Wine and Movie Pairing: We're Going To Bridges!
“Carpe dentum, seize the teeth!”
Here in the Bay Area, school is starting up again. We’re holding on to the last days of summer fun with a family comedy from the 90s… Let’s watch Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) with a bottle of Darcie Kent DeMayo Chardonnay!
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) was a box office hit when it was released, and has since become a classic comedy and a treasured depiction of the San Francisco Bay Area on screen. Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is an unemployed actor struggling to care for his family. When his wife Miranda (Sally Field) files for divorce, Daniel enlists the help of his makeup artist brother (Harvey Fierstein) to transform into Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, the nanny hired to care for the three Hillard children. Things get complicated when Stuart Denmyer (Pierce Brosnan) starts dating Miranda, and the children start falling for Mrs. Doubtfire. Will Daniel be able to keep his new “job” and his new role in his family’s life?
At first glance, Mrs. Doubtfire may feel outdated, but the film is still highly regarded as one of Robin Williams’ best films. By the time Mrs. Doubtfire came around, Williams had a reputation for being a loose cannon on set, improvising many memorable moments (to the chagrin of screenwriters across Hollywood who lost Oscar eligibility due to Williams’ impromptu rewrites). An extensive blooper reel for the movie shows how many takes each scene needed to get to a final product; fortunately for audiences everywhere, director Chris Columbus embraced Williams’ natural aptitude for improv and had two to three cameras film coverage of all actors to get their reactions to Williams’ off-the-cuff changes. The result? A hilarious film that has stood the test of time, and a documentary-like reel of special features footage almost as long as the movie itself.
The city of San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area are painted in a beautiful light in the movie, which adds to the nostalgia. Because Robin Williams was a proud Bay Area resident, he took great lengths to ensure that shooting locations and local talent were highlighted throughout the movie. Bridges Restaurant, the location for one of the climactic scenes of the movie, is a real restaurant in my hometown of Danville, California. Producers felt that the ample space would be perfect for the scene in which Daniel Hillard and Mrs. Doubtfire were both expected for dinner dates, causing chaos and some very funny quick changes in the bathroom. Today, Bridges Restaurant looks a little different than it did 30 years ago, but there’s a Mrs. Doubtfire poster signed by “Mrs. D” that hangs beside - where else? - the women’s restroom.
In the Bridges scenes, Mrs. Doubtfire asks Miranda to order her a glass of “stiff Chardonnay, light and woody”. Well, Mrs. D., you’re gonna get a great one today. Darcie Kent’s DeMayo Chardonnay from Livermore Valley fits the bill for a full bodied white wine from the Bay Area with some noticeable oak and malolactic fermentation, but still feels crisp and well made to appease modern palates as well.
Fifth generation winemaker Darcie Kent is a Renaissance woman who is considered a legend in the East Bay’s wine scene. The Darcie Kent Estate Winery was founded in 1996, not long after Mrs. Doubtfire was released, and Darcie is now teaching her two daughters (sixth generation winemakers) the family business. Darcie Kent’s painting adorns the labels of the wine that bears her name, and the famous purple barn that serves as the winery’s tasting room in the heart of Livermore wine country is filled with Darcie’s original artwork.
The DeMayo Chardonnay is one of the oldest wines in the Darcie Kent lineup, but it’s gone through a few style tweaks in recent years. When I first tasted the 2019 vintage, it had a prominent buttered popcorn aroma that felt fun and slightly comical, but not out of place. Newer vintages focus less on the buttery and creamy notes that malolactic fermentation can contribute, but the oak contact and the solid structure are still very much in place. The 2022 vintage is more focused on tropical fruit (think ripe mango and caramelized pineapple) and tart green apple, along with some light baking spices and a full bodied finish. This is absolutely a wine that moms in the 90s would line up to drink, but it’s also a bottle that the 90s moms would be able to share with their Chablis and Sancerre-loving children today.
If there was ever a wine to pair with movie theater popcorn, this would be it. To recreate the iconic meal at Bridges, try this wine with a good poached salmon and roasted potatoes, or a hot jambalaya (add extra peppers, unless you’re Pierce Brosnan). Just beware of drive-by fruitings.
The 2022 vintage of Darcie Kent DeMayo Chardonnay is available directly from the estate website. You can also check WineSearcher for details on stockists near you. Thanks for supporting your local independent wine store!
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) is currently available to stream on Hulu and Disney+. You can also rent it on Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. Purchase the Blu-Ray or DVD version wherever physical media is sold.
One of my favorite childhood movies. When I lived in LA and be homesick for the Bay, I’d pop this movie on. Wonderful pairing! Darcie Kent is also a Bay Area fave!