Wine and Movie Pairing: Crisp Riesling and Challengers
I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it.
Get ready for a thirst-quenching Wine and Movie Pairing, in more ways than one… Let’s take a look at Challengers with Some Young Punks’ “Monsters, Monsters, Attack!” Clare Valley Riesling.
Challengers deals with the power dynamic between three tennis professionals: Tashi, a former young superstar who is now an elite coach (Zendaya), Art (her husband), an elite player in the twilight of his career looking for that elusive U.S. Open win (Mike Faist), and Patrick, their former friend/ex-boyfriend, a young phenom struggling to make it in the minor league of tennis (Josh O’Connor). When Tashi puts Art in a Challenger tournament as a last minute rally for a win going into the U.S. Open, the duo unexpectedly run into Patrick, setting the stage for a deep dive into the trio’s mutual history and a dramatic final match.
The Challengers screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes is full of the same tension and unexpected twists as a really exciting tennis match. With some sexy close ups from director Luca Guadagnino and a pulsating synth-driven score from Oscar-winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, this is a movie that uses its production elements as a sturdy framework for something thrilling.
The element that takes Challengers beyond a frothy summer movie? The headlining trio of actors. Zendaya is firmly in control of almost everything on screen as Tashi Duncan, but she goes toe to toe with her two co-stars in a power struggle with so many unspoken feelings. Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor are two actors who remain present and open to seeing wherever a scene will take them, resulting in some dynamic scenes between the two and with Zendaya. The world may have been hooked by the lusty trailer, but the wonderful acting showcase (supported by some thoughtful direction, a snappy screenplay, and that score) grounds the movie into something more.
So where do we go for a wine pairing? Well, there’s a joke to be made here about Master Sommelier Ian Cauble’s tasting note heard around the world. Naturally, we’re pairing Challengers with a Clare Valley Riesling, but it’s a wine made by three talented winemakers that represent the new school of Australian wine. Meet “Monsters, Monsters, Attack!” by Some Young Punks.
Jen Gardner and Col McBryde are the winemakers at Vine Mind (known for their concrete-aged white wines as much as their Shiraz blends), and their friend Nic Bourke is the head winemaker at Hugh Hamilton (a McLaren Vale estate with almost two centuries of history). Together, these three winemakers have collaborated on a more experimental label that redefines South Australian wine while still paying homage to the limestone-driven terroir that gives Clare Valley a unique edge.
The labels for Some Young Punks wines are inspired by vintage pop art, and the young Riesling for “Monsters, Monsters, Attack!” is just as punchy and colorful as its label. At 8 grams per liter of residual sugar, this wine teeters on the line between dry and off-dry, resulting in some delicious tension that finishes smooth. Throw in some notes of zesty citrus and aromatic white flowers, and you have the perfect thirst quencher for a warm day.
Food plays a unique role in the movie, as Fran Hoepfner from Vulture points out here. As a tip of the hat to the horniest country club food ever seen on camera, I would pair this wine with a ginormous plate of nachos and jalapeno peppers (the worse the quality of the cheese, the better). If you happen to pair “Monsters, Monsters, Attack!” with a churro, don’t forget to share it with a somebody you used to know.
The 2022 Some Young Punks “Monsters, Monsters, Attack!” Riesling can be ordered directly from the producer’s website ($18 before tax and shipping). You can also check WineSearcher.com for details on stockists near you.
Challengers is in select theaters now, and available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.
Further Reading
Director Luca Guadagnino provides audio commentary for the famous “churro scene” in Challengers. (Mekado Murphy/New York Times)
Winemaker Col McBryde introduces the Some Young Punks ethos and the origins of the collaborative wine label. (Bibendum Times)