Wine Club Member Only Case

A film about the courage of British families during World War II, it served as inspiration for Americans who found themselves pulled into the conflict. Directed by William Wyler, it starred Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon and Teresa Wright in what would be career-defining roles. The movie garnered 12 Academy Award nominations, including wins for Best Picture, Director, Actress and Supporting Actress. Pair this proud film with this brilliant and fresh Grüner Veltliner. Both are sure to inspire.

This exciting Chenin Blanc’s name was inspired by the suspense of a ball hitting the line during a game of tennis. What better to pair it with than this suspenseful favorite from director Alfred Hitchcock, in which Farley Granger stars as a professional tennis player who unexpectedly finds himself entwined in a murder after a chance meeting. A fan favorite, the thriller is remembered not only for its memorable plot but also for its set design and engaging cinematography by Robert Burks, who would be nominated for an Academy Award.

A full-bodied red is anything but subtle. Pair it with this outlandish comedy that puts it all out there. Featuring a veritable who’s who of comedians, this Stanley Donen directed film follows the antics of a group of treasure seekers as they tear up the countryside looking for a buried jackpot. The non-stop hysterics of a cast that includes Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett and Ethel Merman will spin you east, west and all other directions of a compass.

This elegant Malbec is skillfully balanced between being both delicate and rich. It strikes the perfect tone for this celebrated romance directed by Leo McCarey. A shipboard affair leads to a pact to meet six-months later on top of the Empire State building. Starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer, the story proved so popular it would be remade two times, as An Affair to Remember (1957) and Love Affair (1994) and, of course, it was memorably referenced in Sleepless in Seattle (1993).

Silent cinema at its epic best, this high-sea adventure tells the tale of Sir Oliver Tressilian (Milton Sills), a British nobleman, who after being captured and turned into a galley slave on a Spanish galleon, finds a new life as a pirate captain. The film, a true spectacle even for viewers of today, features full-size ships that served as floating sets and over 1,000 extras. Director Frank Lloyd’s high level of craftsmanship was rewarded by an enthusiastic audience who made it the top grossing movie of the year.

Pair this dense and flavorful wine with another layered gem, a New Hollywood romance considered to be one of the genre’s all-time greats. This ’70s standout stars Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand as a couple who, over several decades, drift in and out of each other’s lives. A glass of this elegant Cabernet will both elevate the high points and soften the melancholy notes.

This well-known love story follows Yuri Andreyevich Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and Larissa Antipova (Julie Christie) as they fight to keep their relationship alive against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. A cinematic tour de force, it was the first film to capture the turmoil of the Revolution in true and hectic detail. Epic in scope, it’s an excellent choice for this robust and velvety Merlot blend.

The idea of a holiday film typically conjures up snowy thoughts, but this perennial classic is set in a sprawling desert. Starring John Wayne, Harry Carey Jr. and Pedro Armendáriz, it tells the Christmastime story of three bank robbers turned heroes when they rescue a baby and shepherd the infant to safety across blazing sands with a sheriff hot on their backs. The Western pairs perfectly with this Australian white that has a deep flavor concentration born out of its grapes’ hot, dry growing season.

A bold move itself, this rebellious but now-iconic film helped set the direction for American cinema for a full decade. A reflection of the youth movement (both inside and outside Hollywood), it stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the notorious bank-robbing couple. What better to pair with a robust red blend?

A bold Viognier can stand a little heat and so can this movie’s title character, played by the unforgettable Dorothy Dandridge. A queen bee herself, Carmen is an independent woman who does as she pleases. Otto Preminger’s film moves the setting of Bizet’s classic opera, Carmen, from Spain to the American South, and it has since become a cultural landmark in its own right: Dandridge became the first African-American to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar.

For this fine discovery of a wine, watch an adventure film like MGM’s Technicolor version of King Solomon’s Mines. Starring Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr as a British hunter and wife of a missing explorer, the film follows the pair as they journey in search of the legendary diamond mines of the title. Shot on location in East Africa, it’s a stunning entertainment and the perfect pair for a wine full of attractive ripeness and fruit-forward depth.

