(Note: I was not compensated in any way by Skinny Pop for the below review, all opinions expressed are my own.) 

I LOVE popcorn. I can’t really explain it but the simple crunch and the versatility in flavoring is incredibly satisfying. At the movies I almost always indulge and get a bag of popcorn lathered in butter despite knowing it isn’t the healthiest. But when I’m home? I often get a little more healthy and creative by making my own with my air popper. Pop, add a bit of olive oil/garlic powder/grated Parmesan cheese etc. and you are set. That takes time though, so in those moments where I need something quicker I do like having popcorn options: Like SkinnyPop Popcorn.
SkinnyPop is a line of six healthy flavored popcorns available readily across the United States and Canada. Their products are free from gluten, dairy, preservatives, artificial flavors, GMOs, three nuts, and peanuts but that doesn’t leave them lacking in flavor. Recently the company reached out to me to share a new infographic they’d come up with:

Wine and Popcorn: Pairings that Pop!

Sounds intriguing right?  I’ve seen bowls of popcorn out at bars before so the pairing certainly makes sense, especially if you love popcorn and wine. I went about gathering wine, friends, and popcorn and put together a tasting party. We settled on trying three of the popcorns ( Jalapeño, Salt and pepper, and White Cheddar) with two wines (Malbec and Pinot Grigio) while watching Barbarella.  Here’s our consensus:

Jalapeño and Pinot Grigio- When paired with the Pinot Grigio the wine’s sweetness come out. This made for a good subtle pairing that subdued the spice of the popcorn on its own, although the Jalapeño flavor gets a bit lost.  It is a good pairing if you want something dynamic yet not overwhelming.

Salt and Pepper and Malbec- This popcorn is the most ‘traditional’, and this was voted as the best pairing of the three we tried. The wine enhances the pepper flavor and your taste buds get kicked into gear to process the full mix of flavors. It is a spicy and bold pairing perfect for those looking for something a bit more peppy.

White Cheddar and Malbec- The White Cheddar popcorn tastes vaguely likesmart pop, but more subtle. Unfortunately its flavor is lost the most to the wine. When paired the wine does become a tad bit sweeter but untimately it’s a bit of a pallet cleanser between tasting the other two pairings.

Overall Opinions: These pairings were certainly something I would try again, especially the first two. They’re great if you are looking for a low calorie alternative to wine and cheese pairings without skimping on flavor. Be warned though that the limited density of the food in this pairing might make the wine go to your head a bit quicker! However if you are looking to fully taste the popcorn flavors distinctly then you should skip the wine and just go all out on the popcorn.

These popcorns are subtle in flavor and not too dusty, certainly a bonus in the prepacked popcorn world. Of the three popcorns alone we all agreed the Jalapeño was our top pick. It was spicy and natural in flavor ,not acidic like some other Jalapeño flavorings you taste on foods. Pregnant Gluten Friend (who did not partake of the wine) said ‘the best pairing of all is Jalapeño popcorn and pregnant women’.

With the fall TV and football season getting started there is certainly ample opportunity for everyone interested to try their own pairings from this infographic, just be sure to share what you think if you do! You can use their store locator to find where you can by the variety of flavors!