03.09.21
Ready to make some wine and movie pairing magic?
"Wine, movies and cars have always been a passion around our house," says Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards President Director of Sales Bruce Mooers. "Whether it is a romp through the hills of San Francisco with Steve McQueen in Bullitt or a ride through Chicago in a Ferrari with Ferris Buellers’ Day Off, you gotta love the car movie classics and you have to be ready with a corkscrew.”
We asked three of our most film-loving team members to share their favorite movie and wine pairings, along with the cinema-ready wine and movie snack combos. From an Oscar-nominated drama made even more thrilling when paired with dueling wines to the perfect Napa Cabernet foil for romantic comedies, their responses had us dusting our popcorn in truffle salt, lining up our favorite Napa Valley Cabernets and Russian River Pinots and updating the films in our Netflix queue.
Ford v Ferrari + 2018 Nickel & Nickel Sullenger Vineyard v 2018 EnRoute Pinot Noir “Les Pommiers”
Bruce Mooers, Far Niente Family of Wineries & Vineyards President Director of Sales
“When I think about what to eat and drink with a movie like Ford vs Ferrari, I am going pedal to the metal. I start with EnRoute “Les Pommiers,” which has the elegance, brooding concentration, and ride of a classic Ferrari. Pour it alongside two to three mild cheeses and smoked salmon, and you have a formula that will take you to the winners’ circle. When I shift to second gear, I pull out the Nickel & Nickel Sullenger Vineyard Cabernet. Like the Ford GT, this single-vineyard Cabernet has raw power, force of will, and a chewy edge that keeps you on your best behavior. Paired with a great New York steak and grilled vegetables, you are coming across the finish line first!”
Midnight in Paris + 2017 Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Brooke Bobyak, Bella Union Winemaker
Romance, fantasy, comedy and artistic filmmaking all intersect in Midnight in Paris, which all seem like the perfect pairings for a Cabernet that’s approachable, yet loaded with dark fruit and velvet tannins that are borderline hedonistic. A cheeseboard piled with Cabernet-friendly cheeses like Murcia Al Vino, Manchego and Comté will make for a happy ending for the movie watchers … even if we can’t guarantee one for Gil and Inez.
The Princess Bride + Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (minus the Iocane powder)
Nicole Marchesi, Far Niente Winemaker
Red wine and swashbuckling just seem to go together. I might even serve it in some old-style pewter goblets while we passed around a tray of the Smitten Kitchen’s scallion and turkey meatballs. Far Niente Napa Valley Cabernet possesses layers of savory notes that pair really well with the appetizer’s salty-sweet soy and ginger glaze. Bonus: The meatball toothpicks can be wielded when quoting, “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
The best wine and movie pairings surprise and delight, and have a magic that lingers long after the credits roll … or the bottle empties. Shop your favorite wines and make your own wine and movie magic.
Pro tip: We’ve found truffled popcorn and late harvest Dolce Napa Valley go with just about every genre.
12.22.21
Whether you're watching the ball drop IRL, throwing it back with a Roaring 20s-themed soiree, keeping it cozy with a quiet dinner party for friends or breaking out the board games and staying in, these four festive late harvest Dolce recipes will up the enchantment of your New Year's Eve toasts, however you decide to celebrate. Inspired by cocktails we've served at Napa Valley winery events throughout the years, these aren't your average wine cocktails! Try your hand at one, or go all out and create a full Dolce Cocktail Bar. If there's ever a time to go extra festive on the sips, it's New Year's.
LEARN MORE01.14.22
Are you ready for the chicken soup and Chardonnay pairing our winemaker can’t get enough of?
Far Niente Winemaker Nicole Marchesi recently had our mouths watering with her recommendation for homemade chicken soup and Chardonnay, specifically Far Niente’s Napa Valley Chardonnay.
Ready to whip up a batch of the chicken soup and wine pairing that had her sighing with comfort? Read on for her garden-fresh chicken and soba noodle minestrone recipe. It's a knockout with Napa Valley Chardonnay.
LEARN MORE03.01.22
This Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Sweet Potatoes is a dreamy recipe to cook with your favorite culinary partner in crime. Inspired by the golden blooms of mustard sprouting up between our vineyard rows, we encased the tenderloin with toasted mustard seed to give it a Napa Valley twist. Slice it thin; top with our classic red wine shallot sauce.
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