With the weather forecasted to be sunny, blue skies for the next four weeks, it doesn't look like we'll be turning our oven on any time soon. Instead, we'll be refreshing ourselves with crunchy raw salads, fridge-cold sheet masks, DIY air conditioners (yes it's a thing apparently and way easier than it sounds) and everyone's favourite 'picky tea' for supper.
But in a new and fun way to enjoy a drink with snacks, we've coined up the term 'sip-nic' - a blend of sipping delicious wines (or any drinks for that matter) with picnic-y type foods, namely crisps, because crisps are the best.
I don't know about you, but the world of wine always seems a little daunting. So many annoying rules to follow. But we think rules are meant to be broken - like chilling our red wines, or putting ice (and jalapenos) in a glass of rosé! Do whatever you please and enjoy it to the fullest.
With that being said, we've asked Callum and Mel from our food and drink team, to give us their favourite wine and crisp combo. We aren't talking about those fancy Torres crisps that cost more than a bottle of wine itself, but your nostalgic Frazzles and Skips type of crisps. Here are 6 elite pairings you need to try for next time:
Frazzles + Pinot Noir
We know Frazzles are punchy with their crispy bacon flavour but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them with a glass of wine and a Pinot Noir is a great all-rounder option to try. I’m going to tell you right now, to stop serving your Pinot Noir at room temperature! You haven’t lived until you’ve chilled your bottle of red and enjoyed it with some Frazzles in the sunshine. Thank us later.
Quavers + Sauvignon Blanc
You pair your cheese with wine, so why wouldn't you pair your cheese-flavoured Quavers with wine, too? Quavers need no introduction - their cheesy and airy, light texture wins us over every time, so it deserves something refreshing and acidic to cut through the cheesiness. That's why we love them with a Sauvignon Blanc. This one is fruity with hints of nectarine and grapefruit and the acidity cuts through perfectly. Gorgeous!
Walkers Salt & Vinegar + Assyrtiko
A classic punchy crisp like Walkers salt and vinegar deserves an equally punchy wine to keep you salivating for more. Assyrtiko, a Greek white wine native to Santorini, is one of our favourite sips in the summer. It is super crisp with loads of acidity, with flavours of lemon curd and sweet, honeyed fruits - perfect for complementing that vinegar tang.
Skips + English Fizz
Pairing a British Classic with Sussex’s Finest for the ultimate high brow/low brow treat. The sharp citrus acidity offsets against the sour tang of the prawn cocktail and the bubbles are a natural pair with the fizzy texture of these crispy treats.
Mini Cheddars + Chardonnay
Creamy, slightly nutty Chardonnay paired with the most moreish of crisps – elevate your snack game with the mellow baked cheddar saltiness and the buttery richness of an American Chard. If you’re feeling brave you can even try a dunk, we won’t judge.
Wotsits + Riesling
Who can resist the boldly cheesy tang of a luminous Wotsit – try it with an off-dry Riesling where the touch of fruity sweetness acts like a smear of chutney with your favourite cheese topped cracker.
Well there you have it. We'd suggest grabbing a couple of options and doing a little taste test with your friends to see which combo they like best. It's lots of fun and extremely delicious. Enjoy sip-nic-ing away!
Mel is the Senior Food & Drink Writer for Good Housekeeping UK, covering all the delicious new product launches that come her way, writing about food and drink topics, and curating gift guides for the best foodie products to buy. Alongside that, she can be found developing and creating cocktails for GH and holds her WSET Level 2 in Wine and Spirits. She was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute food testing team for over four years before moving over to the digital side, so knows a thing or two about great food products. You'll find her scouring the supermarket shelves in her spare time for new and exciting ingredients to experiment with in her kitchen.
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
