The Art of Film and Wine With Coppola Winery

“Winemaking and filmmaking are two great art forms...in both cases you have to start with top notch raw materials—whether it’s the land or a script.”

- Francis Ford Coppola

I've been trying to decide what to drink during the Academy Awards on Sunday, well Coppola Winery came to my rescue.Today I received some wine from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery Director's Cut Collection: the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinema Red Blend and Chardonnay. The collection has a wraparound film strip label to celebrate the art of filmmaking which makes it the perfect pairing for Oscar Night.

I'll be sipping and tweeting on Sunday at @Shoshi. Sip this wine along with me during the Chris Rock #blackout and Leo Dicaprio winning his first Oscar (he better or else).

You can also enjoy a magickal night with your friends by watching one of this year’s nominated films paired with a bottle from Coppola Winery’s Director's Cut collection! It will be a night to remember. 

There are four wines in the collection:

Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon 2013:

• Decadent and complex, our Director's Cut Cabernet is fragrant with exotic notes of clove and toasted oak.
• Aged primarily in French oak barrels, this wine will develop further for several more years.

Director's Cut Cinema Red Blend 2012:

• Spicy, full-bodied red wine layered with dark berry fruit impressions and an edge of earthiness.
• Limited-production proprietary blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Petite Sirah from specific Sonoma County appellations.

Director's Cut Pinot Noir 2013:

• An abundantly flavorful Pinot displaying vibrant tones of red cherry and pomegranate.

Director's Cut Chardonnay 2013:

• A full-bodied Chardonnay bursting with ripe fruit flavor and prominent oak and spice.
• Sourced from Russian River Valley, one of California's premier Chardonnay-growing regions.

Flicks & Sips: White Chicks, Gossip Girl, The Duchess, & I.. Frankenstein

Rosé is just perfect for sipping during the summer, especially when paired with the right movie. Here are four movies that I paired with some of my favorite rosés. You can catch all of the movies on Netflix at this time. If you happen to have a Roku, you can also find other platforms that have the films. Enjoy your night in!

White Chicks & White Girl Rosé

This movie makes me laugh out loud. It is not to be taken seriously; it's more of a spoof. Imagine what can happen when two black FBI agents ( Shawn and Marlon Wayans)  go undercover as two white heiresses to capture their would be kidnappers. This movie knows that it is over the top and does not take itself too seriously. The Wayans get all white and dolled up for this and oy vey... they make funny looking women.  Let's just say that this one is ridiculous fun. Plays with stereotypes and filled with laughs.

Pair with: White Girl Rosé 

This pairing pretty much speaks for itself. It is something that the Wilson sisters in the movie would drink. The perfect wine to celebrate girls who love to be a part of the scene in the Hamptons.

Gossip Girl & Gruet Brut Rosé 

Follow the adventures of Serena (Blake Lively), Blair (Leighton Meester), and the gang as they take over the Upper East Side. Inspired by the book with the same name, you will be taken into the world of Manhattan's most elite families. Don't all kids in high school spend time at swanky lounges sipping cocktails? Who hasn't had an affair with their teacher? Did I mention the crazy love affair between Chuck and Blair? It's all a part of the sexy world of Gossip Girl.

Pair with: Gruet Brut Rosé

This brut rosé is so good you won't believe that you are not drinking champagne. It has the taste of luxury in a glass, but at a very affordable price. Take a sip every time Blair uses a French word or they drink champagne on the show. Sante!

The Duchess & Château La Gordonne Rosé

It's always refreshing to partake in a good period piece with a rebellious woman as the main character. This film chronicles the life of 18th century aristocrat, Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire (Kiera Knightley). This is a nicely paced period piece that will enlighten you on Georgina. It also includes a delightful supporting cast including the ever delicious, Ralph Fiennes. As usual he plays a dark dude with some issues; he is always great in those types of roles.

Pair with: Château La Gordonne Rosé

This sensual rosé is sure to please. This aromas in thie wine are floral and berries. This château is owned  by Pommery so it has their touch of elegance, perfect for a duchess or aristocrat.

I, Frankenstein & Chateau de Lardiley Rosé

Consider this Frankenstein a very urban take on a classic story. Adam Frankenstein (Aaron Eckhart) is hunted after decades of his master creations. Demons are chasing him to find out how he has lived for so darn long. It's a nice sc-fi flick and Eckhart is rather hot in his dark and brooding manner.

Pair with: Chateau de Lardiley Rosé

Not to fancy and good for every day is how I would sum up this rosé. It's great for sipping, sci-fi and hot guy. This bonus is this wine is organic and made in the Bordeaux region.

Flicks & Sips: Scorned, Straight Talk, Life of A King, & Friday13th, Part 7

It's still a bit cold outside, which makes the perfect weekend to stay in an watch movies and sip on wine. This go around their are two crazy killers, chess, and Dolly Parton. Cheers!

