Wine and TV Pairing: Bridgerton, Meet B. Stuyvesant
Who will be the diamond of the lineup?
We have a new type of pairing today! Let’s take a look at Bridgerton with the sparkling lineup of Champagnes from B. Stuyvesant.
The long-awaited Season 3 of Bridgerton has arrived on Netflix, at least in part. As we all anxiously sit by our calendars waiting for Lady Whistledown’s next installment on June 14, I wanted to take a look at the entire Bridgerton series (to date) with an equally compelling lineup of Champagnes.Â
Based on Julia Quinn’s bestselling eight-book series about a high society Regency Era family, acclaimed showrunner and writer Shonda Rhimes has adapted the Bridgerton novels into one of Netflix’s most watched properties. Each season roughly follows the events of one (or two) of Quinn’s books while focusing on one of the Bridgerton children. Season 1, released to great acclaim in 2020, focused on Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest Bridgerton daughter, while 2022 brought Season 2 and a love story for self-proclaimed bachelor Anthony Bridgerton. The first half of Season 3 just dropped this month, and that carriage scene between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington has been causing a stir on social media.
Is Bridgerton a whole lot of frothy fun? Yes! Is it completely period accurate? Absolutely not, but that’s kinda the point. The fictional book series and television series revolve around the idea that the real Queen Charlotte had Black African ancestry; Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton creates a colorful world in which the people and the costumes are cut from various cloths. For me personally, I grew up on a steady diet of Jane Austen novels (and movie adaptations), and it was rare for me to see any people of color in these stories. As a mixed race person myself, I could have benefitted from seeing people with a variety of skin tones and a whole cotton candy-colored palette of chiffon dresses when I was younger. Bridgerton will always have a soft spot in my heart for bringing color into a world that historically felt one-dimensional or predictable.
Because we’re talking about Bridgerton as a series, I’d like to pair the whole thing with the complete lineup of one particular producer that perfectly fits into the world of the show.Â
B. Stuyvesant is a proud pioneer in some traditionally Euro-centric spaces. As one of the only African American-helmed brands in Champagne, founder Marvina Robinson is creating some delicious wines that nod to both regional traditions and the brand’s heritage in Brooklyn. All of the B. Stuyvesant cuvées go through extensive aging (most are aged for three years before release), and only the three core Champagne grape varieties are used to create unique blends for each individual label. B. Stuyvesant’s vineyards are mostly in the Vallée de la Marne region of Champagne, which excels in producing the world’s best Pinot Meunier-based sparkling wines. Robinson’s wines evoke a sense of nostalgia and playfulness, with a deep respect for the land and the people who have farmed it for centuries, while adding a fresh perspective that is best appreciated soon after release.
Let’s play with pairing some of these labels to Bridgerton seasons! Daphne Bridgerton was the unanimous choice as the Diamond of her season, so it only makes sense to have the Premier Cru represent her romance with the Duke of Hastings. With almost equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the Premier Cru bubbles have a fruity apricot core with spicy secondary characteristics, which sounds like the perfect marriage of two compelling characters. Anthony Bridgerton’s enemies-to-lovers storyline with Kate Sharma has copious amounts of energy and sweetness - this can only be a season to enjoy the Demi-Sec. This Blanc de Noirs blend of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir is fruity, but with some bite… if you enjoy all the romantic tension you can get, this is your wine. And, of course, what will I be sipping on when I watch the last four episodes of Colin and Penelope’s sweeping love story? The limited edition Rosé Prestige. It’s floral, nodding to Penelope’s way with words, but it’s also been developing in the cellar over two to three harvests. Gentle readers, #Polin is the coupling that has taken the scenic route, but the payoff is huge, just like this blend of all three Champagne grapes.
Because we’re trying a few different cuvées, the food pairing should be relatively simple and easy to pair with all the wines. Historic foods like venison and fancy sweets are shown and mentioned frequently in the show, but I crave something a little lighter and more bingeable. Cucumber tea sandwiches with the best creme fraiche available would be delightful - extra bonus points if caviar is involved.
The complete lineup of B. Stuyvesant’s wines are available on their website. You can also check WineSearcher.com for details on stockists near you.
Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 2, and the first four episodes of Season 3 are available to watch only on Netflix.Â
Further Reading
Looking for eye candy of a different type? Take a look at this deep dive into the architecture of Bridgerton. (Charlotte Collins/Architectural Digest)
B. Stuyvesant CEO Marvina Robinson sits down for a NYT interview upon the opening of her Navy Yard tasting room. (Jenny Block/New York Times, under paywall)