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Meet Christopher Sawyer - the world’s only film sommelier.
Popcorn and soda...? Forget about it!
Each year, as our Official Film Festival Sommelier, Christopher selects the Sonoma Valley region’s finest wines for exclusive tastings with delectable local cuisine at every screening during the Sonoma Valley Film Festival.
Tasty Wine Pairings with Animated Films Screening
at the 2008 Sonoma Valley Film Festival
Flatland: The Movie
Based on Edwin A. Abbott's classic novel from the 1880s, this animated film dramatizes the conflicts, hopes and fates of a community of characters living in a two-dimensional world. When Hex (Kirsten Bell), a young geometric figure, decides to "think outside the box", her grandfather Arthur Square (Martin Sheen) attempts to save her before she disappears into oblivion.
Pairing: St. Francis 2005 Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($22)
Before the turn of last century, the most popular hearty red grape planted in California was Zinfandel. Today, many of these gnarled and twisted old vines are still alive and the grapes grown are commonly used to make spicy wines loaded with flavor and intensity. A great example of this “expanding horizon” is the St. Francis 2004 Old Vine Zinfandel, a stately wine made with fruit from ancient zinfandel vines and a classic “field blend” of Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. Once poured into the glass, the lively flavors of this tasty wine include ripe cherry, raspberry, black licorice, allspice, toasted oak, and a long, luscious finish.
*** The Toll
The Toll is a mockumentary based on a student project created by Harvey Stevens, a brave fictional character who attempts to interview an aggressive, uncouth and temperamental troll who lives under a bridge. Yet strangely, the troll wants acceptance from the society he preys on, and sees the young filmmaker as an opportunity to clear up the "misunderstandings" that have always plagued him.
Pairing: Gundlach Bundschu 2004 Mountain Cuvée Red Wine, Rhinefarm Estate, Sonoma Valley, $24
The Toll, the Troll, and Towle’s Hill. In the late 1960s, Towle Bundschu, a third-generation grape grower living on the famous Rhinefarm property in Sonoma Valley, replanted the legendary vines put in the ground by his forefathers. In 1973, the usually skeptical Towle listened to the advice of his son Jim and agreed to make the family’s first wine in 50 years. Today, the impact of this gutsy move can be tasted in the Gundlach Bundschu 2004 Mountain Cuvée, a fantastic Bordeaux-style estate blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which features generous flavors of ripe plum, red currant, wild sage, espresso beans, and lingering notes of cola and black cherry. To celebrate the 150-year anniversary as the oldest family-owned winery in California, “Towle’s Hill,” an amusing play based on the family’s rich history will tour to ten cities in spring 2008.
***
Fantaisie in Bubblewrap
In the sassy directorial debut by talented animator Arthur Metcalf, experience a romantic jaunt through the whimsical world of bubblewrap and beyond.
Pairing: Gloria Ferrer Non-Vintage Brut, Sonoma County, $20
To further complement the theme of this jovial film, enjoy a glass of Gloria Ferrer Brut, a sophisticated sparkling wine that stimulates the senses with flavors of Bartlett pear, Fuji apple, fresh citrus, almond, and a balanced attack of lush, creamy texture on the mid-palate and invigorating roasty-toasty notes on the finish. Sexy bubbles from start to finish! ***
Big Dreams
In this amusing cynical satire, a young girl attempts to climb the proverbial ladder to success while working amidst the chaos at a swanky Hollywood agency.
Pairing: Valley of the Moon 2006 Pinot Blanc, Sonoma County, $16.
The fresh, lively plot of this animated film pairs nicely with the crisp, clean and wonderful wine made by Valley of the Moon winery. In short, this elegant wine features lavish flavors of tropical fruit, ripe melon, rich texture, and a burst of vibrant acidity that continues to quench your thirst long after this three minute ditty written and directed by Robyn Von Arx is complete.
Halloween Pairings More Pairings
While you’re waiting for April and the sunny, joyful week of the Film Festival, why not bring our celebration of film, food & wine to your own home?
Let's set the scene...
The malls are packed with elbowing throngs, the streets of America are jammed with honking traffic. ZOOM IN as winter wind whistles at a frosty window. Inside, you and your loved ones are snuggled up on the couch, the fireplace is snapping and crackling… The perfect occasion for WINE & A MOVIE!
