Laissez les bons temps rouler! As beads fly through the air and jazz trumpets wail through the streets, it’s easy to get lost in the revelry of Mardi Gras. But how did this dazzling, over-the-top celebration begin? More importantly, how can we pair the best wines and cocktails with the rich, decadent cuisine that defines this feast of indulgence?

The Origins of Mardi Gras: More Than Just Beads and Beignets

Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” has roots that stretch deep into medieval Europe, evolving from ancient Roman festivals celebrating the arrival of spring. As Christianity spread, these raucous festivals became intertwined with the pre-Lenten feasting season. French settlers brought the tradition to Louisiana in the 17th century, and by the 19th century, Mardi Gras had evolved into the colorful, masked celebration we know today.

The official colors—purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power—were chosen in 1872 by the Rex Organization, one of New Orleans’ most famous Mardi Gras krewes. Today, Mardi Gras isn’t just a party—it’s a cultural phenomenon, a last hurrah before the austerity of Lent, and a culinary extravaganza deserving of spectacular wine pairings.

Wine Pairings for Classic Mardi Gras Fare

Mardi Gras cuisine is as bold as the festival itself, featuring an array of Cajun and Creole delights. Here’s how to pair wines with some of the most iconic dishes:

Gumbo & White Rhône Blend

A steaming bowl of gumbo, thick with seafood, sausage, and the holy trinity (onion, bell pepper, celery), needs a wine with enough weight to stand up to its smoky, spicy complexity. A white Rhône blend—like a Marsanne-Roussanne-Viognier mix—offers richness, spice, and just enough acidity to balance the roux’s depth.

Jambalaya & Cru Beaujolais

The spice-laden, tomato-based jambalaya, packed with shrimp, chicken, and andouille sausage, demands a wine that won’t clash with its boldness. A fruity yet structured Cru Beaujolais, such as Morgon or Fleurie, brings juicy red fruit notes with just the right touch of earthiness to complement the dish’s smoky kick.

Crawfish Étouffée & Chenin Blanc

This buttery, smothered crawfish dish pairs beautifully with a dry or off-dry Chenin Blanc from Vouvray or South Africa. The wine’s bright acidity cuts through the richness, while its notes of pear and honeysuckle enhance the natural sweetness of the crawfish.

King Cake & Sauternes

No Mardi Gras is complete without King Cake, that sugary, cinnamon-laced pastry crowned with glittering icing in purple, green, and gold. A luxurious glass of Sauternes (or even a late-harvest Gewürztraminer) complements the cake’s sweetness with its own honeyed richness and vibrant acidity.

The Voodoo Queen: A Mardi Gras Cocktail to Remember

To truly embrace the spirit of the season, let’s craft a cocktail as colorful and mystical as Mardi Gras itself: The Voodoo Queen. This spellbinding sipper blends Caribbean spice, Creole flair, and just the right amount of voodoo magic.

The Voodoo Queen
Ingredients:

• 2 oz dark rum
• ¾ oz passion fruit liqueur
• ½ oz lime juice
• ½ oz falernum
• ¼ oz absinthe rinse
• ½ oz orgeat syrup
• 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
• Crushed ice
• Lime wheel & edible purple orchid for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rinse a tiki glass or coupe with absinthe and discard the excess.
2. In a shaker, combine rum, passion fruit liqueur, lime juice, falernum, orgeat, and bitters.
3. Shake vigorously with ice, then strain into the prepared glass over crushed ice.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel and an edible purple orchid.
5. Raise your glass and prepare to toast!

Laugh Loud, Feast Well, and Dance On

Here’s to beads that don’t break, hurricanes that don’t knock us down, and a feast so grand it makes even Bacchus blush! May our glasses stay full, our laughter stay loud, and may we all find the baby in the King Cake—just not in our drink! Santé, y’all!

Gregory Dean, SOMM&SOMM

So go forth, celebrate, and pair boldly. Mardi Gras is a time of indulgence, joy, and culinary adventure. Whether you’re sipping a Beaujolais with your jambalaya or letting the Voodoo Queen cast her cocktail magic, let the good times roll!

Cover photo credit: Tulane Public Relations, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons