National Potato Chip Day, which happens to fall on March 14, is a good reminder that chips are the perfect snack for get-togethers: they are readily available, they are inexpensive, and of course, they are delicious.    

We used this national event as an opportunity to test which types of chips go best with Missouri wines. Use this guide to pair your refreshments properly at your next event!

Missouri Wine turned to three local chip companies: Backer's, from Fulton, Mo.; Billy Goat Chip Company, from St. Louis; Old Vienna, also from St. Louis. We selected various chip flavors and various wine varietals to see which paired the best. Here are the results:

Overall, Vignoles is the go-to wine to sip with chips. It went with all of the sampled chips, so it is a safe bet if you're in a pinch.

Regular Potato Chips and semi-sweet Vignoles:
A classic blending of salty and sweet. The salt from the chips softens the fruitiness of the Vignoles to create a mellow, smooth and buttery blend of flavors that is comfortable on the palate.

Billy Goat Potato Chips and Sparkling:

These natural, thick-cut chips have a light coating of seasoning. The spices and texture of the chips pair perfectly with sparkling wine. The bubbles and light seasoning dance together on your tongue and brings the wine alive. (And hey, Marilyn Monroe did it in "The Seven Year Itch"!)

Sour Cream and Onion and Pink Catawba:
The tanginess of the sour cream and onion is balanced by the sweetness of Catawba. The combo creates a pleasant, candy-like flavor in your mouth.

Barbecue and Norton or Concord

Barbecue chips cater to both the dry and the sweet wine-drinker. If you prefer a dry wine, sip Norton while snacking on these smoky and spicy chips. If you prefer sweeter wine, Concord is also a good fit.

Billy Goat "Kicker" chips and Concord:
These chips pack a punch. The sweet Concord helps cut through the bold spices and cools your palate.

Hot Chip and sweet, light wine like Catawba:

These chips are spicy! A sweeter wine such as Catawba will help put out the flames, but have some water on hand, just in case.

Final thoughts: 

When pairing chips and wine, consider more than just the chip flavor. While the seasoning and spices impacted which wines went best, the texture and cut of the chips also played a part. 

Visit Missouri Wine for more tips on food and wine pairing! 

How long have you been making wine?

"Since I started the winery in 2000 - OMG that's 12 years!  

Time flies ... "

How and where did you learn to make wine?

"In the doing and by attending all the courses and seminars given by the industry, talking with others, relying on hands on help of my co-worker, and by drinking wine. That last [one] is important."

What did you do before becoming a winemaker (if anything)?

"In my before-wine life I was an Information Systems manager. That means I did things with computer software and worked in a corporate tower. Initially, I got into grape growing and then grape juice before taking the plunge and starting the winery."

Describe yourself in three words.

"Complex, well-balanced and Missouri grown."

What is your favorite wine to make?

"A red ... I like the punching down and the aromas and tasting the wine as it develops and gets drier. I like when the cap starts to break up and you know the wine is on its way. I like when the winery smells like a winery."

What is the toughest challenge about winemaking in Missouri? "Definitely the weather. Another challenge is getting people to know and appreciate our grapes."

Is winemaking an art or a science? Or both?

"There's a lot of science. But what I like is that your own senses can tell you so much. Blending is so much determined by what your palate tells you."  

What is your favorite food and wine pairing?  

"It's difficult to pick just one. In our Bistro we always­ cook with wine. I love our Seyval (Bistro Gold) in our white wine sauce. We start the sauce with pan drippings (chicken or salmon) and sauté some onions then add some cream and some Bistro Gold. It's luscious."

If you didn't make wine, what would you do?  

"Look for me in the south of France ... and/or working with a project to bring water to a community."