11/18/09 May go down as a national holiday- The First Ever Popeyes Online Wine Pairing Challenge went out in a blaze of dirty birds.
Five food and wine experts submitted their ultimate wine pairings, and people on both coasts got together to taste through the pairings-- live, online, and ultimately voting for the best pairings.
A sick panel of contestants entered-
Besha Rodell: Food Editor for Atlanta's Creative Loafing, and 2009 AFJ Winner
Lyle Fass: Online Riesling Legend and NYC based Wine Consultant
Alan Kropf: Editor in Chief of Mutineer Magazine and Sommelier
Jon Bonne: Wine Editor from the SF Chronicle
Kevin Kelley: Wine Maker extrodinaire!
Four parties launched simultaneously- 1 in Healdsburg, CA and 3 in Atlanta and tasting went off fast and furious. Along the way, people tweeted up a storm using the hashtag #drtybrd (more than 350 tweets registered). The Healdsburg party (chez moi) had approximately 45 attendees.
When it came down to eating, the wines were numbered, lined up, and snacking began.
1. Francois Pinon Vouvray Brut Non-Dosé
(Congrats to Jon Bonné of SF Chronicle!!!)
2. Renardat-Fache Bugey du Cerdon and Willi Schaefer Estate QBA 2008 (TIE)
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1. Willi Schaefer Estate QBA 2008
2. Renardat-Fache Bugey du Cerdon
3. Francois Pinon Vouvray Brut Non-Dosé
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Beyond winners, losers, etc... What was most amazing about this event, was that it brought people together with great wine, fun food, and encouraged people to get crunk with chicken.
Kevin Kelley and Salinia Wine made some great antagonistic videos 1, 2
20dollarwine went crazy and made 3 insane gelato flavors
Alan Kropf took us on his 1st tour of Popeyes
Bricks Of Wine took some amazing photos
Rachel Reenstra and Ziggy The Wine Gal wrote and performed a hysterical song.
For one night, this was the spirit of wine online.
Huge thanks to all of the participants, contestants, hosts for the remote parties, etc...
There will be a round II.
(video by Rowdy Food from the WineTonite.com party in ATL)
ALSO- HUGE thanks to Popeyes in Rohnert Park, CA. for cooking up all our chicken!!!