Here, Christopher shares his festive pairings for this year's holiday season:
 YOU'RE WATCHING: Fred Claus (2007)
Vince Vaughn stars as Fred Claus, a short-tempered, money-grubbing “repo” man who must go back to the North Pole to work with his brother Nicholas (a.k.a Santa played by Paul Giamatti) in hopes of making up for the bad reputation he’s developed throughout the years.
YOU'RE DRINKING:
Arrowood 2004 Special Select Late Harvest White Riesling, Hoot Owl Creek Vineyards, Alexander Valley
Much like the chilly conditions in the North Pole, the ripe grapes used to make this special Arrowood dessert wine weren't picked until the chilly end of harvest to preserve the high levels of sugar and acidity in each individual berry. As a result, this taste-tempting delight, modeled after the legendary German style of Trockenbeerenauslesen, features luscious flavors of white peaches, apricot, apple, butterscotch, a burst of bright acidity, and a long, refreshing finish. Serve slightly chilled with desserts or all by itself to find out why this is a true holiday charmer in liquid form!
***
 YOU'RE WATCHING: This Christmas (2007)
Written, produced and directed by Preston A. Whitmore II, this humorous, witty and provocative holiday gem explores the dramas revolving around the dysfunctional Whitfield family and the exciting mayhem that ensues during the rejoining of the clan at Christmas time.
YOU'RE DRINKING: Mia’s Playground 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
Led by an all-star cast of talented African-American actors, including Delroy Lindo, Sharon Leal, Loreta Devine and Idris Elba; This Christmas is filled with lively personalities that demand attention. A spirited beverage that can live up to this task is the Mia’s Playground 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon made by Don Sebastiani and Sons. Once poured, this expressive wine features aromatic notes of black cherries, dried herbs and a newly opened cigar box, lush flavors of blackberries, dark chocolate and roasted espresso beans, with soft, sexy tannins and a memorable finish that compliments this highly entertaining film.
***
 YOU'RE WATCHING: Elf (2004)
Directed by Jon Favreau of Swingers fame, Elf stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, an orphan accidentally whisked to the North Pole by Santa (Ed Asner). However, once Buddy becomes an adult he quickly learns that it's hard to be an oversized human in an Elf world. On the brink of a deep depression, he travels to the seven levels of the candy cane forest, past the sea of swirling gum drops, and through the famous Lincoln Tunnel on his journey to New York City to find his father (James Caan), a hard-nosed businessman at the top of Santa's naughty list.
YOU'RE DRINKING: Nicholson Ranch 2005 Estate Pinot Noir, Sonoma Valley
Pinot noir -- a marvelous red-grape variety grown only in relatively cool climate conditions -- is a wonderful wine to pair with Elf. Like Buddy and the rest of the elves, pinot noir wines come in all shapes and sizes. But the best are often very gentle and delicate inside. For a tasty example, try the Nicholson Ranch 2005 Estate Pinot Noir, a bigger and stronger wine than the previous vintages, but still very elegant with bright fruit flavors of fresh blackberries, cloves, cinnamon, tangy orange rind, and deep levels of true complexity to match Buddy's happy demeanor.
***
 YOU'RE WATCHING: Scrooged (1988)
Based on the classic Charles Dickens’ character Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bill Murray plays Francis Xavier Cross, a top New York television company executive with a serious chip on his shoulder. While trying to salvage relationships with his girlfriend, co-workers and family, Francis learns the hard facts of life from an amusing trio of Christmas ghosts representing the past, present and future.
YOU'RE DRINKING: Ravenswood 2005 Zinfandel, Old Hill Ranch, Sonoma Valley
Although he is the main character in this film, Murray’s role is further enhanced by a great cast which includes Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Robert Mitchum, John Houseman, Lee Majors, David Johansen, Robert Goulet, Carol Cane, Bobcat Goldthwait and other fine actors. In many ways, a similar thing is happening inside a bottle of the Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel. Planted in the 1880s, this special site features a one-of-a-kind field blend of Zinfandel, Mataro (Mourvedre), Carignane, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, and 18 other grape varieties (three of which are still unidentified). As a result, this intriguing selection of grapes produce a powerful wine with a substantial amount of depth, structure, and plenty of high-tone flavors of ripe blackberries, vanilla, fine French oak, and notes of dried herbs and black pepper spice on the finish. Pour yourself a glass, kick back, and notice how these supple flavors continue to expand along with the mixture of holiday drama, dark humor and lavish music by Danny Elfman in this hilarious film.
