Written by: Janice Williams | Photo by: Pix | Pix
January 28, 2022
When it comes to pairing wine, food is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But there are more exciting pairings than a smear of Roquefort and a sip of Port. A little fashion and humor, characters that drive you mad, and plots so inescapably cringe, you simply cannot turn away are also perfect with a glass or two.
Don’t believe it? Then put the theory to the test in February. There are dozens of movies and TV shows set to debut on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu throughout the month. Racy dramas based on real-life experiences, ridiculous reality shows, comedies and documentaries, bloody action series, and America’s favorite sporting event, the Super Bowl. So many titles that make for a perfect pairing partner with wine.
Inventing Anna, Series premiere
Feb. 11, 2022, Netflix
The newest Shonda Rhimes title to grace the Netflix screen comes in the form of “Inventing Anna,” a series that follows the story of one charming and fashionable con artist known as Anna Delvey — real name Anna Sorokin. The show is inspired by Jessica Pressler’s captivating 2018 New York magazine story, “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People,” about a fake heiress who manipulated her way into New York’s high society at the expense of the rich kids she fooled. Expect designer digs, lavish soirees, fast planes, and millions of missing dollars and receipts. Emmy-winner Julia Garner stars as the formidable Delvey/Sorokin while Anna Chlumsky plays Vivian, the fictionalized journalist who turns Delvey’s story into front-page news.
Giunta New Zealand Malbec Nouveau 2020 (~$19)
Here’s a wine that is not quite what it seems, though, not in nearly as deceitful of a way as Delvey. It’s a dark purple Malbec from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand that feels more like a Beaujolais Nouveau. “This is a bright, cheerful, and zippy Malbec,” says Jamie Harrison Rubin, an advanced sommelier and founder of Kidstuff Hospitality in Philadelphia, who also co-hosts the movie-and-wine-pairing podcast “You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Bottle.” It’s a surprisingly lighter style Malbec that’s soft and juicy with black fruit and spicy flavors. Plush tannins make for a clean and refreshing finish. “This wine puts a whole other spin on what we thought Malbec could be,” Harrison Rubin says.
