Pre-Game the Big Game

Attending a football watching party on Sunday is pretty simple. You show up. Maybe you bring a bottle or a six-pack or some food, but it's easy. Hosting a party? A bit more complicated, maybe by a factor of a gazillion or so. Today's post is all about helping you simplify things. And since there aren't any local teams involved, guests might pay more attention to the party.

Maybe it's counter-intuitive, but we'll start with food. Ok, food and beverage. Along with chicken wings, the top food that will available on Sunday is pizza. We recently asked our store staff for their recommendations on beer and wine to pair with pizza. Click here for that post.

Beer and wine are popular choices for the Big Game, but punch bowls have found a place on many party tables. We just happen to have some great, yest simple punch recipes. Click here, here, here, and here for an assortment of recipes.

If you're thinking about spirits for Sunday, consult our Build a Bar workshops for ideas. So far, we've discussed Scotch, Irish Whiskey and Gin. There are also some additional cocktail recipes at the Gin link.

We heard a radio report this morning that there are something like 16 different wine choices at the stadium where the Big Game is being played this Sunday. While most people associate beer, not wine, with football, the Northern California location of the game does get you thinking about wine.

The stadium website doesn't make finding those wines easy. Our Woodbridge store does have a football-themed wine in stock, the J. Arthur One On Zip Toss Merlot. It's soft and enticing, with mocha and dark fruit. It's available for sampling on Saturday, from 1-3pm, during our regular wine tasting.

Cabernet Sauvignon, of course, remains the best selling red wine. For the Big Game, or for any time you need a red wine, Lawrenceville's Senior Wine Manager Brandon Bartfalvi recommends the 2013 Robert Storey Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, and not just because it's a wine from Northern California.

One of the top offerings of the year, do not miss this great Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Burgess Triere Vineyard and their signature hillside estate on Howell Mountain. Napa Valleys Burgess is one of our most requested Cabernets and this wine from their Estate Vineyards and a great vintage is one of the most incredible offerings yet from wine industry icon Robert Storey. And

Brandon says that it's great with wings.

For another football-themed product, how about this Effen Vodka? Everything about ultra-premium EFFEN® Vodka was painstakingly designed. The continuous distillation process that ensures extraordinarily smooth taste. The range of daring flavors, including Black Cherry, Dutch Raspberry, and Cucumber. And definitely the bartender-designed touch that adorns each bottle: a polymer sleeve. That's what makes EFFEN® Vodka perfect for those who love good design. We're the product of one.

Arriving just in time for the Big Game, the sleek bottle is cased in a textured football sleeve which comes stamped with 50 Cent's’s signature and logo.

Craft beer is always a top choice for football watching. Over the last week or so, we've discussed almost a dozen of the latest arrivals. These have included local favorites like River Horse Chocolate Porter and Northern California (see what we did there?) seasonals like Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut Down.

We just received our shipment of what might be the most popular seasonal craft beer, Troegs Nugget Nectar. Maybe take a six-pack to the party, and keep one six-pack for yourself.

If you're a last-minute shopper at our Lawrenceville store, you can meet the Bud Light Girls on Sunday, from 1-3pm. Last-minute shoppers in Woodbridge can enjoy a sampling of Henry's Hard Soda, from 3-5pm. If you are shopping this weekend, please allow a few extra minutes, as we do expect the stores to be busy.