Yes, you can find a good bottle for your sweet-and-savory treat – just ask The Daley Question.Q: Any advice on pairing wine with chicken and waffles? —Chris Martin, Westchester, Ill. A: Rodney Alex famously poured sparkling wine when serving Orange Crush waffles and Harold's fried chicken for the "Dirty Bird Bubble Bath" brunch on Sundays at Chicago's Juicy Wine Co. The bubbles gave a certain oomph to fried chicken—anything fried, actually. And the wine's toastiness worked with the yeasty flavor of the waffles. Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page also go for bubbly in their book, "What to Drink with What You Eat." They particularly like Spanish cava or Italian prosecco with fried chicken served hot or cold. But the duo doesn't stop there. Try a dry Spanish sherry with fried chicken from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen,' they suggest, or an Alsatian gewurztraminer, pinot noir or dry Spanish sherry with KFC's. While a dry or brut sparkling wine is the norm for bubbly these days, you might want to consider the slightly sweeter extra dry or even the sweeter still demi-sec if the waffles are going to be festooned with lots of fruit or whipped cream.

I really like your question because pairing sparkling wine with "fun" foods offers me an opportunity to underscore just how much of blast you can have with bubbly. Too often, especially as Valentine's Day approaches, people get intimidated by the whole "Champagne thing": the price tag, the French words on the label, the rituals. Raise a glass of whatever you have and toast the one you love. Do you have a question about food or drink? Snail mail inquiries should be sent to: Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611. The Mysterious Death Of Lee MiglinFor Love Of MoneyPrincess Grace`s Fatal Crash: Her Daughter`s Account Year After Husband Slain, Miglin Moving ForwardKiller Who Fled Prison Is Caught After Deadly ChaseChicago native Susan Aikens stars on NatGeo's 'Life Below Zero' ConnectLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterLast week I was getting ready to put some chicken on the grill. I'd already made some coleslaw, and had the tomato-based spicy sauce ready to lather onto the birds.

I was feeling uninspired. There was only one thing I knew for sure--I didn't want Zinfandel. Not that I have anything against Zinfandel. I just wanted something different.So I got on Twitter and asked folks to suggest a grape that might go with this dish. top wine blogs ukMy Twitter sommeliers' suggestions included the following: Rosé, Viognier, Syrah, Malbec, and Sangiovese.You can imagine the rest. wine and food bostonI opened up a bottle of each and tried them out with the meal. top red wines spainDinner proved to be a challenge because the BBQ sauce on the chicken was spicy and slightly sweet. top 10 red wine indiaThe coleslaw, on the other hand, was earthy and tangy. best wine tour in new jersey

Here are my tasting notes for the wines I drank, and they include verdicts on the food pairing--and suggested alternatives. (suggested retail $12.99; available from $11-$16.50) From a partnership between Don Sebastiani & Sons and Clarksburg's Wilson family, huge honeysuckle aromas greeted me on first opening this wine, followed by hay, citrus, and honey flavors. best light red wine 2013The wine was creamy in the midpalate, with a bright, zingy finish. at $13, but it wasn't a great match with the chicken or coleslaw. It would, however, be sensational with lemon-garlic grilled chicken, or some grilled fish or shrimp. (suggested retail $9.99; available for $9-$10) This Sangiovese was bright ruby in color with sour cherry and earthy aromas that are a bit shy at first. The sour cherry and raspberry palate has chalky tannins and an earthy aftertaste. for those looking for a traditional Sangiovese, but it wasn't a great match with the chicken or the coleslaw since these foods tended to accentuate the earthiness and pull the wine out of balance.

Instead, think of pairing it with grilled mushrooms or some smoky sausages for a great outdoor dinner. (suggested retail $9.99, and available for that price)This wine was made from Cabernet Franc grapes and was a lovely salmon pink in color. Honeycomb and raspberry aromas made for an enticing start, and this was followed by a strawberry and raspberry palate. The wine was a hair off dry--so it would be very nice with spicier foods than the chicken I was serving tonight. The fresh berry flavors were a nice counterpoint to the salad's earthiness. (suggested retail, $18; contact the winery for more information) This Malbec from Washignton State's Columbia Valley was excellent. A deep, dark Malbec with blueberry and blackberry aromas, it had a satiny texture and rich, fruit-forward taste with great underlying mineral notes. Nicely peppery aftertaste, too. This , and brought out the sweetly spicy BBQ sauce to perfection. ($17.99, domaine547; available for $16-$21) I look forward to the new vintage of this wine every year, and actually managed to hold onto this bottle for a bit to see how it would develop.

Though purchased at the end of 2007, it's drinking just beautifully now and has lovely fresh aromas of plum blossom, plum, and berry. Layers of allspice, cinnamon, and a hint of cloves add to the fruit and there is a nicely peppery finish. Lovely example of the grape, for a quality Syrah, and the appellation, and another great vintage from Black Sheep Finds. This wine was as it had just the right blend of sweetness and spiciness to marry with the dishes.Thanks to all my friends on Twitter for serving as virtual sommeliers for the evening. It was so much fun I'm bound to do it again.BBQ Chicken: Spicy Zinfandel or an off-dry Riesling will complement all the flavors in the sauce. Grilled Chicken: A crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc is the way to go. Grilled Steaks: Cabernet is a classic match. A full-bodied red blend is a great choice too. Portabella Mushroom Burgers: Juicy Syrah will show off this veggie favorite. Grilled Salmon or Tuna: Pair these rich fish with a Pinot Noir.

BBQ Pork Ribs: Rich Syrah or fruity Zinfandel will stand up to the meaty goodness. Bacon Cheese Burgers: Zinfandel or a rich Merlot will make this favorite a standout. Grilled Lobsters: Buttery Chardonnay adds to the lusciousness.There are many fish in the sea, lakes and rivers. See perfect wine and fish pairings in this handy chart. Wine With Mexican Food: It's fun to start the meal with chips and salsa and Champagne or Sparkling Wine. Our go-to red for pairing with Mexican food is Pinot Noir or a lighter red blend. If you prefer a heavier red, or are enjoying a beef dish, try a Tempranillo. Verde sauces and chicken or fish dishes work well with Sauvignon Blanc or a bone-dry Rosé If the meal is very spicy, go with a sweeter wine like a Riesling, Gewürztraminer or Rosé. Peanuts, Pretzels & regular Potato Chips:A crisp, light white wine like an un-oaked Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio will match up well to the salt. BBQ Potato Chips:A red Zinfandel makes a lively combination!

Tortilla chips with salsa:Skip the beer or margarita and instead reach for a tart Reisling, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc! Red grapes:A delicious twist with Viognier. Popcorn:Enjoy a bowlful with a lightly oaked Chardonnay or Champagne. French Fries:Nearly anything goes! The subtle flavor of the potato does well with Merlot and Pinot Noir, and the salt and oil match nicely to light and crisp white wines like Pinot Grigio. Apples and Cheese:Easy to find a favorite if you remember this: hard, flavorful cheeses need a darker, heavier wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon and lighter cheeses need a nice light white like Pinot Grigio, Riesling. Apples like a Fuji or Delicious are well, just delicious! Hummus:A healthy snack deserving of a light red, like Pinot or Sangiovese. Twinkies:Sweet foods need sweet wines, try a German Reisling or Muscat. Ice cream:Try a late-harvest wine, or fruit infused dessert wine... pour right over the top! Cookies:Chocolate Chip cookies need a Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon, Oatmeal and Raisin cookies are yummy with either a Pinot Noir or Viognier.