Cork & Chill: Wine Pairings for Your Favourite Romantic Comedies
Romantic comedies are my guilty pleasure. While some people may say that all rom-coms are the same, many of these films play with the genres’ established tropes and conventions. These films have woven themselves into our pop culture and are a part of who we are.
I watch them when I get a quiet moment to myself or when I need a pick me up. Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner I thought I would share wine pairings to some classic rom-com films. This is my love day gift to you.
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
Julia Roberts, as Julianne, watching as Rupert Everett, as George, recounts how they “met”.
This is one of my all-time favourite romantic comedies. It is far-fetched yet oddly relatable. SPOILER ALERT: It also ends with the girl not getting the guy, and rightfully so. Julia Roberts is adorably irrational, and her hair is amazing.
Wine Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a wedding staple and one of my favourite white wine grape varieties.
Bottle To Try:
Hãhã Sauvignon Blanc 2023 from New Zealand. ($17.90)
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) looks on as the two men fight over her in the famous fight scene at the Greek restaurant.
No rom-com list is complete without Bridget Jones’s Diary. It’s got everything: great actors, self-deprecating humour, some of the best on-screen kissing you will EVER see, and the most hilarious fight scene.
Wine Pairing: Chardonnay
Bridget Jones loves Chardonnay. She drinks it when she's up or down and alone, singing along to “All By Myself” by Jamie O’Neal.
Bottle To Try:
Lindeman’s Bin 65 Chardonnay from Australia. ($12.40)
Pretty Woman (1990)
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman shopping at a fancy store on Sunset Boulevard.
Here we see Julia Roberts and Richard Gere at their finest. Pretty Women rewrote some of the rules for the rom-com with its iconic scenes.
Wine Pairing: Champagne
In the famous scene where Julia Roberts is drinking Moët & Chandon Champagne. Richard Gere teaches her to try it with strawberries to bring out the flavour of the Champagne. I have yet to try this, but I can’t think of a better time to try it. Is champagne not in your budget? You can always try non-vintage Champagne, Cremant, or Cava.
Bottle To Try:
Chateau de Montgueret Cremant de Loire Brut from the Loire Valley in France. ($20.35)
Clueless (1995)
Tai (the late and great Brittney Murphy) and Cher (Alicia Silverstone) checking out a party.
Clueless is one of the most famous rom-coms of the 90s and one I can quote from memory. Clueless paved the way for so many teen-based romantic comedies that followed it. No rom-com list is complete without it.
Wine Pairing: Sparkling Rosé
Like Cher (Alicia Silverstone), you want something fun, bubbly, bright, and fruity. You can’t go wrong with a beautiful glass of pink sparkling rosé.
Bottle To Try:
Saintly The Good Sparkling Rosé VQA from Ontario, Canada. ($17.70)
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Meg Ryan, as Kathleen Kelly, and Tom Hanks, as Joe Fox, having a hot dog at the iconic Gray’s Papaya on Broadway and 72nd Street in New York City.
This film is a little predictable and a bit out of date, but it's fun and heartwarming. I am a sucker for Nora Ephron movies. This movie is full of nostalgia for me and I watch it at least once a year.
Wine Pairings: Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir pairs well with the film because it is classic and earthy, like Joe Fox (Tom Hanks).
Bottle To Try:
Henry of Pelham Estate Pinot Noir 2020 from Ontario, Canada. ($24.30)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) and her wedding party seeing her dress for the first time.
This romantic comedy is near and dear to my heart because it reminds me of watching movies with my sister. It also reminds me of my big family. It is one of the first North American romantic comedies that presented another culture and what it might be like combining the families of two people from vastly different backgrounds. It rings even more true since Tom and I got together. He grew up in Ireland in a much quieter household than I did in Canada in a very loud house with a Colombian family.
Wine Pairings: Assyrtiko
This is one of the top white wine grape varieties in Greece grown all over the country. It is a light white wine with aromas and flavours of passionfruit and lemon, and a subtle bitterness and saltiness, which are not unpleasant. It is worth a try if you come across it at the store.
Bottle To Try:
THALIA White Assyrtiko - Sauvignon Blanc from Greece. ($11.45)
Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Kevin Bacon, John Carroll Lynch, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carrel take a time out after a fight broke out.
This movie amuses me to no end. It is cute, funny, and relatable depending on where you are in your life and relationships. I love the chemistry between Dave Carrel and Ryan Gosling.
Wine Pairing: Red wine blend
This film is about relationships, how complicated and layered they can be. Blending grape varieties to make wine is all these things and more. It’s not just about combining grape varieties to make a wine, it is about understanding how these different grapes will work together. Blended wines can be complex and have many layers. Pick your favourite red wine blend, sit back, and enjoy.
Bottle To Try:
Villa Antinori Toscana from Italy. ($23.80)
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Sally Albright (Me Ryan) and Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) taking a walk in the park and talking about their relationship.
This is another rom-com that changed the game for the genre. It was edgy and explored the universal question, “Can people be friends without developing romantic feelings for each other?” It has great banter between the two main characters. A classic and a must-watch.
Wine Pairing: Shiraz
There is a famous scene that takes place in a deli. What goes great with deli meat? Shiraz.
Bottle To Try:
The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier from Australia. ($17.70)
Moonstruck (1987)
Cher, as Loretta Castronini, and Nicolas Cage, as Ronny Cammareri, on their first date at the opera.
I fell in love with this movie upon first viewing. It’s funny, sincere, nostalgic, and delightful. Seeing Nicolas Cage fall for Cher and looking like a lost puppy makes my day. Cher is strong and unapologetically independent at a time when women were expected to grow up, get married, and have children. Seeing this movie brings me so much joy.
Wine Pairing: Chianti Classico
The film revolves around an Italian family in New York. This popular Italian wine is a staple and a perfect match for this love story.
Bottle To Try:
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale from Tuscany, Italy. ($26.55)
Bridesmaids (2011)
Kristan Wig, as Annie Walker, disrupts the passengers in Business Class on a flight to Las Vegas with her bridal party, This is perhaps the best scene in the film.
Finally, this is the one that brought female friendships to the forefront. Bridesmaid showed the world a taste of what female friendships are like. It became the raunchy comedy we all needed. Friendships between women aren’t actually how they have been depicted in the past. They are foul-mouthed, crazy, silly, and so much more. This film paved the way for more women-driven films that showed the world that we are so much more and oh so funny.
Wine Pairing: Rosé
This is a female film that celebrates womanhood and female friendships. I can’t think of a better drink to accompany such a film. Rosé’s are not just “feminine” but can also be complex and layered much like the friendships in this film.
Bottle To Try:
Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Rosé from the Languedoc region in France. ($17.50)
I hope these pairings inspire you to grab a cozy blanket, pour a delicious glass of wine, and settle in for a feel-good movie night with someone special (or just treat yourself—no judgment here!). After all, great wine and great company make life’s moments even sweeter. Stay tuned for more movie and wine magic coming your way soon! Cheers!
POV: Watching Bridesmaids for the 1 thousandth time.