Introducing 'Kicks and Corks' – EP 01: Air Max Day
I know, it’s a tad out of the ordinary for me to post a full blog post on a Saturday, but today is a special day because…
IT’S AIR MAX DAY!
if you’ve been following me for the last few years, you may have noticed that I’ve grown to love this particular sneaker, and will share images of my favorite styles from time to time on the timeline.
But in addition to loving Air Max (I love AM1s and AM90s equally), I do love other styles of sneakers–the thoughtful designs, the colorways, how uniquely they go with the flyest of fits–and I wanted to create a fun way to share my passion for the craftsmanship of wine.
Let me be clear: I am NOT a sneakerhead – I just really appreciate how sneakers are made, and the way in which they influence culture. And why shouldn’t they be paired with wine?
Kicks and Corks (shout-out to my friend Courtney for suggesting the name!) will be a monthly installment where I will chat with sneaker aficionados, as well as wine professionals who love sneakers and pair our favorite kicks with incredible wines. This first installment spotlights two of my favorite pairs of Air Max, and two wines that I thought would not only compliment the colorway of each sneaker, but also the story behind the original release.
Check out the first episode below, and keep scrolling for more information on the pairings below!
Pairing 1: Air Max 1 OG Anniversary ‘Aqua’ and Field Recordings Tin City White
These are the first pair of Air Max I bought back in 2018. I first saw them on the SNRKS app, but after running into some issues with the delivery, I decided to go to KITH and purchase them in person. I felt like THEE coolest kid walking into KITH and trying these on and walking out with the iconic black bag. Was I finally a sneakerhead? Absolutely not, but I knew this wouldn’t be the last pair of Air Max I would purchase. When thinking about the wine to pair with these sneakers, I knew I wanted it to be something classic, but unique in style and flavor profile. It’s aromatic with notes of tropical fruit, lemongrass, and baked apple.
Field Recordings is a winery based in Paso Robles, and their Tin City White is a lovely blend of Viognier and Chenin Blanc. Since the OG Anniversary Aqua is a throwback, I wanted to show love to white wine grapes that are OG in their own right, but aren’t the typical ones you often hear about.
Pairing 2: Nike Air Max 90 NRG “Bacon” 2021 and Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico Riserva
This was probably the most fun and easy pairing for me to do. The “Bacon” Air Max, which were originally released in 2004 in collaboration with Dave’s Quality Meats, has a unique colorway that is supposed to represent the different colors of (you guessed it) a piece of bacon. I instantly thought of my visit to Chianti Classico last fall, and the epic butcher shop we went to for dinner on our final night. Dario Cecchini is a well-known Italian butcher who believes in amplifying every part of the cow and serving it in a very rustic way to guests. And no better wine to pair with beef than…Chianti Classico! While in Tuscany last fall, I spent a week tasting various types of Chianti Classico – which is made from the Sangiovese grape.
Situated between Florence and Siena, Chianti Classico has 11 sub-regions that all have different soil types, elevations, and climates. Chianti Classico can express itself uniquely depending on where within the region it comes from, but the flavor profile has notes of red fruit like cherry and plum, with notes of sweet tobacco and herbs.
