If you’re like many people stuck at home during the pandemic missing your usual friends and outings, Netflix has likely become your go-to quarantine activity. Sure, you may still go out for some social distance exercise or do an online yoga class, but let’s face it, with nowhere else to go, most of our free afternoons and evenings are in front of the TV. So this week’s features are geared towards the official activity of pandemic quarantine: Netflix and Wine.

Not specific to just Netflix….maybe you have Disney Plus, Prime Video, HBO’s Crave, or I suppose even regular cable (I haven’t had real TV in over 5 years). Either way, here’s some wines to pair with various scenarios on the couch as you watch through everything these streaming sites have to offer.

CRISP & FRESH AFTERNOONS:

In pre-pandemic times, if you started cracking that bottle of white in the fridge at 2pm people might think you have a problem. But with this quarantine paradigm shift, day-drinking has become as normal on Tuesday as it would be on Labour Day. Everyone’s trying to find a little more enjoyment in this whole crazy situation, and in many cases that means Wine O’Clock arrives at Noon instead of 5pm! So whether you’re working from home with the camera off on a Zoom meeting or just chilling out on the couch with all 31 seasons of The Simpsons, a zippy white or rose is the way to go to help keep things fresh and spry during the day. Consider some nice crisp sippers like these:

AMALAYA, TORRONTES, SALTA, ARGENTINA 2019 | $15.99 x12
Torrontes is Argentina’s white wine. They grow other whites there, but Torrontes is their own signature grape that doesn’t really exist elsewhere. This comes from one of the most remote wine producing regions in the world. The Calchaquíes Valley in the Salta region of northwest Argentina also boasts the highest vineyards in the world at 6000-10’000 feet. A crazy place to visit. On a trip in 2012 our plane almost crashed in the Andes mountains trying to get to Amalaya, but it was well worth the journey. This unique bottle includes 15% Riesling because during their first vintage they mistakenly blended it together in what was thought to be an empty tank, but it turned out delicious and it ended up winning best Best in Show at the Decanter Wine Awards in the UK. So they leaned into that happy accident and kept re-making it annually. It’s crisp and fresh with nice citrus notes and just a hint of sweetness for a nicely balanced rounder texture. A perfect afternoon sipper!

CHATEAU DU TRIGNON, COTES DU RHONE ROSE, FRANCE 2018 | $19.99 x12
Everyone loves a good Cotes du Rhone, so think how much more you’ll love a great CdR Rose! The same blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre works just as well in a rose as it does a red. Trignon is an old family estate that combines fruit from its estate vineyards in Gigondas, Vacqueryas, Sablet, Rasteau, and Cotes-du-Rhone AOC vineyards. A beautiful light pink colour with lots of crisp and juicy texture, but bone dry as well. Once you taste this bottle you’ll understand why Rose All Day is such a cultural phenomenon.

VINCENT CAILLE JE T’AIME MAIS J’AI SOIF, NV | $24.99 x12
I wrote about Vincent Caille in our Spring Natural Wine Offer, so check that out for more details on him and his winemaking. This is non-vintage blend that 66% Melon de Bourgogne, 34% Marsanne. Certified organic and declassified to Vin de France to include the Marsanne grape from outside the Loire Valley. This is a really easy-drinking, fresh wine with notes of citrus and apricots. And with a name like “I love you but I’m thirsty” you can’t resist the jokes to pair this with trashy reality TV like ‘Love Is Blind’ or ‘Too Hot To Handle’ 😂

EVENINGS WITH POPCORN OR CHIPS:

Whether you’re re-watching 'Game of Thrones' or just watching 'Breaking Bad' for the first time (guilty!) you’re probably settling in with a salty snack like chips, popcorn or Chicago Mix (the Cadillac of popcorns), in which case you might want something a little rounder. A rich, luscious white that keeps a crisp edge but is nicely textured with either a hint of sweetness or some buttery characteristics would do the trick:

IRONSTONE, CHARDONNAY, LODI, CALIFORNIA, 2018 | $19.99 x12
What better wine to have with buttered popcorn than a wine that has buttery popcorn notes itself?? Ironstone Vineyard is owned by the Kautz family in the gold rush town of Murphy’s California. They’re one of the most famous grape farmers in California, growing and selling their sustainably certified grapes to all kinds of wineries since the 1960’s. This classic California Chardonnay hits it right down them middle: ripe with tropical fruit flavours plus honeysuckle, butterscotch and vanilla notes with a touch of oak. Think crisp acidity bracing a buttery texture that is perfect for that big bowl of popcorn and a long run of ‘Narcos’ or ‘Homeland’.

DOMAINE ZINCK, PINOT BLANC, ALSACE, FRANCE, 2017 | $22.99 x12
The less famous, but equally awesome cousin of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Pinot Blanc is a little underrated. It’s the dark horse that often unexpectedly wins the race. I wrote more about Philippe Zinck and his sparkling wines in last week’s feature on Champagne Tastes on a Quarantine Budget, but this week we’re talking about his Pinot Blanc. Its unctuous mid-palate and softer acidity gives it a very smooth and well balanced texture: crisp but not over-bearing. Think notes of slightly smokey flint, delicate light fresh herbs, ripe melons and whit peaches for a fruity medium-bodied easy-going wine perfect for the cheesy and caramel flavours of Chicago Mix and the hilarious final seasons of ‘The Ranch’ or ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’.