This bright and zippy white pairs perfectly with a smart and engaging comedy. We could think of none better than this classic directed by Alexander Hall and starring Robert Montgomery, Evelyn Keyes and Claude Rains. It tells the story of boxer Joe Pendeleton who, with the help of his guardian angel, is on the lookout for a new identity after accidentally being claimed by heaven before his time. The film, with its witty dialogue and stand-out performances, garnered seven Oscar nominations, including two wins for Best Original Story and Best Screenplay.

Producer Val Lewton made a series of idiosyncratic horror films in the 1940s, but this may be his most successful effort. In it, Simone Simon stars as a lonely fashion designer in New York City who harbors a dark secret: she is descended from a long line of cat people who turn murderous when aroused. The Monastrell grape lends intense black-fruit aromas and rich, concentrated flavors to the glass, making it an ideal pairing for film with such a ferocious bite.

A perfect steak wine calls for an iconic western. This Technicolor classic stars Errol Flynn and tells the tale of a cattleman turned sheriff, who tames a lawless town. Known for its action, it features one of the best barroom brawls put to film. Directed by Michael Curtiz, it also stars Olivia de Havilland and Ann Sheridan.

An Australian wine that can be described as “sunshine in a glass” calls for a sunny, smile-inducing movie. With a contagiously effervescent Sandra Dee as the teen surfer, this hit film helped to bring Southern Californian culture to the masses. Its popularity led to two sequels and a television series that launched the career of Sally Field.

By the late 1930s, Preston Sturges had established himself as a writer of remarkable wit and sophistication. In this first directorial effort, he charts the unlikely rise and fall of a corrupt New York Governor (Brian Donlevy), an example of the comedic American social commentary for which Sturges became so well known. It’s a broadly entertaining film, as pleasing as the succulent flavors and fruit-forward aromas of this smooth Chardonnay.

From grapes grown in seaside vineyards under cool ocean breezes, this white blend shines. It pairs well with this classic story of a boy and his horse whose relationship was also born along the sea. A refreshing tale, The Black Stallion was directed by Carroll Ballard, produced by Francis Ford Coppola and stars Kelly Reno and Mickey Rooney.

One of the most literate, sensitively acted and beautifully directed movies of the 1930s, this William Wyler film drama is, like this French red, a classic blend of elements. Stars Walter Huston, Ruth Chatterton and Mary Astor impressively tell the story of an automotive magnate and his turbulent personal life. It’s a richly textured film and worthy of a wine of such smooth, rich character.

The first film in a series of beach movies from indie studio American International Pictures, Beach Party was a surprise hit at the box office and still has charm aplenty. Enjoy this light, young wine—full of sunny lime and green apple flavor, with a mineral freshness—while experiencing the nostalgia of carefree days on the coast with stars Bob Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.

The rugged landscape of southern France lends itself to this wine’s concentrated notes of wild herbs and citrus just as it did to painter Vincent Van Gogh’s richly concentrated colors. Watch Kirk Douglas’s layered performance as Van Gogh in Lust for Life and enjoy the shared brilliance of director Vincente Minnelli’s lush palette and this white blend’s satisfying finish.

The first film in a series of beach movies from indie studio American International Pictures, Beach Party was a surprise hit at the box office and still has charm aplenty. Enjoy this light, young wine—full of sunny lime and green apple flavor, with a mineral freshness—while experiencing the nostalgia of carefree days on the coast with stars Bob Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.

Leo McCarey’s original version of Love Affair (it would later be remade as An Affair to Remember) is one of the great Hollywood love stories. Like this highly honored red wine, McCarey and stars Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer were all previous Oscar nominees, and the film picked up six nominations of its own. This bottle’s home country of Portugal also makes an appearance, providing the setting for one of the film’s pivotal and most touching moments.

Every generation has its own film version of Alexandre Dumas’ timeless adventure novel, from the 1921 Douglas Fairbanks classic to the 1993 hit with brat pack stars. This adaptation stands out for its fun comedic moments, irreverent direction by Richard Lester and excellent cast, including Richard Chamberlain, Oliver Reed, Michael York and Raquel Welch. Lift a drink in solidarity with some ageless heroes and enjoy this vibrant Chenin Blanc.

The Jumper, a vibrant and fiercely independent wine, pairs nicely with this freewheeling Bob Fosse musical written by Neil Simon. Shirley MacLaine stars as Charity Hope Valentine, who finds herself repeatedly tested in her search for love. This energetic tale was based on Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria (1957).