The 17 Best High-Low Wine Pairings, According to Sommeliers

Curating specific food and wine pairings might feel like something to be reserved for high-end dinner parties and Michelin-starred tasting menus, but the concept doesn’t have to be exclusive to fine dining. There are countless ways to pair wine with food — from simple picnics of baguettes and butter to late night fast food runs, there’s almost always a bottle to match the occasion.

High-low pairings are a popular concept in the wine world, matching one casual, inexpensive item with a splurge-worthy counterpart. The incongruous combinations often help highlight one element as the star of the show — a simple can of sardines, for example, can help reveal the complexities of a stellar Champagne. Or the uneven matchup can combine into a delightfully surprising duo, bringing out a new set of textures and flavors neither could achieve on its own.

So we asked some of New York City’s best sommeliers to share their go-to high-low pairings. Unsurprisingly, most chose wine to be the elevated side of the equation, opting for baller bottles of Champagne, Burgundy, or old Bordeaux. Some lean on easy-to-find snacks like french fries and Ritz crackers, while others share combos so out of left field that you will wonder how they even tried it in the first place.

Here are 17 of the best high-low pairings, according to sommeliers.

Andrea Morris, Bar Chimera

High: Old Bordeaux
Low: Bread and Butter

Julia Schwartz, Stars

High: White Burgundy
Low: Boursin Cheese and Ritz Crackers

Eitan Spivak, Kabawa

High: Champagne
Low: Halal Cart, Lamb Over Rice

Libby Winters, The Grill

High: Champagne
Low: French Fries at Cervo’s

Ellis Srubas-Giammanco, Penny

High: Amontillado Sherry
Low: BLT

Eun Hee Kwon, Per Se

High: Champagne
Low: Dino Nuggets (+ Caviar)

Cedric Nicaise, The Noortwyck and Oriana

High: Caviar
Low: Txakolina

Victoria James, Cote and Coqodaq

High: Madeira
Low: Pancakes

Nikita Malhotra, Smithereens

High: Keller G-Max Riesling
Low: Haribo Gummies

Mike Fadem, Ops

High: Lambrusco
Low: “Big, Sloppy Burrito” from Super Burrito

Cheron Cowan, Craft

High: Sauternes
Low: Jalapeño Poppers

Jin Ahn, Noreetuh

High: Julian Haart Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling (White Label)
Low: Spam Musubi

Annie Shi, Lei

High: Jura Savagnin
Low: Rotisserie Chicken

Olivia Moran, Same Same

High: Taittinger Champagne
Low: Can of Sardines

Patrick Cournot, Ruffian

High: Champagne
Low: French Fries from 7th Street Burger

Maggie Dahill, Theodora

High: Sweet Sherry
Low: French Fries

Reed Adelson, Virginia’s

High: California Cabernet
Low: Burger

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