An Ode to Nora, Nancy, and Greta
Sixteen wines celebrating three iconic filmmaker-writers of the "relationship comedy" genre and the multifaceted heroines in their films.
Believe it or not, my mom and I have wildly different taste in movies. I enjoy comedies of all kinds ā romantic, slapstick, satire, you name it ā for their creative hilarity and situational antics. I also dig hard-hitting dramas, which should be no surprise given their rich storytelling and explored relationships. The not-so-obvious reason would be that Iām one big scaredy cat, unable to stomach the graphic and scary nature of horror and (many) action flicks.
My mom, however, loves action ā the bloodier and more violent the fighting, the better (think: John Wick, Kill Bill, or anything with Jason Statham). She has seen Casino Royale a bazillion times (though I canāt fault her there: that opening parkour chase introducing Daniel Craigās portrayal of James Bond is a sight to behold). She gets bored with too much exposition and not enough action, so premises like The Matrix arenāt really her thing, but everything else is fair game. Give her gratuitous action, straightforward plot lines, well-choreographed fight sequences, and the happiest camper sheāll be.
In theory, I should have appreciated the freedom to watch intense movies like these at a young age, but truth be told, I would have preferred their introduction when I was older ā maybe then I wouldnāt be so frightened by every little thing. As a result, movie night was always a struggle for us two, with my dad acting as mediator, finding compromises where he could (think: the original Star Wars trilogy and The Sound of Music).
Fortunately, Nancy Meyers saved us from another mother-daughter squabble when Father of the Bride hit box offices right before Christmas in 1991. It was my first time seeing Steve Martin and Martin Short on screen, and Iād never seen my mom laugh so hard prior to that matinee. Between George Banksās rant about hot dog buns and Franck Eggelhofferās accent Ć la Martin Short, we both nearly peed our pants.
āI see a house as a lead character in a movie. It tells you so much about a person.ā
āNancy Meyers
We also bonded over the beautiful Banks family home in San Marino, California. Transfixed by its elegant interiors and warm color palette, we were swiftly indoctrinated into the Nancy Meyers aesthetic. Most intriguing was the kitchen, whose center island had a gravitational pull from the inviting and cozy airiness from all the French doors and windows. This was further underscored (pun intended) by a thoughtful soundtrack, chock full of 1960s classics for bringing a vivacious, heartfelt energy to the film.
No longer did we have to choose between our preferred categories of film ā we found in Nancy a common ground through her well-casted screenplays. We returned to the cinema for the Father of the Bride sequel as well as her 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, the latter whose soundtrack was the first one Iād ever purchased with my allowance. Later that year, Nora Ephronās Youāve Got Mail entered the chat, with another killer soundtrack alongside caviar garnishes, F-O-X, and references to The Godfather galore.
Even when my mom and I would bicker, especially during peak teenage angst, I knew we always had these movies together ā ones weād seen more times than we could count as well as subsequent additions like Somethingās Gotta Give and Itās Complicated. When I was feeling homesick in my college dorm, Iād turn to these stories and the accompanying soundtracks like a warm blanket on a rainy day, feeling my momās presence despite being so many miles away.
THE CONCEPT
When fall comes upon the Tri-State Area in September, a few things are already on my mind: apple cider donuts from Delicious Orchards, leaf peeping, and thanks to Youāve Got Mail, bouquets of newly sharpened pencils. Along with the holidays around the corner, the annual viewings of my favorite films commence ā Youāve Got Mail and The Holiday included. For me, this season hasnāt officially started until one of Nora or Nancyās heroines makes their yearly appearance.
I reflected on which of their films I hadnāt seen in a while. Iād never gotten around to watching Julia & Julia, while The Intern warranted another binge or two to catch up with the others. This had me wondering who in present day may be worthy of following these womenās footsteps. With Barbieās summer buzz still electric into the -ber months of 2023, Greta Gerwig could very well share the torch.
Nora, Nancy, and Greta have crafted heartwarming storylines with strong women in relatable situations balanced with humor and romance, all responsible for many wonderful times with my action aficionado mother. So to kickoff the autumn season, I compiled a tasting of sixteen wines, carefully selected to celebrate these three iconic filmmaker-writers of the ārelationship comedyā genre and the multifaceted heroines theyāve brought to life on the silver screen. Each wine was paired with one of their films (fourteen in total) through various tie-ins to a particular scene or moment, whether it be the wine/cuvĆ©e/winery name, its provenance, or the winemaking itself.
Additionally, music choice was also integral to the fabric of their storytelling. Composer Hans Zimmer1 has said Nancy writes with architecture, interior design, and a light ā she writes not just the words, but with everything around it that has to make sense, and the music is part of that.
