Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l’Abbé is a refined expression of the Côtes-du-Rhône, crafted by award-winning winemaker Jean-Marc Diffonty. The latest release is smooth and sumptuous, brimming with aromatic plum, cherry and strawberry.

The Diffonty family are one of the oldest winemaking dynasties in the southern Rhône, and wine critic Robert Parker is a long-time devotee of Cuvée du Vatican. In fact, theirs was the first case of Châteauneuf-du-Pape he ever bought—a wine largely credited with launching his decades-long career. The label’s also been a favorite of the papacy since 1958, when Pope John XXIII blessed Cuvée du Vatican. (They still send a case to Rome each year.)

Otto Preminger's ambitious epic chronicles the rise of Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon) from an idealistic young priest in Boston to a cardinal navigating the corridors of Vatican power in Rome. The film tackles provocative subjects not often seen in 1960s cinema including a tragic pregnancy, interfaith marriage and the Church's stance toward Nazi Germany. The sweeping drama earned six Academy Award nominations including Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (John Huston as a worldly cardinal), and Best Cinematography. This rich Syrah-based blend has enjoyed papal favor since Pope John XXIII blessed it in 1958. It is a divine pairing for Preminger's examination of faith and power.