The World Cup Wine Rack: What to Pour for Every Match
Seven wine nations, five on the pitch, two watching from home
By Cris Lu | Our Wine Community by Corney & Barrow
The World Cup is here. And whether you are setting the alarm for a 3am kick-off or hosting a weekend watch party, you need something in your glass that matches the occasion.
We checked our cellar. It turns out we carry wines from seven of the nations involved in this tournament. Five are competing, one just got knocked out. The other one, rather famously, is not. Here's what to pour.
France — The Favourites
Defending finalists, always dangerous, never boring. Your French wine options run deep, so let's keep it simple. For the group stage, open something you can drink freely without checking the score on your bank account.
Petit Chablis Christophe et Fils 2022 — $42 per bottle
Crisp, mineral, unapologetically refreshing. France have sailed through the group stage, and with the knockout rounds ahead, you'll want something sharp enough to keep you focused through every minute of extra time.
For the knockout rounds, when the stakes go up, so does the bottle:
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale Tardieu-Laurent 2021 — $95 per bottle
A serious southern Rhône red for a serious occasion. If Les Bleus make the semis, you'll want something in your hand that feels appropriately dramatic.
England — The Underdog Sparkle
England in a World Cup means hope, heartbreak, and penalties. Toast the journey with the one English wine in our cellar.
Ambriel Classic Cuvée Brut NV — $65
Traditional method English sparkling from Sussex. Serve it cold when the match starts. If England win, you were celebrating. If they lose, you were drowning your sorrows in style. Either way, the wine holds up.
USA — Home Turf Advantage
The hosts. All eyes on them. The pressure is enormous, the stadiums are full, and the Californian wines in our cellar are the kind that perform on the big stage.
Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir Cambria 2020 — $56 per bottle
Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir. Elegant, cool-climate, with the kind of quiet confidence you want from a home team. A natural pairing with sliders, wings, or whatever your watch party spread looks like.
Cabernet Sauvignon Stonestreet Estate 2018 — $112 per bottle
Sonoma mountain Cabernet from the Jackson family estate. The US are through to the knockout rounds on home soil, and this is the bottle to mark the occasion. Bold, structured, built for the moment.
Germany — Efficient and Precise (Until the Penalties)
Four-time champions, knocked out by Paraguay on penalties in the Round of 32. Their first ever World Cup shootout loss. Sometimes efficiency isn't enough.
Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Dr H Thanisch 2018 — $38 per bottle
Mosel Riesling from one of Germany's historic estates, managed by the Thanisch women for four generations. Kabinett-level sweetness balanced by razor-sharp acidity. It's 7.5% alcohol — which, given how that shootout went, might be a mercy. At least the wine never misses.
Australia — The Dark Horse
The Socceroos always surprise someone. Our McLaren Vale lineup from Aphelion brings the same energy: unexpected, full of character, and punching above their weight.
Aphelion Confluence Grenache 2022— $52 per bottle
Pure McLaren Vale Grenache from Rob Mack, who co-founded Aphelion with his wife Lou in 2014 with a single tonne of Grenache and a philosophy of bottling sunshine. Bright, generous, and endlessly drinkable. The perfect match-day red.
Aphelion Pir Chenin Blanc 2022 — $50 per bottle
If red wine isn't your match-day pick, this Chenin Blanc has texture, orchard fruit, and the kind of easy-drinking appeal that works from the opening whistle to the final kick. Serve it cold.
New Zealand — The All Whites
New Zealand at a FIFA World Cup is a rare thing. Their third ever appearance, and worth marking with something from the Awatere Valley.
Sauvignon Blanc Eradus 2022 — $40 per bottle
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with real luminosity and mineral drive. At $40, it's probably the best-value bottle in this entire lineup. Open it for the group stage and cheer for the underdog.
Pinot Noir Eradus 2022 — $45 per bottle
For the evening matches. A cool-climate Pinot from the Awatere river valley with elegance and fresh acidity that belies the price.
Italy — The Elephant Not in the Room
Three consecutive World Cups missed. Knocked out by Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the playoffs. The footballing heartbreak of a generation.
But here's the thing: Italy's absence from the pitch doesn't mean they are absent from the glass. We carry 13 Italian wines on our shelves, and some of them are the most interesting bottles in our entire collection. Consider this the consolation round, or better yet, proof that Italian wines make a great match-day companion no matter who else is playing.
Barolo La Tartufaia Giulia Negri 2020 — $88 per bottle
From Piedmont's self-proclaimed "Barologirl." If Italy can't compete in football, they can still win at Nebbiolo. This wine is a reminder that some things are beyond dispute.
Contrada C IGP Tenuta di Passopisciaro 2021 — $115 per bottle
Nerello Mascalese from the slopes of Mount Etna. Volcanic, intense, and just a little bit angry. Appropriate, given the circumstances.
Prosecco Cecilia Beretta NV — $29 per bottle
For the Italian friends in your life who need cheering up. Prosecco fixes most things. Three World Cups in a row is a big ask, but $29 makes the medicine go down easier.
All wines are available now at owcsg.com. Complimentary delivery with a minimum purchase of $350.
📧 owcsg@corneyandbarrow.com| 📞 +65 6221 8530
Cris Lu is Sales Manager, Private Clients at Corney & Barrow Singapore. For personalised recommendations or to discuss any wines mentioned in this article, reach her at cris.lu@corneyandbarrow.com.