White Burgundy + Salt & Vinegar Kettle Chips = 💯

MAISON CHAMPY, ‘CUVEE EDME’ CHARDONNAY, BURGUNDY, FRANCE, 2018 | $34.99 x12
Burgundy is the home of Chardonnay, and Maison Champy is the oldest winery in Burgundy…so they know a thing or two about good Chardonnay. These days it’s hard to find good value in Burgundy, but when you’re 3 centuries old, you own enough great vineyards that you’re less affected by the increasing land prices and can produce some of the better values on the market. And for those Burgundy nuts out there, this Chardonnay is a blend of barrels from their vineyards in Puligny, Meursault, and Rully! It’s hard to beat the pedigree of those villages for just $35 a bottle! Expect classic White Burgundy notes of baked green apples, exotic fruit, and white flowers. Some time on the lees gives it a slightly toasty character and a softer acidity for a smoother balance with the warmer 2018 vintage. What was dubbed “the heat wave year” is seen as one of the best vintages in recent years, prompting critics to compare it to the mythical vintage 1947 vintage. But all the heat didn’t over do the body or the alcohol, it’s surprising how elegantly this drinks and it clocks in at only 13% alcohol! The crisp crunch of classic Miss Vicky’s kettle roasted chips will play to that minerality perfectly.

LATE NIGHT SIPPING:

When you’ve finished your Chicago Mix with the bottle of Pinot Blanc and Netflix is asking “Are You Still Watching ’Too Hot To Handle’?" you realize it’s time to shift gears into some late night reds. If you’re finally checking out ‘Broadchurch' or gearing up for a 4 episode binge of ‘The Last Dance’, you need something smooth and flavourful enough to enjoy on it’s own, but without being to heavy or tannic to need a meal with. Here’s a few things that should fit the bill nicely:

RIVERA, ‘RUPICOLO’, PUGLIA, ITALY | $16.99 x12
Rivera is arguably THE benchmark winery in Puglia, and one of the oldest in the Castel del Monte DOC. Their Rupicolo is a smooth blend of 40% Nero di Troia, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% other indigenous grapes like Montepulciano. If you’ve never heard of Nero di Troia before, it’s a unique variety to that part of the world, and was actually the first grape ever mentioned in recorded history in Homer’s Iliad. It literally means the black grape of they city of Troy. Expect some leathery earthiness from the Nero di Troia, a bit of dark fruit and structure from the Cab Sauv, and lots of smooth, plush juiciness from the Montepulciano and other indigenous grapes blended in. Easy, delicious, all-night sipper.

SOPRA SASSO, VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO, ITALY, 2015 | $25.99 x12
Ripasso wines are synonymous with smooth. Some people call Ripasso baby Amarone, but they’re really more of a muscular Valpolicella Classico. “Ripasso” literally means ‘re-passed’ referring to the addition of the already pressed Amarone skins to Valpolicella vats which gives it hints of that raisiny dried fruit character that Amarone is so famous for. This one from Sopra Sasso is a traditional blend of Corvina Veronese, Corvinone, and Rondinella. Think raisins, hazelnuts, and a velvety smooth full-bodied texture for your evenings on the couch with ‘Stranger Things’ or ‘Dark’.

Masut Pinot + West World = perfect quarantine night in.

MASUT, ‘ESTATE VINEYARD’ PINOT NOIR, MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, 2016 | $54.99 x6
Masut is one of the most hidden gems in all of California Pinot Noir. A small estate vineyard nestled high in the hills of Mendocino County on what is now the Eagle Peak AVA. Bobby Fetzer purchased the 1200 acre mountain property in the mid-90’s after they sold Fetzer Vineyards and planned to retire to a simpler life of farming and making high-end craft Pinot Noir. Jake and Ben Fetzer now carry on their family’s legacy by crafting the next generation of truly elegant, organically grown, unfiltered Pinot Noir. Check out their website for a great video on creating Masut. With this Pinot don’t expect any jammy, overly ripe, or over-oaked fruit like many Cali Pinots can have. This is a classy bottle with smooth and elegant nuances of black cherries, strawberries, potting soil, a hint of clove and cracked black pepper. It gives you more and more the longer it’s open. Sip this slowly over long binge of ‘West World’, letting it open and unfold over several hours. Throwing it in a decanter might be a nice idea. And if you don’t happen to finish it all in one night, it’s even better on day 2!

Just a reminder that the order deadline for Friday delivery is Wednesday at 9am. Reach out if you have any questions, check out the archive of past FEATURES if you’re interested in other recommendations, and please feel free to forward this to anyone in Ontario who may be interested in home wine delivery!