Film and vino have always been a glorious combination. Some of history’s most memorable movie scenes have been accompanied by a glass of wine, with the beverage used as an important prop to enrich the scene for better or worse.
So, with this in mind, we thought we would share our favorite films that feature a glass or a few of bubbly. Whether it’s Champagne, cuvee, Bordeaux wine, or, slurp, a nice Chianti, here are our classics complete with a glass of grapey goodness:
1. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Wes Anderson has always been the master of sensuous luxury. Whether it’s The Royal Tenenbaums and their plush inner-city mansion, The Darjeeling Limited’s lavish dining cart or The French Dispatch’s exuberant settings, one of the things that make Anderson films so good are their ability to make us want just what they have on screen.
None of his outings provide this desire more than The Grand Budapest Hotel, a rollicking classic of sumptuous design and appealing luxuries. But it’s not the L’Air de Panache or Madame D’s endless collections that truly invigorate the senses – it is the way in which the wine is enjoyed (in a dining cart or in the hotel restaurant) with so much vigor that makes this film an audio visual delight!
2. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
No prizes for guessing this would make the list, as not only is The Silence of the Lambs one of history’s creepiest films, it also contains one of cinema’s most queasily-memorable lines which, of course, involves the fine Tuscan from the subregion of Chianti.
The famous line, which sits at #21 in the AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes, doesn’t necessarily need repeating, as it seems to be uttered any time someone mentions the vino out of this famous Tuscan wine region, but that’s only a testament to how much it stuck in the minds of disturbed moviegoers!
3. Sideways (2004)
Sideways is all about wine, in fact, it is the ultimate film dedication to this globally-beloved alcoholic beverage and therefore there is no way it couldn’t find itself on this list.
Whilst the film may not be instantly recognizable, it has become a cult classic, especially amongst those who resonate with the main characters, their hangups, and their penchant for all things red, white and juicy. No film excites our love and passion for vino as much as Sideways, as well as it being just a pretty fabulous road movie at that…
4. Goodfellas (1990)
The incredible Ray Liotta has just passed, and it is in our opinion that his portrayal of eccentric mobster Henry Hill is one of the most exhilarating performances of all time.
Not only this, but Goodfellas also features one of the very best shots of all time, which makes perfect sense given it is a Scorsese film. The unforgettable one-shot, steadicam scene is complete with a bottle of Dom Perignon being delivered to Henry and Karen by a neighboring table.
5. Mean Streets (1973)
Sticking with Scorsese for the list’s finale, this one may be a little obscure, but it is certainly another classic shot from the maestro. The scene basically entails a continuous closeup of a drunken Harvey Keitel’s face as he stumbles his way through a bar having various alcoholic liquids poured down his throat and over his head.
It’s hard to tell exactly what beverages are being spilled and consumed, but they look bubbly, so we’re gonna go ahead and say they are bubbly.
