Netflix Wine and Chill Picks (with food pairing tips!)

In all its glory and gory, Squid Game was irresistible to watch while the film geek in us felt inspired to dig for more gems on the internet that we could binge-watch endlessly. See below for some of our favorite series and shows as of late plus food pairing tips to go with our wine recommendations!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, for this week only we will be offering a promo code of HK$100 off anything in our Wine Shop! Use promo code THANKS2021, offer good until Sunday 28 November!

Now let’s dig into the shows that we're watching with our wines this November!

Image credit: Cooking Classy

Murder Mystery

Murder Mystery (2019) is exactly what you’d expect when you put Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler together - comedic, campy, ridiculous, light-hearted. Set on a European cruise, the Netflix movie calls for a fun, easy drinking yet quality Beaujolais like the Laurence et Remi Dufaitre Cotes de Brouilly AOP 2019, an organic wine from our Green and Clean box which packs strong berry fruit flavors and appropriate acid from cult husband and wife winemaking team Rémi (a recognized natural wine pioneer in Morgon) and his wife Laurence.

Food Pairing Tip:  An equally easy yet hearty food pairing is grilled salmon with generous olive oil and seasoning to tuck in with this combo. Grilling the salmon over medium heat (about 350°F-400°F) gives it that delicious, charred exterior while keeping the inside moist and tender.

Recipe link: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/grilled-salmon/

Image credit: Alpha Foodie

French TV

Le vin fait surnager les secrets. Lupin (2021) was one of the standout French shows on Netflix this year with its gripping, magnetic performances that retell the revenge of Arsène Lupin. We enjoyed the unpredictable plot and living vicariously through the beautiful visuals of Parisian vistas. If Lupin were a wine it would be Domaine Fouassier, "Les Romains", Sancerre AOP 2017 - an equally classy yet racy organic white poured at 3-michelin starred restaurants in Hong Kong. Made with 30-year old vines from limestone and clay soils and aged on the lees for 8-12 months in stainless steel fermentation, this Sancerre is simply exceptional.

Food Pairing Tip: This high acidity white is a versatile food companion - try experimenting with heavier flavours such as Thai green curry. Although it usually calls for chicken, feel free to add a plant-based alternative for your meat-free guests. We recommend a firm tofu to absorb the beautiful flavors!

Recipe link: ​​https://www.spar.co.uk/recipes/thai-green-curry-recipe

Image credit: taste.com.au

Mediterranean Getaway

Do some shows ever tickle your wanderlust and make you feel like hopping on the next plane to the tropics and sipping martinis by the beach? White Lines (2020) is set in Ibiza and chronicles a journey of crime-solving and self-discovery with ample amounts of glamour and entertainment. The Quinta de Porrais Branco 2019 from our November box is the perfect companion to the show - made with a blend of indigenous Northern Portuguese grapes, from one of the wildest, most mountainous and rugged wine regions of Portugal, this distinctive white with its crisp freshness, citrus and herb infused aromas finished off by a slightly smoky, salty finish on the palate  reminds us of the unforgettable summer holiday that we yearn to return to. 

Food Pairing Tip: Try pairing this distinctive white wine with its concentrated aromatic nose and saline, mineral finish with a simple fish stew made with pureed garlic and anchovy, and be instantly whisked away to the Mediterranean.

Recipe link: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012535-easy-fish-stew-with-mediterranean-flavors

Image credit: eatwell101

More Crime-Comedy

How many murders are in an Upper East Side building? Only Murders in the Building (2021) is said to “nail New York” in five minutes -- it’s a funny whodunit with a great cast and a beautiful feel for Manhattan. The Hairy Arm Nebbiolo 2016, a medium-bodied Australian red, has the intensity to match. 

Food Pairing Tip:  Floral and spicy on the nose with strong tannins, we recommend pairing it with a fun and easy sausage penne in a skillet. Delicious chunks of Italian sausage are combined with tomato garlic sauce, onion, red peppers, penne pasta, basil and shaved parmesan cheese for a healthy and comforting meal. Serving you New York on a plate.

Recipe link: https://www.eatwell101.com/sausage-pasta-skillet-recipe

Image credit: Eater.com

Tropical…satire?

The tropics and satire are two premises that don’t usually go together - and that’s what makes The White Lotus (2021) so surprising and so watchable. A simple but intricate plot with realistic character development shot on-location at the Four Seasons Resort on Maui that has many layers - like the Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montelpulciano Riserva 2016. A full-bodied textured Tuscan red that needs time to open up but when it does, it seduces with concentrated cherry and blueberry aromas, violet, dry mushroom, forest floor notes mixed with eucalyptus, cloves, toasted oak and long finish. 

Food Pairing Tip: Dress up the classic cheese board and elevate it to an Italian Antipasti platter for a fun night in.  Get creative! This full-bodied red complements a mixture of aged cheeses such as Pecorino, Asiago or Parmesan grapes, olives, sliced apples, prosciutto, salami, spicy mustard and Crostini. Try adding dried apricots, figs and cornichons to take it up another notch. 

Recipe link: https://ainttooproudtomeg.com/italian-antipasto-platter/