An Unlikely Pairing in the Desert

Desierto25 and Grand Canyone

“Well balanced profiles forged by the desert soil, wind, sun, and the Colorado river.” — Bodega del Desierto

At first glance I would certainly think someone is referring to the Grand Canyon with this statement…but I’d be wrong! This is actually the mantra from the makers of Desierto 25 wines.

This weekend’s movie and wine pairing is Desierto 25 Sauvignon Blanc with the film, Grand Canyon.

It surprised me to realize how many people haven’t seen this terrific pic with stars such like Kevin Kline, Steve Martin, and Danny Glover in it. My assumption would be that even less people have heard of this refreshing, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc from Patagonia, Argentina.

Indeed, these are two different Colorado rivers. One forges its way through the Grand Canyon here in the U.S. The other flows from the Andes Mountains onto the soils of Alto Valle del Rio Colorado on the Argentine side of Patagonia.

The Chilean side of Patagonia is a land of fjords and rainforest, where nature thrives. Argentina’s side is more desert-like and barren. It isn’t the first place I think of for vines that produce this nice of a wine to flourish.  But these producers went for it and, man, did it work out!

This picture gives us relationships that are not of the most likely variety, either. It revolves around strangers in L.A. whose lives, like vines, intertwine. Kevin Kline’s character believes that a trip to the desert to witness the Grand Canyon will help him re-connect with his family.

Desierto 25 and Grand Canyon work so well together because they are both great examples of how beautiful things can be given to us from the most unlikely and barren of places.

Space + Grapes

Space Grapes

As humans we are always searching!!

The wine and movie pairing for this weekend is Satellite Sauvignon Blanc with Apollo 13.

This delicious Sauvignon Blanc comes from a producer named Spy Valley in New Zealand. They consider themselves to be a bit of a clandestine (secret) operation. The spy base down the road is perhaps what makes the valley of their location so bewitching.

And what’s more bewitching than the dark abyss that is Outer Space?  I’d say (for good reason) that NASA can be a bit secretive from time to time. And there quite possibly could be some spy stuff going on out there as well.

Apollo 13 passing the dark side of the moon marked the farthest humans had every ventured away from the soils of our planet. A monumental moment in our history of discovery.

Human beings’ thirst for discovery is truly one of our best qualities. Some choose to dig into the Earth with their bare hands in their search while others blast off from it into Space! We need both types.

Spy Valley wineries focus is on sustainability and the nurturing of soil and vine to preserve it for future generations. Whether those future generations want to explore our world’s  beauty by sticking their hands into the earth or by blasting-off from it into Outer Space , it’s our job to make sure they have those options.

So let’s continue to explore soil and space, but do it in a way that keeps our wondrous planet around for future astronauts, winemakers, filmmakers, and everyone in between to do the same.

Space and Grapes!!

Space and Grapes

As humans we are always searching!!

The wine and movie pairing for this weekend is Satellite Sauvignon Blanc with Apollo 13.

This delicious Sauvignon Blanc comes from a producer named Spy Valley in New Zealand. They consider themselves to be a bit of a clandestine (secret) operation. The spy base down the road is perhaps what makes the valley of their location so bewitching.

And what’s more bewitching than the dark abyss that is Outer Space?  I’d say (for good reason) that NASA can be a bit secretive from time to time. And there quite possibly could be some spy stuff going on out there as well.

Apollo 13 passing the dark side of the moon marked the farthest humans had every ventured away from the soils of our planet. A monumental moment in our history of discovery.

Human beings’ thirst for discovery is truly one of our best qualities. Some choose to dig into the Earth with their bare hands in their search while others blast off from it into Space! We need both types.

Spy Valley wineries focus is on sustainability and the nurturing of soil and vine to preserve it for future generations. Whether those future generations want to explore our world’s  beauty by sticking their hands into the earth or by blasting-off from it into Outer Space , it’s our job to make sure they have those options.

So let’s continue to explore soil and space, but do it in a way that keeps our wondrous planet around for future astronauts, winemakers, filmmakers, and everyone in between to do the same.

Seize the Cab!!

This weekend’s paring is Liberty School Cabernet with Dead Poets Society.

Much like Welton Preparatory Academy depicted in this film, Liberty School wines in Paso Robles have a long history of honest work and tradition.

By no means, however, would I describe Welton Prep as a “Liberty School”. Quite the opposite! In this film, it’s a place where young men are sent by their doctor, lawyer, and banker fathers to become their carbon copies…

That’s until Prof. Keating arrives and teaches the boys what free-thinking and LIBERTY are all about! And he does so with great gusto!!

The winemakers at Liberty School are a couple of childhood buddies that bonded after a series of outrageous adventures. Inspired by their teacher, I’d say the Dead Poets vowed friendship in a very similar way.

Liberty School comes from Hope Family Wine, a name that reflects the unquestioned theme of this classic. Even at an academic factory, pumping out it’s boxed-in future Ivy leaguers, someone like Keating can bring them Freedom and Hope.

This wine is intended to elevate the everyday, which prompts me to cite the most monumental quote in this most quotable of movies…….

CARPE DIEM!! (SEIZE THE DAY!!)

A Pinot Grigio to Desire!

A Streetcar Named Desire

One of the most memorable names to be belted out in cinematic history…. “STELLA!!”

This week’s film and wine pairing is Stella Pinot Grigio with A Streetcar Named Desire.

To be honest, I’d never seen Tennessee Williams’ play turned motion picture. But that’s the terrific thing that this post does for me. It gives me a reason to watch classics like this. And when I saw a bottle of wine called “Stella”, well I had my reason.

Luckily for me, there were more links…

Marlon Brando is said to have brought realism to film. He actually studied his craft under the tutelage of the great acting teacher, Stella Adler.

In this picture he depicts an angry, everyday factory husband who is all too REAL. I guess he was like the Pinot Grigio grape in a way, a hard-working and mass-producing factory worker.

Isn’t that where some of the  greatest stories come from though, everyday hard-working life??

The Stella winery’s goal is to take you on a tour of Italy on a Vespa and live like a local.  I guarantee on a tour of Italy you will find many hard-working folks that get the job done in a beautiful way, like this Pinot does.

Brando’s character, Stanley, isn’t exactly a gentleman. He’s a bad grape that truly just needs to be tossed.

But there is beauty in everyday life and it takes someone like Tennessee Williams and a wine like this to help us realize it.

So let’s do that from time to time, stop everyday and realize the beauty….

Day of Memorial (Jour des Soldats Morts au Champ d’Honneur)

Memorial Day

This week’s pairing is a Memorial Day tribute and, though France is known for its wine, this week we’ve made a change.

Given the famous Invasion of Normandy scene in this outstanding WWII picture, we thought the farm cider from Normandy would be much more appropriate for our pairing.

They don’t make much wine in Normandy, as the weather is too volatile. They are world-renowned for cider, however.  So we made the adjustment.

We are pairing Cidre Fermier Brut with Saving Private Ryan.

This beautiful, less-trafficked area of France is a great place to take the Normandy Cider route while you reflect on World War II.

This delicious, dry cider is produced in the Calvados department of Normandy. This is the same region that is home to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial which appears in the opening and closing of this picture.

Possibly in some way you can participate in the joy the local farmers must have felt when they were liberated by the GIs and shared their cidre fermier with them to celebrate!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend !
(Jour des Soldats Morts au Champ d’Honneur)!