Pairing KFC with Wine

My sister is a KFC fanatic.  She loves it so much that for her past birthday I begged my local KFC employees for some used KFC boxes, coupons, and treats with which to package her present.  When the local KFC went out of business she was depressed; luckily there is another one relatively close, or else I fear there would have a been a mutiny.  It is my sister’s love for KFC, and her recent interest in wine, that lead me to wonder – what would be the perfect wine to accompany a hearty KFC 2 piece meal complete with mashed potatoes w/gravy, mac-and-cheese, and a biscuit?

First, I pondered the reds.  I just do not think a red wine, like a Merlot, would be able to stand up to the high lipid content and thirst quenching needed for this type of meal.  I think a red would be better suited to a Baconator from Wendy’s, or possibly a double-double from In-n-Out Burger.  Likewise, on the other end of the spectrum, a white wine would seem to be too light to handle this caliber of calorie consumption and deep-fried goodness.  When I think of a good fast food for a white wine the first (and pretty much only) thing that comes to mind is a Fish Filet from McDonald’s; perhaps maybe the wine could make the foul taste of this sandwich?

Then it came to me, champagne would be the perfect partner for a KFC value meal!  I think the complex flavor and extreme bubbly nature of a champagne would be a suitable accompaniment to cut through the fatty character of a KFC meal.  I think a glass of bubbly would also adequately satisfy the thirst needs that inevitably come along with this caliber of fried chicken and sodium-enhanced deliciousness.  I am not suggesting you need to get all Puff Daddy and drop a couple thousand beans on a good bottle of the stuff.  There are plenty of champagne brands out there that offer a great flavor at an even better price, so there is no need to break the budget.  One of my favorites is Cook’s Grand Reserve California Champagne, and at approximately $7 a bottle, you really can not go wrong.

As the summer season draws to a close, surprise the one you love with a spread including a bucket of the Colonel’s secret recipe chicken accompanied by a chilled bottle of Cook’s Grand Reserve.