5 Wine & Netflix Pairings to Try This August
In this era of heatwaves and limited social outings, the notion of pairing wine with indoor activities seems especially appealing. Indeed, dinner pairings are just the beginning. Wine is as much about mood, story, and style as any film or TV show. And when it comes to pairing, the key is finding wines with flavor, texture, and structure to complement the tone and tenor of anything on your watchlist. Here are our picks for five great wines to pair with TV shows coming to Netflix streaming this August. Stream ‘em & sip!
Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Jurassic Park III
Pairing: Cambrian Rock Shiraz 2018
Cambrian Rock Shiraz takes its name from the ancient, complex soils that anchor the vines of this winery, which date back more than 500 million years, to the Cambrian Era. Located in Heathcoate, Australia, the terroir of this region is highly unique, globally renowned for producing wines such as this world-class red, which offers heady notes of red and black fruit, earth, and spice. As if that weren’t enough to make this the perfect partner for everyone’s favorite family films about velociraptors and human hubris, the wine is lush on the palate, like the jungles of Isla Nublar, framed by bright acidity, smooth tannins, and subtle notes of leather and smoke, just like Jeff Goldblum’s leather jacket.
Avatar: The Legend of Korra
Pairing: Skyline Artisan White 2017
All four seasons of “The Legend of Korra” are set to hit Netflix this month, which means that you need a wine that is as refreshing, stylish, and enduring as this sequel series to “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Set 70 years after the original “Avatar,” the series tells the story of Avatar Korra, who tries to save her world from the natural and supernatural forces who wish to destroy it. Enter Skyline Artisan White, a Riesling-Sauvignon Blanc blend from Nathan Kandler at Thomas Fogarty Wines. Artisan in every sense of the word―small production, sustainably farmed fruit from some of the best farms in California’s Central Coast region―this white is intensely fragrant, the wine offers notes of tart green apple and jasmine, buffered by finely balanced acidity and minerality.
Ocean’s Eleven
Pairing: WAI Bianco Vino Frizzante 2018
Where there’s a will there’s a “Wai,” as the saying goes. George Clooney, as Danny Ocean, in the 2001 Steven Soderbergh crime thriller, “Ocean’s Eleven” would agree. This unconventional, organic, blend of Pinot Noir and Riesling Italico from Pavia is as cool and funky as the cast of this caper, which includes Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, and Matt Damon. Notes of peach, nectarine, golden apple and white flowers, fly from the glass and blossom on the palate, flecked with white pepper and brioche. In short, this juicy bubbly is a refreshing partner for any escapade of your own.
The Addams Family
Pairing: Niepoort Nat Cool "Drink Me" Baga 2019
With an elegantly alluring label right out a Charles Addams cartoon, this is an innovative natural wine from Niepoort, a Portuguese producer best known for their Port wines. Light garnet in the glass, the wine is fruity with tart pomegranate and red berry notes, light spice, and a mineral undertone which reflects the lime-rich soils of Bairrada. It’s perfect for this tale of a lovingly macabre, and eccentric family targeted by con artists.
¡Nailed It! Mexico, Season 2
Pairing: Philosophy Sparkling Rose NV
This easygoing Italian sparkler, made with Glera and Pinot Noir, is organic and vegan, with notes of apple, apricot, cherry blossom and just a hint of sweetness. It’s ideal for this sweet treat of a show hosted by Omar Chaparro and head judge Anna Ruiz. Set in Mexico, home cooks with a terrible track record take a shot at recreating edible masterpieces for a chance to win $10,000. As the tagline states, “It's part competition, part hot mess,” and bubbles go with everything.
