wine with French fries.
Please start by giving it a try at home first.