Week 6 and midterms are (hopefully) behind us, and since it basically already feels like Week 8, you deserve to take a break, and get in bed to just “Netflix and chill.” Since your weekends are probably way too full already with Franzia and 2 buck chuck, do yourself a favor and pop open a real bottle of wine for your night in.
Since they don’t exactly teach you what wines go best with TV while wine tasting in Napa, here is the definitive wine pairing for whatever you’re binge watching on Netflix right now.
“Orange is the New Black”
Keep the wine flowing with a bottle of Chardonnay. Chardonnay is usually what they call “buttery,” which makes it the perfect pairing for your bowl of popcorn. A Chardonnay can be perfect for drinking (or downing) while you thank the heavens above for bringing Ruby Rose in all her glory to the screen.
“New Girl”
In honor of the ultimate girl-crush, Jess, pop open a bottle of Moscato. A Moscato is really fruity and sweet with a fun punch, just like Jess. Enjoy a couple of glasses while we wonder what the heck we are going to do without Zooey Deschanel and what we are going to do with Megan Fox in Season 5.
“House of Cards”
This dark, twisted show obviously calls for nothing but its own bottle of a full-bodied and sophisticated red. A pretty classy Shiraz pairs perfectly with smooth-talking Frank Underwood, not to mention that the dark color of the wine pairs perfectly with the darkness of Frank Underwood’s soul. Chances are you’ll probably need more than one glass to handle the ruthless drama that makes this show just so addicting.
“Greys Anatomy”
This show calls for a wine that will get you through your good sob over McDreamy’s recent and untimely demise. Grab your “person” and get started on your marathon with a bottle of Pinot Noir. A light and fruity Pinot Noir will be there for you through it all — we’ve definitely come a long way since Meredith lost her panties at prom — and will get you through either a good laugh or cry. Remember, if things get rough, just dance it out. Cheers to you if you’ve made it all the way to the 11th season.
“Friends”
A “Friends” marathon calls for a wine that is as light and fun as the show. If you’re settling in for a good time and lots of laughs, pop a bottle of Pinot Grigio. This wine is known for its fruity flavor and crisp acidity, which goes perfectly with a heavy dose of sharp, witty humor. Drink every time Phoebe sings “Smelly Cat”, or Joey says “How You Doin’…” and you’ll be laughing a bit harder than you normally would be in no time.
“Scandal”
Olivia Pope, to our knowledge, subsists entirely on solving the world’s crises, popcorn and red wine. And what better wine to honor Olivia Pope than with a glass of red? Pour a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is as classy and sophisticated as Olivia Pope in her infamous white suits. So while we all wonder if Olivia will ultimately end up with Jake, or Fitz (or even Russell?!) it’s time for you to channel your own inner gladiator and start pouring.
Need a recommendation for a show not on here? Contact Maggie Harriaman at mpharrim ‘at’ stanford.edu.