Light Dry White Wines
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Albarino
Pair with: Bob’s Burgers or Archer
Pair your easy drinking with easy viewing tinted in just a bit of snarky, dry wit. Bob’s Burgers and Archer are first and foremost ridiculous animated series, with an underlying sophistication. Also, though palatable, I’d argue that these shows are only suited to adults, much like your grown-up grape juices up there.
Sweet White Wine
Moscato, Riesling, Chenin Blanc
Pair with: Parks and Rec or Gilmore Girls
Between Leslie Knope of Parks and Rec and Lorelai Gilmore of Gilmore Girls, you’re bound to be hanging out with some funny, powerful women. And both shows are narrative-oriented enough that they’re binge-able, but not so connected that you need to be paying a whole bunch of attention. If you drift in and out to the kitchen to stock up on more of your sweet, sweet, wine, you’re not going to be lost when you return.
Rich White Wine
Chardonnay, Oaked Whites,
Pair with: Friends or Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buttery, oaky wines are for nostalgia. Like Friends and Buffy, your Chardonnay deserves to be savored. For big fans of both the shows and the wine, this is smooth viewing and drinking. You’ve had it before and you’ll watch it again, so savor, mouth the words, and enjoy your visit with your old friends.
Light Red Wine
Pinot Noir, Grenache, Pinotage, Gamay
Pair with: Supernatural or Sense8
Supernatural and Sense8 aren’t heady enough to put you back on your tuckus like the bolder reds or a political drama, but they’re certainly two shows that you’ll want to throw around your palate a bit. Your choice really comes down to time. Do you have a glass or two and a single season of Sense8 to get through? Or do you have a few days, a case of Pinot Noir, and 10 seasons worth of Supernatural to catch up on? Either way, lighter reds are for making fast friends, and these two character-driven sci-fi dramas are ready to cozy up with some wine.
Medium Red Wine
Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Pair with: Merlin or Sherlock
For whatever reason, I’ve always thought Merlot was a distinctly London-garden sort of affair. The association probably has to do with chilly, drizzling days and cobblestones, but whatever the reason, the BBC’s Merlin and Sherlock are really the only way to go for medium-bodied red wines. If you haven’t seen these new twists on older tales, give them a chance. Where Sherlock is intense, Merlin is distinctly quirky, but both series are bound to keep you intrigued and giggling simultaneously. Maybe that’s the wine.
Bold Red Wine
Cabernet Sauvignon, Aglianico, Shiraz/Syrah
Pair with: Scandal or House of Cards
Olivia Pope of Scandal is known for her red wine and popcorn nights and I wouldn’t doubt that Claire Underwood is of the same persuasion. These two heavy political dramas that both take place in D.C. demand your full attention with their fast-pace and political jargon. But chances are high that you’ll be so infuriated by the corruption and dizzying back-door dealings of the not-so-alternative universe political worlds that you’ll need a glass or seven of a bold red.
Whiskey
Irish or Scotch?
Pair with: Peaky Blinders.
If you’re planning to celebrate #NationalDrinkWineDay with whiskey (because, let’s be honest, we should celebrate every holiday with whiskey), there’s really only one show to watch. Peaky Blinders is a Netflix series that follows a family of gangsters through their gambling ring and other covert affairs in 1800s Birmingham, UK. It’s a smart, thrilling, and devious period drama that you’re not going to see anywhere else. Tom Hardy, Annabelle Wallace, and Cillian Murphy don’t hurt either. The question isn’t what to watch, but, in the words of Thomas Shelby, Irish or Scotch?
