Sometimes you don’t need much to have a great time: a blanket, a glass of good wine and an unforgettable movie. But some films go best with a specific variety: here, we share some recommendations to help you get the best from your wine at the movies.
Casablanca (1942) + elegant Chardonnay
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman.
Plot: During the 2nd World War, Rick (Bogart) runs a café in Morocco. Ilsa (Bergman), an old flame, turns up there unexpectedly one night with her husband and now Ilsa and Rick must choose between love and duty.
The wine: A barrel-aged Chardonnay. Elegant with notes of vanilla, butter and ripe fruit, it delivers just the right kind of pleasant, voluminous melancholy. As found in Luigi Bosca Filos, Otronia or María Carmen from Bodegas Bianchi.
Why the pairing?
Because they both deliver a powerful hit of refined nostalgia. The complexity of the wine suits the depth of a story of love and self-sacrifice.
The Godfather (1972) + classic Malbec
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino.
Plot: The Corleone family saga is a tale of power and loyalty, depicting the rise of Michael, a young scion who ends up as the new Don. A masterpiece about the darkness of the soul and codes of honor.
The wine: An oak-aged Malbec Reserva from Mendoza. Rich and robust with firm tannins and notes of plum, leather and spice. Labels that fit the bill for your night of wine at the movies include Lagarde Guarda D.O.C., Norton Lote Agrelo and Humberto Canale Gran Reserva de Patagonia.
Why the pairing?
Because they both demand respect. The Malbec gets straight to the point, just like Don Vito, and they both embody strong traditions, characters and stories.
Amélie (2001) + a vibrant Pinot Noir rosé
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz.
Plot: Amélie is a young parisian with a magical perspective on the everyday world. Her life changes when she decides to start helping strangers in secret.
The wine: A tense, fresh and fruity wine with notes of strawberry and rose petal. Subtle but full of personality, here your wine at the movies could easily be Saurus Pinot Noir Rosé from Neuquén, Antonieta Rosé by Familia Falasco or La Vigilia Rosado.
Why the pairing?
Because both are a delight. This light, joyful wine is the perfect accompaniment for Amélie’s visual poetry, pastel palette, and transformative ethic.
Psycho (1960) + Exotic Syrah
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh
Plot: A young woman flees the scene of a robbery with the loot and takes refuge in a motel managed by the shy Norman Bates. A masterpiece of psychological suspense.
The wine: An intense Syrah with notes of blackberry, black pepper and leather. Something dark, spicy and with a lengthy finish like Achala Clos de Molle Ingrato Syrah from Córdoba, Memoria de Elefante Syrah from San Juan or Nina Gran Syrah from La Rioja.
Why the pairing?
Because they both offer unexpected twists. Syrah has a layer of mystery that slowly unfolds in the glass, drink with the lighting down low and brace yourself.
Cinema Paradiso (1988) + Cabernet Sauvignon
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
Starring: Philippe Noiret, Salvatore Cascio.
Plot: A boy falls in love with cinema thanks to the efforts of Alfredo the projectionist. Decades later, he remembers their life-changing relationship.
The wine: An elegant Cabernet with firm tannins and notes of cherry, graphite and spice. Something that delivers rich emotion in the glass like Sophenia Synthesis from the Uco Valley, Malma Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon from Patagonia or Piattelli Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Cafayate, Salta.
Why the pairing?
Because both celebrate the passing of time with a melancholy beauty. This wine evokes the wonderful feeling when you first came across the excitement and enchantment of great storytelling.
Singing in the Rain (1952) + Brut Nature sparkling wine
Directed by Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
Starring: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds.
Plot: In the 1920s, Hollywood is just coming to terms with the transition to sound with stars rising and falling accordingly: an all time classic musical full of romance and elaborate choreographies.
The wine: A Brut Nature sparkling wine; dry and frisky with refreshing, fine bubbles. Something lively and expressive like Alta Vista Atemporal Brut Nature, Rosell Boher Encarnación Brut Nature or Chamas Honnorat Brut Nature from La Rioja.
Why the pairing?
Because both are sheer joy. The bubbles tell a tale that makes you want to smile and tap along, a wine that dances in your mouth.
Pulp Fiction (1994) + a taut Cabernet Franc
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: John Travolta, Uma Thurman.
Plot: Several criminal tales tied together with black humor, stylized violence and unforgettable dialogues.
The wine: A Cabernet Franc with striking herbal and spice notes, red pepper and just the right acidity. A bold, sophisticated approach to wine at the movies that you’ll find in Desierto 25 Cabernet Franc from La Pampa, Callejón del Crimen Reserva Cabernet Franc or Fuego Blanco Flintstone Cabernet Franc from Pedernal, San Juan.
Why the pairing?
Because they both have an edge. The provocative personality of the Cabernet Franc goes perfectly with Tarantino’s disruptive narrative. Tart and unconventional.
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