***
 YOU'RE WATCHING: A Christmas Story (1983)
Set in rural Indiana in the 1940s, Peter Billingsley plays Ralphie Parker, a young boy who will do anything possible to get a shiny new Red Rider Air Rifle for Christmas. But it does not take long until Ralphie finds himself jumping through a series of comical hoops to convince Santa (a.k.a his father played by Darrin McGavin) that he deserves such an expensive present.
YOU'RE DRINKING: Gloria Ferrer 2004 Brut Rosé, Carneros
Born in the 1940s, many Baby Boomers would go on to have their first wine tasting experiences with Mateus and Lancer’s, two sweet and enticing brands of pink wines from Portugal that became very popular in the 1960s and 70s. But today, pink wines are much more sophisticated and finish dry. A great example is the Gloria Ferrer 2004 Brut Rosé, a delicious sparkling wine with a delicate pink hue that is primarily made with pinot noir grapes. Once poured, this festive bubbly features flavors of wild strawberries, cranberries, hibiscus, orange peel, and toasty notes on the end. Hands down one of the best wines to pair with traditional Christmas cuisine, especially roasted turkey, ham, beef, and fine cheeses.
***
 YOU'RE WATCHING: White Christmas (1954)
Directed by the legendary Michael Curtiz (of Casablanca fame), White Christmas is sweet, sentimental and fairly amusing film starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as musical entertainers who join forces to raise funds to help save a hip resort in the snowy hills of Vermont.
YOU'RE DRINKING: Buena Vista Carneros 2005 Pinot Gris, Carneros
Aside from the classic ditty “White Christmas,” another important Irving Berlin song in this film is “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep.” In Spanish, the term “carneros” refers to a ram or sheep. In the past, the rolling hills in the Carneros region between Sonoma and Napa were known as a home to many of these cute and fluffy animals. However, today much of this beautiful landscape is blanketed with vineyards. A tasty example that is made with fruit from this region is the Buena Vista Carneros 2006 Pinot Gris, a crisp, bright and sophisticated Alsatian-style wine, featuring generous flavors of ripe peach, apple, citrus, orange zest, and a lingering finish that can compliment this memorable holiday musical.
***
 YOU'RE WATCHING: Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
In the beloved Christmas tale Miracle on 34th Street, Edmund Gwenn stars as Kris Kringle, a sweet old man who plays Santa at the Macy’s Day Parade. However, once he claims to be the original jolly man from the North Pole, things quickly become a bit more complicated. Is he nuts? Is he Santa? Trick is, you have to watch the entire film to find out!
YOU'RE DRINKING: Matanzas Creek 2004 Merlot, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County
Given the fact that generosity and teamwork are the underlying themes that make this film a true Christmas classic, a taste-tempting sensation that pairs nicely with this important focus is the Matanzas Creek 2004 Merlot. Made with 93 percent merlot and smaller portions of cabernet sauvignon, syrah and cabernet franc, this well-crafted wine features elegant aromas of wild sage, clove and quince, flavors of ripe blackberries and red currants, a rich mouthfeel, silky smooth tannins, and a sophisticated finish. In short, it’s a lively compliment to such a sentimental film.
***
 YOU'RE WATCHING: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Frustrated with his life, his job and his awful boss, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) is ready to commit suicide when he meets his guardian angel Clarence. In turn, Clarence shows Bailey what life would be like if he was removed from the picture. When this emotional rollercoaster finally stops, Bailey goes on to correct the wrongs in time to celebrate Christmas with his family.
YOU'RE DRINKING: Valley of the Moon 2006 Pinot Blanc, Sonoma County
Directed by Frank Capra, this holiday classic screams out to be paired with a wine of equal stature. Try the Valley of the Moon 2006 Pinot Blanc, a crisp, clean and favorable wine made with scrumptious grapes grown in Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley. The end result is a brilliant white wine with flavors of tropical fruit, ripe melon, crisp acid and a generous creamy note on the finish. Superb with this movie and a plethora of other holiday treats.
For more information about these fine wines and the wide array of fabulous wines and wineries in the Sonoma Valley region, please visit our wonderful Festival partners, the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers
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