Wine and Movie Pairing: Beautiful Rosé for The Last Showgirl
"This is breasts and rhinestones and joy!"
For the first wine and movie pairing of 2025, we go from first to last. Let’s give The Last Showgirl (2024) the premiere it deserves by pairing it with a gorgeous aged Provençal rosé.
The Last Showgirl follows veteran Las Vegas showgirl Shelly (Pamela Anderson) in her day-to-day life dancing in one of the longest running revues in the city. When the production manager, Eddie (Dave Bautista), announces that Le Razzle Dazzle will be closing after a 30-year run, Shelly wrestles with her next steps as a dancer, a mother to her estranged daughter (Billie Lourd), and a mother figure to her fellow dancers (Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka) as they look for new jobs.
Director Gia Coppola finds a lot of romance in the lonely, often unglamorous lives of the people who call Las Vegas home. It’s reminiscent of Sean Baker’s affinity for sex workers and unflinching documentary-like approach to the lives they lead (and Sean Baker is credited in the Special Thanks section of the movie). The movie is almost 90 minutes long, but jam-packed with impeccable production design, including the use of archival Bob Mackie costumes that lend a colorful, ostrich feathered authenticity to the waning days of Le Razzle Dazzle.
In addition to “Beautiful That Way”, Miley Cyrus’ Golden Globe-nominated song that is used just as effectively as “Lift Me Up” in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the standout element for The Last Showgirl is its brilliant casting work. Pamela Anderson has much in common with Shelly, but Anderson’s ability to mine the depths of her heartbreak in search of a sense of belonging is breathtaking. Shelly’s relationship with her best friend, ex-showgirl-turned-cocktail waitress Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis) is a study in female friendships that pass the Bechdel Test (and yes, Jamie Lee Curtis is brilliant, adding some sharp comedic moments to a stellar ensemble).
Dave Bautista is also at a career best as Eddie, finding lots of ways to tell the story between the lines of a man constantly in search of the right words. As can be expected, there are lots of great scenes behind the scenes of the revue, but one of my favorites takes place on the floor of the dressing room with Shelly, Jodie (Kiernan Shipka), and Mary-Anne (Brenda Song) - once you see the film, you’ll recognize the scene for its honest and complex way of saying so much without actually speaking.
A gorgeous movie with a faded exterior deserves a high quality wine with a little age to it. And since rosé evokes an easy drinking characteristic, why not combine style and substance with an aged rosé from Provence?
Mas de Gourgonnier is a family-run estate established in the 1970s that boasts a reputation as one of the oldest certified organic wineries. The Cartier family has owned the land since the 18th Century, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that grapevines were planted. Over the course of its long history, the Cartier family has prized organic farming practices, and at a time when organic certifications were considered foolish, they sought an official seal noting their high quality product that was also good for the land.
In new releases, “Les Baux de Provence” rosé is everything you could want from a pink sipper - full bodied, tart fruited, juicy with red cherry and wild strawberry, accompanied by just the right amount of spice. But with a little age on it? The 2021 vintage still contains notes of cherry, strawberry, and dried watermelon, but they take a back seat to more nuanced secondary aromatics like dried rose petals and candied orange peels. The fruit may have faded alongside that bright pink color, but age has proven to be a winning factor for this stunningly beautiful rosé. In a way, this wine feels like the last of its kind - a showstopper at any age, but particularly pretty with some years on it.
While Las Vegas is an unofficial food town for hedonists and high rollers, it feels unlike the movie to recommend anything covered in edible gold as a food pairing for the wine. The movie and the wine are both delicate and beautiful, but ready to consume alongside a crisp salad with radishes and good Parmigiano Reggiano. Or, take a cue from the movie and order Chinese takeout - the wine would be great with sweet and sour pork and a good friend.
The 2021 vintage of Mas de Gourgonnier’s “Les Baux de Provence” Rosé is available at your local independent wine store (and if you live in the Bay Area, it’s on sale for $14 right now!). You can also check WineSearcher for details on stockists near you. Thank you for supporting small businesses!
The Last Showgirl (2024) is now playing in theaters.