Crack open a bottle of your favorite TV-inspired wine
You may, from time to time, have found yourself wondering “If ‘The Strain’ were a wine, how might it taste?”
Well, luckily we never had to learn the answer to that question, as the show ended before someone got the idea. But it likely would have been something that goes well paired with steak tartare. An unassuming little cab franc, perhaps?
However, a quick scan of the internet reveals a surprising number of wines and wine collections inspired by favorite shows and networks that are available for purchase online right now, some of which are listed below.
“Saturday Night Live” (www.lot18.com/ saturdaynightlive): Online retailer Lot18 offers up four blends based on favorite characters from the long-running sketch comedy series, among them The Californians Monterey County Merlot, Debbie Downer South Eastern Australia Chardonnay and Stefon Beaujolais. There is also a mixed case of wines that celebrate “four decades of spot-on humor and exhilarating performances.”
“MasterChef ” (www.lot18.com/masterchef ): There are no clever names or gimmicks in this collection inspired by the Gordon Ramsay culinary competition series, just individual bottles, trios, full and half cases of specially crafted cabernet, rose and pinot grigio suitable to go with dinner cooked in your own kitchen – and preferably without the pressure or scolding.
“Game of Thrones” (www.gameofthroneswines. com): From noted Napa/Sonoma winemaker Bob Cabral comes this collection that celebrates the HBO series’ final season and includes a cabernet, a chardonnay, a pinot noir and a red blend that “match the strength of the characters and the terrain of their kingdoms.”
“Portlandia” (www.lot18.com/portlandia): Fans of Fred Armisen’s just-concluded parody of life in Portland, Ore., can still partake in its wine, namely the Weirdo Rogue Valley Syrah, the 2015 Brunch Village Willamette Valley Pinot Gris and the 2016 Women and Women First Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, which its website says is suitable to “sip with your latest collection of feminist essays.”
“The Walking Dead” (www.lot18.com/ thewalkingdead): Fans of the wildly popular AMC series can buy individual bottles, trios, full and half cases of whites and reds dedicated to Rick, Daryl and Negan, as well as the “Ladies of the Walking Dead” colllection with Carol, Michonne and Maggie.
TCM Wine Club (tcmwineclub.com): Turner Classic Movies offers up interesting wine pairings for its library of movies, such as a 2014 Central Coast California Chardonnay to go with “North by Northwest,” a 90-point Portuguese red blend for “West Side Story” and for “The Godfather,” a rich California merlot. Like you were expecting a white wine?
Wine Club ID (wineclubid.com): Investigation Discovery gets into the wine game with ID-inspired wines such as the 2015 My, My, My Merlot (for “Homicide Hunter’s” Joe Kenda), the 2016 The Perfect Accomplice Sauvignon Blanc and the 2015 A Wine To Remember Red Blend, for “A Crime to Remember.”