Movie & Wine Pairing

wine

Don Cayetano Chardonnay Viognier Reserva 2016
Valle Central, Chile

Hands Across the Table (1935)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 @ 08:00 PM (ET)

Like the creative combination of varietals in this Chilean white, the pairing of Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray wasn’t an obvious one. But with the success of this screwball comedy – featuring Lombard as a gold-digging manicurist – it led to a string of films together. Pour a crisp, citrusy glass and revel in the chemistry between this film’s two lovable leads.

CHARDONNAY & VIOGNIER

WINE STYLE

CHILLED

APERITIF

SEAFOOD

THE WINE

Chile is a great place to find exciting, pure-fruited whites. Especially when they’re from the dynamic estate of Luis Felipe Edwards in beautiful Colchagua. This luscious Reserva is made from a creative combination of Chardonnay (80%) and Viognier (20%). The grapes were hand harvested from premium old vines – some up to 75 years old – in the cool, early morning to lock in Chile’s trademark fruit purity. A crisp, citrus- and orchard-fruited white that is a refreshing aperitif for all seasons.

THE ESTATE

We go way back with ‘The Don,’ Luis Felipe Edwards (below). His eponymous estate was named the New World Producer of the Year at the 2016 Sommelier Wine Awards and Chile’s Producer of the Year at both the International Wine & Spirits Competition (2012) and at AWC Vienna (2012 and 2013). This rare Reserva is the perfect reflection of such an acclaimed winery – which, by the way, is a sight to behold. It’s a beautifully remodeled colonial, hung with huge chandeliers in the barrel hall.

THE COUNTRY

Chile’s spectacular mountain vineyards enjoy a Mediterranean climate. But with little or no summer rain, they rely on snowmelt from the Andes and an elaborate irrigation system to supply the vines with water. The fruit for this Reserva was picked from extremely high-altitude vineyards, where greater day-to-night temperature variation helps grapes develop impressive aromatic complexity.

WITH FOOD

The enticing citrus-and-orchardfruit character of this luscious Reserva make it easy to enjoy as an aperitif. It will also be delicious with grilled chicken, simple vegetarian dishes or many kinds of seafood. On our most recent visit, we sipped it with grilled tilapia and almejas con limón (fresh clams with lemon juice), but it would be equally tasty with tuna steaks or oysters.