Romantic Comedy Wine Pairings for this Valentine’s Day
I love romantic comedies. They are more than a guilty pleasure, I don’t feel any guilt admitting that I watch them. While some people may say that all rom-coms are the same, many play with the genres’ tropes and conventions. Many have woven themselves into our pop culture.
I watch them when I get a quiet moment to myself, when I need to pick myself up. They are my cure all. Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner I thought I would share some of my favourite rom-coms and offer up some wine pairings. This is my love day gift to you.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
This is one of my all time favourite rom-coms. 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.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
No rom-com list is complete without Bridget Jones’s Diary. It’s got everything: great actors, self-deprecating humor, some of the best on screen kissing you will EVER see, and a hilarious fight scene inside of a restaurant.
Wine Pairing: Chardonnay
Bridget Jones loves Chardonnay. She drinks it when she’s up and drinks it when she is down, all alone and singing “All By Myself” by Jamie O’Neal.
Pretty Woman (1990)
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
There is one 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 than while watching this movie. Champagne not in your budget? You can always try non-vintage Champagne, Cremant, or Cava.
Clueless (1995)
One of the most famous rom-coms of the 90’s and one I can quote from memory pretty well. 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
Just 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.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
I know this film is a little predictable and a bit out of date, but it’s fun and heartwarming.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 and Chardonnay
Since this is one of my all time favourite romantic comedies it gets two wine pairings. A Pinot Noir because it is classic and earthy, just Like Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), bonus if it’s an American PInot Noir, and a Chardonnay because like Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), it’s bright s and beloved by many.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
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 growing up here 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 that is grown all over the country.It is a light white wine with aromas and flavours of passionfruit, lemon, and a subtle bitterness and saltiness, which are not unpleasant. It is definitely worth a try if you happen to come across it at the store.
Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
This movie amuses me to no end. It is cute, funny, and in many ways relatable depending on where you are in your life/relationships. I absolutely 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, and the coming together of families. Blending grape varieties to make a wine is all of these things and more.It’s not just about combining grape varieties to make a wine, but it is about understanding how these different grapes will work and come together. Blended wines can be complex and have many layers to them. Pick your favourite red wine blend, sit back, and enjoy.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
This is another rom-com that changed the game for the genre. It was edgy and explored the universal question of, “Can people just be friends without developing romantic feelings for each other?” It has great banter between the two main characters. It’s 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.
Moonstruck (1987)
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.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Finally, the one that brought female friendships to the forefront. Bridesmaid showed the world a little bit about what friendships are like between women. It became the raunchy comedy we all needed. Friendships between women aren’t at all 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. Oh, yeah and two people fall in love and her friend gets married.
Wine Pairing: Rosé
This is a female film that celebrates womanhood and female friendships and I honestly can’t think of a better drink to accompany such a film. Rosés are not just “feminine” but they can be complex and layered much like the friendships in this film.
I hope you find yourself a nice bottle while watching one of these classic romantic comedies. Below are some of my favourite bottles to have with some of the films on my list. Happy Valentine’s Day!