Scorned- Hulu Plus

This is the type of flick where even though you know it is bad, you have to keep watching to find out what happens. Sadie (AnnaLynne McCord) finds out that Kevin ( Billy Zane) is cheating on her with her best friend. Long story short, you know how cray cray a girl can get when she is cheated on. Sadie goes in and gets her revenge. Even though this movie is a hot mess, it's fun to watch it all unfold. McCord is good with her innocent face, yet a straight jacket might be a good idea.

Pair with: Apothic Red

Cue in the Apothic Red, a red blend from California with hints of oak and vanilla There is a slight bit of sweetness after a sip. Kind of like the sweet taste of revenge by Sadie.

Straight Talk- Showtime

Who doesn't love Dolly Parton? That bubbly personality of hers is always fun to watch. This movie is from the 90s when Parton was still acting.  She plays, Shirlee, a woman who says goodbye to small town living for the big light of Chicago. Along the way she finds herself, a big time radio show host, eat your heart out Frasier Crane. James Woods is Parton's love interest in the movie, could you ever see those two together? A cute and quirky film to watch when you stay in out of the cold.

Pair with: Mionetto Prosecco

The chosen wine for this movie is Mionetto Prosecco which is light, fun, and bubbly just like Shirlee. The bubbles will go good with the light hearted laughs. Dolly Parton + Prosecco= Purrfect.

Life of A King- Netflix

After being a jail for 18 years, Eugene Brown (Cuba Gooding Jr.) gets out and wants a fresh start. Brown wants to repair his relationship with his children and starts the Big Chair Chess Club as a way to get the kids off of the streets. It's a very interesting story that also happens to be based on a true story. It's one of those movies that you might skip past, but do check it out. When Gooding Jr. gets a meaty role, he's really good, this happens to be one of those times.

Pair with: Beringer Merlot

The Beringer Merlot is a delicious complex wine of dark plum and cherry. It goes with the complexity of Eugene Brown doing his best to get his life together. We have all had mountains to climb along the way. Cheers!

Friday 13th, Part 7: The New Blood- Netflix

One would think that people would stop going into the woods where Jason Voorhees lives, well...nope some idiots are going back to Camp Crystal Lake. In this one, Jason gets out of this grave ( again) with the help of a telekinetic teen who has come back to the site where her dad drowned. Did she not get the memo on Jason? He has more lives than a cat. As usual Jason has an attitude problem only to kill anyone and anything that gets in his way. Maybe he just needs a hug.

Pair with: Hogue Table Red

There is an array of campy scenes between Jason and his victims..he likes to mix it up just like the Hogue Table Red. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. The aromas are cherry, strawberry, mint, clove spice, and other yummy goodness.

Flicks & Sips: Lovelace, The Hart of Dixie, & Boardwalk Empire ( Season 1)

The following pairings are sexy, southern, and good for those who like the Prohibition era. Two shows are on Netflix and the other on Amazon Prime. Enjoy the movies and the pairings. Santé!

Lovelace- Netflix

Sip: Beringer Merlot, Napa Valley

Watch the tale of how adult star icon, Linda Lovelace (Amanda Seyfried), was coerced in the porn industry by her husband. She is long remembered for her performance in the best selling porn flick, Deep Throat. This is the type of film that could be really good or go really wrong, I'm happy to say that it's pretty good. Seyfried does a nice job at playing Lovelace, also reminding us that she is not just  a pretty face and does have acting chops. Pair with Beringer Merlot, a wine that is cheap and easy to go down, kind of like an adult flick. This merlot has a nice body to it with black cherry and dark plum aromas.

The Hart of Dixie (Season I)- Netflix

Sip: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve, Spain

The show centers around Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) taking an offer to take over a medical practice in Alabama. Basically a New York girl gone south and all the interesting town folk around her, plus some really cute love interests. Bilson is adorable and quirky which makes this show a lot of fun. Pair with Dibon Cava a nice bubbly that's crisp and fun like Zoe Hart. This is a nice affordable sparkler for movie nights. Sniff in the aromas of apple, pears, and floral while feeling like a southern peach.

Boardwalk Empire (Season 1)- Amazon Prime

Sip:  Sandeman Founders Reserve Port, Portugal

Think Atlantic City during Prohibition, where there are no rules. Enoch "Nucky" Thompson  (Steve Buscemi), who is a swirl between a politician and gangster. Nucky is also the new treasurer for the town.  With his brother Elias Thompson (Shea Whigham), Atlantic City's sheriff, and a crew of mob bosses and local tough guys, Nucky gains a reputation as the man to see for illegal alcohol. Great show with wonderful outfits and good drama. This show is fun to watch while sipping on Sandeman Founders Reserve, a port with aromas of dark cherries, wood, chocolate, and a hint of vanilla. This port is vintage and aged  just like Empire.

