FIVE TIFF-WORTHY WINES THAT BRING FILM TO LIFE
With TIFF underway, heading out to catch hot screenings is a no-brainer. But staying in to view acclaimed titles from TIFFs past is smart too. It gets you in the spirit with a choice glass of wine in hand. Here are five films paired with the right bottles. Fun, right?
Blue is the Warmest Colour (TIFF 2013) with NV Cave Spring Blanc de Blancs Brut, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario (Vintages Essential $29.95 in stores and online)
Earning 39 awards, this French comingof-age lesbian romance is so captivating, erotic and moving that pouring something with similarly great tensions seems appropriate. I’m thinking of this Blanc de Blancs; the freshness and intensity draws you in while a delicately layered and smart composition adds interest. Expect racy flavours of green apple and lemon mingling with toasty vanilla-nut-nougat notes that linger. This dry sparkling wine is as brilliant as the film. Score: 93+
The Lobster (TIFF 2015) with 2016 d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne, South Australia (Vintages 662775 $17.95 in stores)
Those who like to test their ability to suspend disbelief should watch (or rewatch) this quirky conceit. Centred on a futuristic society where coupledom is obligatory, single people have 45 days to find love in a hotel/prison environment or are turned into an animal of their choice. Pair The Lobster with the Hermit Crab, which like the film is both sophisticated and complex. Raw nut, ginger, custard and citrus oil underpin an initial juicy attack of peach, pear and pineapple, then resonate for ages. Score: 91
12 Years a Slave (TIFF 2013) with 2016 Ogier Ventoux Rosé, Cotes du Ventoux, France (LCBO 134916 $14.15 in stores and online)
Based on a horrific but true story, 12 Years a Slave tells a tale of slavery in the United States in the 1800s. And it earned three Academy Awards including Best Picture. Of course the cruelty, violence and accuracy of the events pictured makes it a difficult film to watch, but at the same time important. So offset the searing cinematic discomfort with this smooth, dry, understated rosé. It soothes the senses with sheer flavours that suggest citrus, stone fruit and gentle strawberry. Score: 90+
La La Land (TIFF 2016) with 2015 Mer Soleil Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, California (Vintages Essential $34.95 in stores and online)
Earning seven Academy Awards and many other accolades, this magical musical, old-school romance based in Los Angeles is all about inspiration and aspiration. One critic called it a “toasty splash of sound and colour” and I couldn’t agree more. So watch it with something similarly evocative from California. I’m thinking this wooded Chardonnay, which offers its own toasty splash and more. Flavours and aromas call to mind lemon meringue pie, lime, stone and oak while the texture is creamy-silky and the length long. Perfect match. Score: 92
Still Alice (TIFF 2014) with 2014 Piccini Villa Al Cortile di Montalcino, DOC Tuscany, Italy (LCBO 460295 $19.85 in stores and online)
This heartwrenching story of a 50-year-old woman’s struggle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease calls for something intense but elegant — much like Julianne Moore’s portrayal of Alice, which won her Best Actress at the Academy Awards. So pour this wine with its rich tapestry of sweet plum, warm wood, smoked meat, spicy tobacco, iodine and slate. It’s a well-made, beautifully structured red that tapers to a long powdery finish. Score: 91
Carolyn Evans Hammond is a Torontobased wine writer. She is also a Londontrained sommelier and two-time bestselling wine book author. Reach her at carolyn@carolynevanshammond.com.