How to match drinks with video games

There is no doubt that wine has an image problem amongst gamers. But instead of reaching for a can of energy drink at midnight, a large glass of red Bordeaux for an epic session of Skyrim is a wonderful match. James Evison offers some game and wine matches.

Grand Theft Auto with Scotch whisky

To be specific, Macbeth whisky, a fake brand created for the game. It’s a 12 year old which is 43% ABV, and even has royal approval, according to GTA Wiki. In the online version of the game, it can be bought and consumed in nightclubs and casinos for US$350.

Its logo design (and the price) suggests the game designers might have based it on The Macallan, although it could be any one of a number of premium Scotch whiskies.

Whatever your dram, this is an excellent choice to match with GTA V or the upcoming GTA VI.

Gevrey-Chambertin with Napoleon: Total War

According to historian Professor Michael Broers, the former Professor of Western European History at Oxford, told db’s Louis Thomas: “He liked good red Burgundy.

“His favourite wine was Gevrey-Chambertin. He loved it, he made no bones about it. But he did not knock it back.”

Therefore this is the perfect drop to have alongside the game, which is set in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.

As players assume the role of Napoleon Bonaparte during his campaigns, sipping on a glass of Gevrey-Chambertin as the battles play out in real time will make you feel like a true emperor.

Cabernet Sauvignon with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Arguably one of the greatest RPGs (role-playing game) of all time, the enormous open world and story-arc requires a long-drinking bottle for the epic 2am sessions that often occur when knee-deep in Bethesda Game Studios’ masterpiece.

Drunk slowly across many hours, this can be a truly wonderful late evening experience, where the richness and depth of the game matches perfectly with the heavy, spicy, dark fruits and alcohol of a big Cab Sav.

Choose from some of the best bottles available on our Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, with outstanding wines from California to Turkey and South Australia.

Champagne with Microsoft Flight Simulator

I’m currently undertaking a few virtual flights into Rome from London Gatwick in preparation for an upcoming trip to Italy.

It’s really fun to mix local drinks with Flight Sim, and celebrate, for example, with a white rum cocktail when you land in Jamaica or a glass of Barolo when you land in Italy.

But one of the most fun approaches is to land in a small plane at one of the many airports littered throughout the world’s wine regions.

A personal favourite is the Aerodrome of Reims – Prunay (which needs to be downloaded as an add-on sim). Land a Cessna light aircraft and pop open a bottle of fizz.

Choose a great vintage bottle from our Champagne Masters competition, selected by Patrick Schmitt MW.

The Prisoner Wine Company with Final Fantasy XIV

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the game, The Prisoner Wine Company presented a special bottle and display case to go with Square Enix’s classic game.

The bottle (which can also be purchased separately from the producer) is the winery’s 2021-vintage The Prisoner Red Blend, which is a blend of California-grown Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah, Syrah, Merlot and Malbec grapes.

The partnership offers a bottle with a full-bodied, and intriguingly complex dry red with notes of raspberry, boysenberry, pomegranate, and vanilla, and scents of cherry, chocolate, clove, and roasted fig. Essentially a wine that goes with the complexity and length of the game itself.

Budweiser with FIFA/EA FC 2024

Probably the world’s greatest multi-player sports game, a game of FIFA, or as it is now called FC 2024, demands an easy drinking and fruity option.

Lager is the obvious option as the beer style is most often associated with the drinking culture of football fans.

But alternatively a fruity Pinot Grigio or rosé are also excellent options to go with the light, communal drinking of a multiplayer game like FIFA.

Craft beer with Minecraft

One of the wonders of Minecraft is its frankly incredible collection of ‘mods’, essentially modifications to the basic game which enable players to do all manner of activities and build any structure.

A great addition is the ability to create a fully functioning brewery, and make your own homebrew, from wort through to fermenting vessel.

It would be wrong to not crack open your own homebrew or a local microbrewery while putting together your own digital beer.

Alternatively, choose a great bottle or can from our Global Beer and Cider Masters.