Flicks & Sips: Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, Sharknado, While You Were Sleeping, Star Trek: Into The Darkness, & Changing Lanes

During this holiday season, you are sure to have a lazy movie day or two. Making it a "Netflix night" is the perfect way to relax, relate, and release.

If you are looking for a  fresh and frisky way to enjoy movie night, peruse some of my movie picks on Netflix paired with wine and aromatherapy. Bewitch your senses. Cheers!

Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Sip: Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Aromatherapy: Myrrh or Frankincense

Basically start with the first episode to find out how Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) became our favorite vampire slayer.  Binge on Buffy while pairing with Vampire Cabernet Savignon filled with aromas of blackberries and dark cherry, complete with a touch of oak flavor. The aromas are deep and intense to take you through the close encounters with the immortal ones. Not only will myrrh or frankincense be a great aroma to complement the dark cherry and berries, but it gives you a sense of being grounded and added protected. A good way to keep out those vampires!

Sharknado
Sip: Greg Norman Estates Shark Red, Central Coast
Aromatherapy: Cloves

Who would have ever thought that B-movie stars, hell okay C- movie stars, Ian Ziering and Tara Reid would make a comeback in a Syfy movie? However, the real stars of this movie are the sharks!  What could be more fabulous than hundreds of sharks coming out of a tornado and falling on LosAngeles? If only they would swallow the Kardashians. Nothing could make this movie more perfect except for watching it while sipping a glass of wine.  Pair this campy flick with Shark Red by Greg Norman. This wine is a blend of syrah, petite sirah with mourvedre, grenache, merlot, and malbec. The aromas in this wine include fig, plum, blackberry, sweet oak, and vanilla. 'Tis the season for cloves so you should be able to find cloves in many forms. Imagine yourself next with a glass of this vino, the smell of cloves in the air, and sharks. Priceless!

While You Were Sleeping
Sip: Barefoot Bubbly Pinot Grigio Champagne, California
Aromatherapy: Sweet orange oil

 A transit worker (Sandra Bullock) rescues a commuter, she has a mad crush on, then pretends to be his fiance. Clearly, this gets out of hand and fast. There's a nice message intertwined about love and being true to self. It's one of Bullock's best, plus it's a delightful movie that you can watch with the family. Pair with  Barefoot's Pinot Grigio Champagne with aromas of citrus, apple, pear  and orange blossoms. Aromas that are great for a comedy. The flick is lighthearted and the bubbles are light-bodied. Burn a bit of sweet orange oil which will go wonderful with the orange blossom and pear aromas in the wine.

Star Trek: Into the Darkness
Sip:  Bandit Pinot Grigio, California
Aromatherapy: Star Anise

Captain Kirk (Chris Pine)  and Spock ( Zachary Quinto)  are once again fighting off some crazy terrorist who wants to take down Starfleet. Aliens and half aliens oh my! The movie is directed by J.J. Abrams who knows how to bring it on when it comes to sci-fi action. Of course, Kirk and Spock come out on top, but there are many twists and turns to get them there.  From start to finish, this movie will have you hooked, even if you are new to the Star Trek world. Pair with Bandit's Pinot Grigrio, one of the best eco-friendly wines around. Your senses will be charmed with aromas of green apple, pear, citrus and peach. A bit of Pine and Pinot is a very fresh mix. Put a  bit of star anise in a bowl next to you to give off a nice licorice scent that will open up your psychic abilities as you spend time with Kirk and the gang in space.

Changing Lanes
Sip: Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky
Aromatherapy: Vanilla
The lives of an attorney (Ben Affleck) and a recovering alcoholic (Sam Jackson) collide when their cars crash on a New York expressway. Long story short, Affleck plays a douche (which he does quite well) while Jackson is a bit of a hot mess, everything around them comes crumbling down due to a little bit of paperwork. Slowly sip on Knob Creek bourbon that has aromas of oak, caramel, and fruit as you watch their lives unfold. Like the end of this movie, Knob Creek is smooth, but has a kick to it. Put a few drops of vanilla extract on your light bulb or pour on some dried herbs to release the scent into the air. The mix of the vanilla aroma with the aromas of the bourbon will be divine.

How To Marry A Millionaire
Sip: Lillet Blanc, France
Aromatherapy: Bergamot
There are three very good reasons to see this movie, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall..need I say more? Three lovely ladies who happen to be models plan to use their courtesan charms to marry millionaires. You go girls! Pair with movie with a glass of Lillet Blanc on the rocks with an orange slice. Packed with notes of honey, candied orange, and a touch of floral, this French aperitif  starts sweet and finishes a bit bitter. Try a nice body lotion or oil  with bergamot on your body so the scent sounds you. The swirling of the sweet and bitter in the wine will work wondrous with the bergamot note.  Oh la la!