Wine and Movie Pairing: Bubbles and Barbie
Bubbles and Barbie!
It was the movie that stole our hearts, made us laugh, then made us think about society in a new way... It is finally time to pair Barbie with POE’s Van der Kamp Pinot Meunier Sparkling Rosé.
ICYMI, Barbie is the film that took over pop culture’s collective conscience this summer, and society has been thinking (and drinking) pink since July. Director Greta Gerwig (the driving force behind Little Women and Ladybird) creates a frothy and fun Barbieland where Barbies are President, Nobel Prize winners, Supreme Court judges, doctors, and everything in between. As Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) soon discovers, the roles in Barbieland do not match up to those in the Real World, and it is up to our favorite blonde heroine and the real woman who filled her brain with existential dread (America Ferrera) to empower people everywhere.
Barbie is proving that substance can happily coexist with style as the film has started to garner critical acclaim for its screenplay, direction, and technical feats as much as the candy-colored production design and laugh-out-loud comedic performances. Greta Gerwig co-wrote the screenplay with her partner, filmmaker Noah Baumbach, and the toxic masculinity jabs towards the Kens land just a little bit harder when Baumbach has an opportunity to poke fun at himself.
Pulling inspiration from mid-century Technicolor musicals, French New Wave films, and even The Godfather, Greta Gerwig manages to give audiences a fresh perspective on a piece of IP we thought we knew, and her directorial work here is a shot-by-shot masterpiece. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, and the gigantic ensemble act commit to the bit entirely, and all of the fun is underlined by a pop-driven soundtrack that twists towards an unexpectedly emotional ending. Be prepared to see and hear a lot more pink as awards season ramps up.
What else is pink and bubbly and beloved by many? Rosé sparkling wine, of course! The temptation to bring a true Champagne to this movie is strong, but at the end of the day, Barbie (both the movie and the subject) is female-made and unapologetically American. That’s why I’ve chosen the irresistible Van der Kamp Pinot Meunier Sparkling Rosé from POE Wines to pair with this modern classic of a movie.
Founded in 2009, winemaker Samantha Sheehan started POE with the express goal of creating vineyard-specific wines with aging potential from California. Sheehan herself is inspired by classic wines from Burgundy and Champagne, although she has stated that she does not seek to replicate the wines from these regions.
The traditional method sparkling wine featured here comes from the historic Van der Kamp vineyard in Sonoma Mountain, and subverts expectations for a California sparkling wine by focusing exclusively on Champagne’s “blending grape” - Pinot Meunier. Fine bubbles give way to a fresh, fruity wine; abundant strawberries and rose water aromatics intermingle with a slight brioche quality that indicates sur lies aging.
All in all? This is a well-crafted wine that has something new to say about its terroir while tipping its hat to the wines that inspired it. The fact that it was created by one of the most respected winemakers in Sonoma is an added bonus.
POE recommends pairing this sparkler with grilled shrimp, grilled trout, or smoked chicken salad; I’ll add anything seafood to the list in homage to Ken’s profession of “beach”. Bonus points for a food pairing that is both beachy and pink.
The POE Van der Kamp Pinot Meunier Sparkling Rosé is available direct to consumer for $45. You can also look for it at your favorite local restaurant.
Barbie is now streaming on MAX. You can also purchase the movie on Blu-Ray and Digital for approximately $16.