If you can’t make it to Broadway, then bring Broadway to your home! It’s never been so easy to enjoy a movie musical at home, thanks to the wide variety of streaming services now available. We are huge fans of musicals at Oceano, in no small part due to Kurt’s award winning career in the industry. Prior to co-launching Oceano Wines with me, Kurt created a “United Nations” for the musical theatre world with his record label Ghostlight Records. As much as we love travel and dining out, nothing beats a cozy evening at home with a movie musical and dinner. These are some of our favorite wine pairs for our favorite movie musicals.
Movie Musicals We Both Love
In the Heights
This hit Broadway musical from mega-star Lin-Manuel Miranda is finally on the big screen and streaming on HBO Max, but we have loved this story since the beginning. Kurt recorded the original Broadway cast album, which he won a Grammy for! Whether you have never seen this movie musical or if you’ve watched it a dozen times already, we highly encourage you to make it your movie night plan this weekend. This movie musical is hot, so we suggest that you pair it with Oceano Pinot Noir 2019. The bold pomegranate and blueberry flavors are a colorful, vibrant compliment to this spicy story.
American Utopia
David Byrne’s vision is available on the small screen thanks to Spike Lee’s 2020 concert film, with Kurt as executive producer. Just this week, the Tony Awards announced that the American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards® will present a trio of Special Tony Awards for the 2019–2020 Broadway season, and David Byrne’s American Utopia is one of the recipients! This zesty movie musical pairs delightfully with Oceano Chardonnay 2019. The bright flavors of this wine and the citrus fruit notes are a perfect match with Byrne’s musical genius.
The Last Five Years
This movie musical tells the tale of a love story, and was produced by Kurt. Drown your sorrows as you follow Cathy and Jamie’s story of love and loss with Pinot Noir. Our Spanish Springs Oceano Pinot Noir 2019 wine is packed with luscious ripe fruit flavors, reminiscent of passion. The acidity of this wine matches the acrimony of love lost.
Rachel’s Favorite Movie Musicals
The Wiz
Ease on down the road with this musical adventure fantasy film that is a fun twist on the classic Wizard of Oz tale. This Motown production is a must watch for Diana Ross, Lena Horne, and Michael Jackson fans. The bright crispy notes of our Oceano Chardonnay 2018 are an excellent complement to this movie musical.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
This cult classic has been a smash hit for decades and still going strong. Give yourself over to absolute pleasure with an evening spent quoting and singing along with Dr. Frank-N-Furter and crew while you indulge in Oceano Wine. The aroma of silky wild berries in our Pinot Noir pair perfectly with the wild ride that this movie musical is!
Grease
Head to Rydell High to sing along and dance with the Pink Ladies and the T-birds as they navigate the highs and lows of their senior year. While you might have enjoyed milk shakes and fries when you watched this movie musical in high school, your more refined palate might crave something different now. May we suggest Langoustines in Oceano Pinot Noir with Shallot Cream Sauce?
Kurt’s Picks
Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Join the “dreamers of dreams” with this fantastic movie musical based on Roald Dahl’s incredible tale. It’s impossible not to sing along with this fun musical, led by the great Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Oceano Pinot Noir is packed with bright red fruit flavors that match the colorful candy-filled scenes in this classic musical.
West Side Story
West Side Story will be hitting the big screen this summer, but you can enjoy the story right now with the 1961 blockbuster featuring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, and more. The conflict between the Jets and the Sharks escalates intensely, while in the shadows love flourishes in secret. The SLO Coast produces fruit with intense varietal character, which is what we use to craft our wines. The complex flavors of our 2017 Oceano Chardonnay pair perfectly with this intense movie musical.
Cabaret
This Oscar winning movie musical from Bob Fosse stars Liza Minelli and Joel Grey. Set against the backdrop of the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, this unforgettable movie musical tells the stories of several unique characters. The long bing cherry finish of our vegan certified 2019 Oceano Pinot Noir wine pairs perfectly with an evening indulging in a viewing of Cabaret.
Which of these movie musicals will you start with first? It’s tempting to binge watch them all! Stock up on your favorite Oceano Wines from our shop so that your glass will never be empty on movie night, or any night!
