Level Up Movie Night with These Expert-Picked Wine Pairings

Imagine walking into the movie theater bar of your dreams—complete with exquisite glassware and a French-inspired wine cellar fully stocked with your favorites. Because really, who wants to settle for flat
soda with a soggy popcorn or sickly sweet, pre-mixed margs?

Let’s roll the credits on the sad snacks and lackluster sips. Picture lounging in a plush leather recliner, and just as the big explosion scene hits, taking a perfectly timed swig of a big bold red wine that sends your senses into overdrive. Moviegoing is about more than just watching a film—it’s about the full experience. Silence your mobile devices and dive into these blockbuster pairings.

Sour Patch Kids

Taking a break from wine? Nozeco NV Fine Alcohol-Free Sparkling is a beautiful option. It’s dry, crisp and refreshingly citrus forward—with zero dosage, which puts the Sour Patch Kids’ sweet and tangy punch into sharp contrast. The sparkler’s effervescent bubbles offer a crisp reset from the sugar rush after each bite.

Pretzel Bites

This is a no-brainer superhero pairing, like Batman with Robin or Captain America with Bucky Barnes. Doughy and savory with a blast of salt, the pretzel bites serve as an excellent sidekick to all-star Champagne, Lallier NV Blanc de Blancs Brut Chardonnay, which is armed with crisp acidity and mineral-driven power. Together, they harmoniously strike the perfect balance required to vanquish hunger. And bad taste.

Popcorn (with Too Much Butter)

Added too much movie theater butter to your popcorn? Pair it with a vibrant Chardonnay like Chartron et Trébuchet Pouilly-Fuissé, and suddenly, all is right in the world again. The wine’s crisp acidity cuts right through the butter overload like a refreshingly stinging commentary. The resulting good tension and interplay of rich, salty and acidic notes will keep the palate busy even through the longest director’s cut.

Hot Dogs

This pairing is Robert De Niro-level gangster. You’ve got your classic street snack, smoky, juicy and ready to roll. Enter E. Guigal 2021 Côtes du Rhône—a smooth, bold red that, like a mob boss, makes an offer you can’t refuse. The wine’s rich fruit and peppery notes add the kick—making the savory snack disappear before anyone realizes it. This is one pairing that doesn’t mess around.

Sno-Caps

Gérard Bertrand 2021 Clos d’Ora Red is chic personified—black plum, blackberry purée and a whisper of hibiscus. C’est magnifique! Toss into the equation the texture of Sno-Caps, which lend a perfect crunch to the wine’s tannins, and voilà! You’ve got magic, baby. The tannins tease and the fruit dances while the finish takes its time. This pairing is luxurious, unexpected and so ready for its close-up.

This article originally appeared in the May 2025 Film issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine. Click here to subscribe today!

More Wine Pairing Coverage

• Got leftover candy? Adultify your Easter basket treats with wine pairings.
• Mastering the art of food and wine pairing may seem intimidating, but these tips will help guide you.
• Some foods—artichokes, cabbage, eggs—are really hard to pair with wine. We did it anyway. 
• Perhaps no pairing is quite as harmonious as Champagne and crispy, salty snacks. 
• If you’re avoiding booze at the moment, we put together a guide to pairing non-alcoholic wine with everything from cheese to oysters.

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