Donna Kelce Is Helping New NFL Fans Pair Wine With Football

Here in the middle of football season, everyone is well into hosting their parties and attending their tailgates. And when it comes to the NFL, there are some personalities you cannot help but pay attention to. Most of these A-listers are football players or coaches, but for the past couple of years, a breakout star of the game has been neither of these. Instead, it's all eyes on Donna Kelce, the mom who raised not one but two current NFL mainstays.

Mama Kelce's sons Travis, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jason, a center for the Philadelphia Eagles, are beloved among fans for who they are on and off the field. Donna herself has long inspired other women to enjoy the traditionally male-focused sport, and that's never been more true than this season, as she's been spending time in the VIP suite laughing it up with Travis' girlfriend, Taylor Swift. This dynamic pairing of two fun blondes clearly having a good time watching the game has prompted a whole new population of young people to embrace NFL fandom. And as those new fans emerge, so do opportunities for the brands who market to them.

Barefoot Wine has signed on to be the official wine of the NFL and, recognizing the staggering increase in a certain demographic of new enthusiasts, will debut the "Bandwagon Box" at Arrowhead Stadium on November 20 to celebrate this new group of "bandwagon fans." The box is a space to enjoy some wine and the game, engaging with each one at your own pace and level of passion. And who better to choose as their spokesperson than Donna Kelce? 

Kelce loves to drink wine while watching football, and loves to see new fans build their knowledge of both. We had a chance to sit down with her recently and chat about football, food, and the spirit of inclusivity surrounding the partnership with Barefoot.

"I've learned that you don't need to be an expert to enjoy wine," Kelce told The Takeout. "Learning the nuances of wine, just like learning the rules of football, can be complicated. I believe that no matter if you are new to the sport or new to wine, football and wine should be fun and easy to enjoy." 

"You don't have to be an expert at football to enjoy the game, which is similar to enjoying a glass of wine," she added. "You don't have to be a connoisseur or a sommelier to enjoy a glass of wine."

When it comes to gametime, Kelce likes to go traditional with the food and non-traditional with the drinks.

"I love a good beef hot dog at the stadium with ketchup and mustard," she said. "For some reason a hot dog at the stadium just tastes so good. If I'm in Kansas City, I like great barbecue. If I'm in Philly, I like to go with the Philadelphia Cheesesteaks or a pretzel."

And for the wine pairings? Riesling with a hot dog, Cabernet Sauvignon with Kansas City barbecue, and Pinot Grigio with Philly Cheesesteak. (All Barefoot, of course.) 

While a certain pop star has drawn a lot of focus in the NFL conversation this year, Kelce loves to see the change in the audience reinvigorate parts of the game.

"I think the thing that excites me most about educating this new audience about the game is that football is family, especially in our family," she said. "I think it brings family members together. You can enjoy football with your dad or mom, whoever is the fan, and it's just a great feeling to be involved with the game of football."

It always comes back to family for Donna. And food, like football, is certainly a big part of that, as it always has been.

"Like any family, we love being with our family and laughing and enjoying the time together," she said. "Just relaxing. It's always around the food table, it just always is."