Everyone likes a challenge, and we’re no exception – whether it’s pairing drinks to Halloween candy (three-day sugar rush) to testing the best craft beers in Dubai (hardship, I know) to tasting eighties faves like Lambrini and Blue Nun in order to discover how good/bad they really are (Bad. So very bad). However this week a client asked what to wine match in the way of Rhône’s, which we somehow misheard as what would we wine match with Game of Thrones? Which made me wonder, what would we wine match with Game of Thrones? So here’s our wine matching guide to the best binge-watching TV around.
Orange is the New Black with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Although the most authentic match would probably be bathtub hooch, a drink that comes with a side order of temporary blindness, crisp and fruity Sauvignon Blanc remains the most popular grape for women between the ages of 25 and 40. It doesn’t say whether they’re incarcerated or not, but either way the New Zealand variety is hard to beat and comes almost criminally packed with passionfruit, gooseberry and lemon flavours.
Stranger Things with White Zinfandel
Set in the eighties, Stranger Things is a throwback and as retro as Patrick Swayze in a vest-top – much like White Zinfandel, the sweet rosé wine that, like the decade itself, never seems to go out of fashion or take itself too seriously. Like the show, white zinfandel may appear frivolous but it hides a dark and frightening underbelly and is also scarily easy to knock back.
House of Cards with California Cabernet
Like Frank Underwood’s complicated power-grabs, California Cabs are full of layers and have a real cult following around the globe. Thankfully they don’t come served with murder, corruption, and double-dealing as standard, just big tannins, rich, fruity notes and a hypnotic smell of good ól American cedar and red berries.
The Crown with Champagne
As well as being the Queen’s nightly tipple of choice, Champagne was served at both Will and Kate’s wedding and the coronation of the Queen’s father, George V. Apparently her preferred brands are Bollinger, Krug, Lanson and Pol Roger, so what could be better than the Pol Roger’s Winston Churchill, a Grand Cuvee named after the man himself, who loved the drink so much they named the bottling after him, and who also features heavily in the show.
Modern Family with Chardonnay
Whilst it’s never definitively stated what’s in Claire Dunphy’s glass, it’s a safe bet it could be Chardonnay. As well as being the best-selling wine in the USA right now, it also comes with a reputation as the wine of the American housewife, particularly if they’re partial to spot of day drinking, something many mothers can relate to.
And finally….
Game of Thrones with Châteauneuf-du-Pape
A big, heavy show filled with dark, complicated characters needs a big, bold wine filled with complex flavours and aromas – and what could be better than the iconic Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Packed full of dark and rich flavours and with a medieval looking label complete with a sword and shield, this is a wine that would be right at home in Westeros. Drinking it from a hammered metal goblet as you plot the downfall of your rivals is optional.
Are you looking for a wine match with your favourite show? Let us know what you’re watching in the comments.
Also, we clearly are all for chilling in front of the telly with a wine in hand, but if you’re looking for a different form of home entertainment book one of our home wine tasting experiences.
By Lindsay Trivers
September, 17 2017
