Screen Time & Wine: A Streaming Companion Guide
Just as terroir shapes wine, context shapes enjoyment. Whether you're settling in for a period drama or bracing yourself for psychological thrills, the right bottle can elevate your viewing experience from mere entertainment to proper ceremony. Here's our guide to matching wine with modern television's finest offerings.
THE FOUNDATION
Every screen demands a proper pour. Dystopian narratives call for wines of complexity (Severance pairs well with La Combe Vert by Walter Scott), while contemporary comedies warrant more accessible expressions. Ab Fab? Well it's all about the Bollie darling! The right wine acts as an oenological backdrop to your evening's entertainment.
NB:
Just as with food, wine and entertainment pairings can follow principles; discover other unexpected pairings that enhance your wine experience.
To fully appreciate subtle connections between television and wine, beyond appreciating Keith Floyd's wine and food adventures, heighten your sensory awareness by brushing up on how to taste.
WHITE LOTUS
& COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria
For HBO's razor-sharp satire of privilege in paradise, reach for Sicily's only DOCG red. COS's natural approach yields a wine of beautiful tension—bright yet complex, refined yet untamed. Like the show's privileged guests, it presents beautifully but harbours darker undertones.
£35 COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Sicily, Italy
SHOGUN
& Koshu
For this masterful adaptation of feudal Japan, reach for Japan's indigenous grape. Koshu offers delicate aromatics and subtle complexity that mirror the show's intricate political machinations. Its gentle acidity and mineral backbone provide the perfect contemplative companion.
£28 Grace Wine Koshu Private Reserve, Yamanashi, Japan
PEAKY BLINDERS
& Little Pomona Cider
For Birmingham's finest, swap wine for proper cider. Little Pomona crafts complex, terroir-driven ciders that command the same respect as fine wine. Their barrel-aged expressions offer enough structure and depth to stand up to the Shelby family's darker moments.
£18 Little Pomona Table Cider, Herefordshire
SUCCESSION
& DRC Grand Cru Burgundy
When you're operating at Logan Roy's level, only Burgundy's finest will do. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti represents the apex of wine as both art and asset. Their La Tâche offers the same combination of power and finesse that defines the Roy family empire.
£4,500 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche
SLOW HORSES
& English Sparkling Wine
For this brilliantly grimy spy drama, opt for England's finest fizz. Like Jackson Lamb's band of misfit spooks, English sparkling wines were once overlooked but now command proper respect. Their bright acidity and complex depth mirror the show's mix of wit and grit.
£49 Sugrue 'Trouble with Dreams', Sussex
BRIDESHEAD REVISITED
& Skin Contact Wine (Orange Wine)
For Waugh's tale of privilege, faith and decay, choose wines as complex as the Flyte family history. Orange wines offer layers of texture and nuance that evolve like Charles and Sebastian's relationship. Their amber hues and oxidative notes echo the show's golden-hued nostalgia.
£55 Bereche Et Fils, Brut Reserve NV, Champagne
TIP: Ordering takeaway for your binge session? Match wine with world cuisines for the complete tasting experience.
WOLF HALL
& Château Pontet-Canet
For Hilary Mantel's Tudor masterpiece, reach for Bordeaux's most innovative Fifth Growth. Pontet-Canet's biodynamic approach yields wines of remarkable depth and authenticity—fitting for a story about power's true nature. Their structured elegance mirrors Cromwell's calculated ascent.
£125 Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
GRAHAM NORTON
& Rosé Special Cuvée Frizzante
This organic Italian fizz brings proper weekend spirit to television's most engaging chat show. Light, fresh and charmingly effervescent, it's perfect for Friday night entertainment that doesn't take itself too seriously.
£16 La Jara Organic Rosé Special Cuvée Frizzante, Veneto, Italy
AMANDALAND
& Cava Reserva
For this cringe-fest comedy, reach for Spain's traditional method sparkler. Pago de Tharsys crafts proper Cava with the same attention to detail as the finest Champagne, offering complexity and joy in equal measure.
£22 Pago De Tharsys Cava Reserva NV, Spain
MAD MEN
& Château Clerc Milon
For Madison Avenue's golden age of advertising, reach for Bordeaux's most stylish Fifth Growth. Like Don Draper himself, Clerc Milon presents classic sophistication with hidden depths—its modern polish concealing old-world complexity. The wine's blend of power and elegance mirrors the show's perfect balance of style and substance.
£120 Château Clerc Milon, Pauillac
The joy of pairing wine with television lies in creating moments where both enhance each other. Whether you're watching historical drama or contemporary comedy, there's always a bottle that can elevate the experience from mere viewing to proper ceremony.
THAT'S ALL FOLKS?
Ready to take your viewing experiences to the next level? Join Decanter's best wine club for thoughtfully selected wines that transform sofa time into a sensory adventure. Think of it as having a friend who always knows which album perfectly captures a particular mood.
Also don't miss our The Wine Show's Amelia Singer ideal food pairing for COS Cerasuolo.