There seems to be a special day for everything, and the humble potato chip is no different. And no, it’s not Super Bowl Sunday, which is sort of the international day for every snack food.

No, March 14 is the official day for the longstanding potato chip. How longstanding, you ask? Some say it was invented by English doctor/cook William Kitchiner in 1817, while others suggest it was the concoction of George Crum, a Native American/African American chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Its earliest printed reference appears to be Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” (1859), in which he penned, “husky chips of potatoes, fried with some reluctant drops of oil.”

So Potato Chip Day is indeed a serious historic celebration that can be traced all the way back to the year of our Lord 2010, when it was invented by an establishment without any self-interest to salty snacks whatsoever—Frito Lay.

Fun fact: While it seems frustrating to open a bag of potato chips only to find mostly air, that air serves the purpose of cushioning your crisps throughout the transportation and shelving stages. And that ‘air’ is actually almost entirely made up of nitrogen, which has been pumped in there to preserve your chips until around the 25th century.

While soft drinks and beer have been the traditional beverage of choice to pair alongside these addictive fried or baked potato shavings, there are more sophisticated complementary pairings too. The high acidity and bubbly nature of Champagne or other sparkling wines, for example, handle the salt quite nicely, while not adversely affecting the flavours of either.

Chardonnay also works very well. Consider the 2020 vintage of La Crema Monterey Chardonnay ($26.95 at the LCBO). Five months of oak have blessed it with a smooth mouthfeel, but there’s still enough acidity, minerality and quality fruit (cool California ocean breezes prevent it from over-ripening) to keep this wine so finely balanced that even your traditional ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) wine friends will be happy pouring a glass. Dry, at just 2g/L of residual sugar, with aromas of lemon, pineapple, pear and green apple, this vintage rates an impressive 90 on my chart.

Its creator, Jackson Family Wines, suggests pairing it with Miss Vickie’s Sour Cream & Caramelized Onion, “as the sweeter aromas and flavours in the wine perfectly complement the subtle hint of onion in the chips.”

The winery also recommends a marriage between its La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir  and Terra Sweet Potato chips, “as the sweetness in the chips pairs perfectly with the dry, smoky tones in the Pinot Noir.” Or you could try the Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay with Cool Ranch Doritos. “The touch of dried buttermilk, garlic and onion make for a wonderful match with the light sweetness and medium body of this Chardonnay.”

Now I’ve got to go circle April 25 (National Steak Day) and July 7 (World Chocolate Day) on the calendar—and get my pairing suggestions just right!