Wine's for Super Bowl Sunday

Let's face it – there's nothing "soft" about the Super Bowl. It's a down-and-dirty, sweatpants-and-jerseys, adrenaline-driven, plop-yourself-in-front-of-a-big-screen-TV-with-a-mountain-of-food kind of day. The rules are simple: Watch, yell, eat, drink, fall asleep sitting up. While beer will most likely dominate, there's always room for wine. But what kind of wine fits the bill? Here's my advice: First, keep it inexpensive. There probably won't be any conversations around first-growth Bordeaux or cult California cabs on Sunday. Second, there's a solid chance that fare for the day will include Buffalo wings, pizza, an Italian sub, burgers and chips. A mid- to full-bodied red wine that isn't overly tannic should do perfectly. And third, forget wines people can't pronounce. Keep it cool, fun and approachable. Serve up something that's as unpretentious as your brother-in-law, who'll be sitting with his feet on the coffee table.

— Joe Iurato

2010 Raw Power, Shiraz, Adelaide Plains, Australia

The skull with a mohawk and giant safety pin on the label says it all. The wine is created by the former Australian punk rock singer Rawley Power. His shiraz screams fresh blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries with hints of anise, cocoa, and menthol. It's a dark, pleasant, full-bodied wine that stays juicy through to the very end.

How much: $11.99

Where to buy: widely available

2010 The Show, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

The Show's label was designed by Nashville's legendary Hatch Show Print, famous for their iconic letterpress show posters for artists such as Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Louis Armstrong and Patsy Cline. This malbec is brimming with dark berries, fig, plum, black pepper, tobacco and oak. The finish is consistent with the palate, with smooth tannins and the pepper lingering.

How much: $11.99

Where to buy: widely available

2010 Big House, "Cardinal Zin," Beastly Old Vines Zinfandel, California

Like all of Big House's wines, the Cardinal Zin is lighthearted, fun and priced right for the quality. Blackberries and chocolate, with hints of bell pepper, black pepper, tobacco and oak. This isn't one of those big, jammy zins full of cooked fruits. In fact, there's even a touch of bing cherry on the palate. It's good on its own or, as directed by the label, "served with a gluttonous feast."

How much: $7.99

Where to buy: widely available

2009 The Crusher,"Wilson Vineyard," Pinot Noir, Clarksburg, California

The oak in this wine is far more pronounced than what you may expect from a pinot. For better or worse, it's for you to decide. If I close my eyes and take a good whiff, though, all I can think about is grilling. That's why I made this selection. The light garnet color is misleading, as chocolate covered berries, leather, smoke and loads of toasted oak unfold on the nose. It's a bit of a burly pinot noir with a softened, fruit filled edge on the finish.

How much: $12.99

Where to buy: widely available

Joe Iurato is a certified sommelier, wine consultant and lecturer, and a working fine artist. For questions and comments, e-mail him at features@northjersey.com.

Joe Iurato & Sueworks