Pairing Sparkling Wine with TV Shows

What’s your favourite sparkling wine and TV show pairing?

Choosing a good sparkling wine to enjoy while watching a TV show is fun. Below are some of the best types of sparkling wines to enjoy while playing these popular TV show genres.

Drama

A good drama TV show requires compelling characters with depth, strong acting performances and well-written dialogue, along with a strong and engaging plot. Some examples include: Breaking Bad, The Wire, The Sopranos and Peaky Blinders. Pair with Cava with its crisp, zesty citrus flavour, bright acidity and a distinct minerality which will complement the strong plot.

Comedy

Great sitcoms are funny and relatable. they make audience members feel like the characters are friends. The best sitcoms of all time have cemented their places in television history and become staples of popular culture. Some examples include: Seinfeld, Friends, The Office, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother. Pair with Prosecco, as it’s light, fruity and easy to drink and will complement the fun on screen.

Thriller

A good thriller TV series can build suspense, create a sense of tension, have well-developed characters and a compelling mystery or plot with unexpected twists. Good pacing keeps viewers engaged and guessing until the very end. Some examples include: Lost, Broadchurch, Spooks, Sherlock and The Last of Us. Pair with an Australian Sparkling Red Shiraz, its vibrant, deep, full-bodied, rich wine with ripe and intense fruit flavours will complement the action on screen.

Dystopian

A good dystopian TV show will feature a society in decline, an oppressive government, with themes of fear, loss, and hopelessness. Some examples include: The Handmaid’s Tale, The Walking Dead, The Man in the High Castle, The Black Mirror and The 100. Pair with Franciacorta, a sparkling wine from Italy with complex flavours that include notes of fruit, flowers, bread, and yeast that will complement the complex nature of the show.

Fantasy

A good fantasy TV show will have a well-developed, immersive world and compelling characters along with visually captivating special effects. Some examples include: Game of Thrones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lucifer and What We Do in the Shadows. Pair with Crémant, a sparkling wine, which is rich and creamy, that will complement the rich fantasy on screen.

Reality TV

A good reality TV series has interesting and dynamic cast members,  a mix of drama and relatable moments and a concept that keeps viewers engaged with the lives of the people featured on the show. Some examples include: Clarkson’s Farm, Kitchen Nightmares, Taskmaster, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Big Brother. Pair with Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine from Italy, it’s fun and fruity with a whole lot of character, which will pair with the characters on screen.

Science Fiction

A good science fiction TV series combines good characters with well-developed storylines that explore thought-provoking themes about the future, technology, and society. Some examples include: Doctor Who, Star Trek and Red Dwarf. Pair with South African sparkling wines, also known as Méthode Cap Classique (MCC), which have notes of toast, yeast, bread dough and nuts, along with chalky or flinty aromas which will complement this type of show.