Similarly, Nora had been very particular in terms of the music she chose to define the atmosphere of her films ā she had been known to select songs that would accurately reflect a rollercoaster of emotions, especially for Youāve Got Mail. Greta Gerwig even had composer Alexandre Desplat draw Little Womenās score upon pitching āMozart meets David Bowieā. Music producers Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt were also asked to conceptualize a kaleidoscope of pop anthems and earnest ballads to match the vibrant world of Barbie.
To appreciate these musical endeavors, I strung together a playlist with four songs from each film featured in the tasting, including personal favorites as well as tracks that best embodied the spirit of the films.
āEverybody is always in the middle of their own opera.ā āGreta Gerwig
THE SCRIPT NOTES
šš· Hero(w)ine Pairings feat. Nora, Nancy, & Greta š„
No. 1: 2014 āHĆ©roĆÆneā Champagne, dĆ©g 1/2023
NORA EPHRONĀ ć» Youāve Got Mail (1998)
KATHLEEN KELLY: What is that? What are you doing? What is that? What are you doing? You're taking all the caviar? That caviar is a garnish!
JOE FOX scoops up more caviar and dumps it on his plate.
Champagne + caviar = classic pairing ć» HĆ©roĆÆne = heroine = hero(w)ine
Fun fact: Nora had always wanted to get the word garnish into a movie, with this very scene making it possible.
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No. 2: 2020 Muscadet āLes Houxā
NORA EPHRONĀ ć» Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
EXT. Pike Place Market.
SAM BALDWIN: So howās my butt?
JAY stops walking and examines SAMās backside.
JAY: Not bad.
SAM: Really?
JAY: Yeah.
SAM: Is it cute though?
JAY: I donāt know. Are we grading on a curve?
Les Houx = French for āholliesā ć» Sleepless in Seattle begins on Christmas Eve
ć» Pike Place Market oysters + Muscadet = classic pairing
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No. 3: 2014 Verdejo āCircustancialā
GRETA GERWIGĀ ć» Barbie (2023)
BARBIE: I donāt have anything big planned. Just a giant blowout party with all the Barbies and planned choreography and a bespoke song. Come by!
whimsical world of Barbie = Circustancial
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No. 4: 2020 Chenin Blanc
GRETA GERWIGĀ ć» Little Women (2019)
INT. March dining room. Late afternoon. Freezing but happy, the women return, and immediately see HANNAH MULLET has arranged an unimaginable feast, with candy and ice cream and cakes. HANNAH pulls MRS. MARCH aside while the girls marvel.
simple roast chicken in feast scene + Chenin Blanc = classic pairing
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No. 5: 2021 Irpinia Falanghina
NORA EPHRONĀ ć» Julie & Julia (2009)
ERIC POWELL: This [bruschetta] is good. This is really good.
JULIE POWELL: On top of which, the whole idea of writing a blog is to get away from what I do all day. The way that cooking is a way that I get away from what I do all day.
ERIC: So write a blog about cooking.
JULIE: I'm not a real cook, like Julia Child or Mario Batali.
ERIC: Julia Child wasn't always Julia Child.
JULIE: If I really wanted to learn to cook, I could just cook my way through Julia Child's cookbook. I could blog about that.
bruschetta + Falanghina = classic pairing
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No. 6: 2020 Chardonnay āWhere Dreams Have No Endā¦ā
NANCY MEYERSĀ ć» The Parent Trap (1998)
ELIZABETH JAMES: Whatās this? Where Dreams Have No Endā¦ 1983.
NICK PARKER: That one actually took me years to track down.
ELIZABETH: Why, whereās it from?
NICK: It's the wine we drank at our wedding. I now have every bottle ever made.
ELIZABETH: You do?
NICK: I do.
this Chardonnay bottling = same āWhere Dreams Have No Endā label seen in film
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No. 7: 2019 Rosato
NANCY MEYERSĀ ć» Father of the Bride (1991)
GEORGE BANKS: I'll tell you what I'm doing. I want to buy eight hot dogs and eight hot dog buns to go with them. But no one sells eight hot dog buns. They only sell twelve hot dog buns. So I end up paying for four buns I don't need. So I am removing the superfluous buns.
hot dogs + Italian rosato = classic pairing
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No. 8: 2019 CĆ“te de Brouilly
NANCY MEYERSĀ ć» The Holiday (2006)
INT. Market. Small, very English. Bad Christmas music plays in the background. AMANDA WOODS pushes a small cart and drinks from a bottle of wine. She loads up her cart with fresh baguettes, pastries, smoked salmon, local cheeses, Christmas puddings.
CLERK: Someoneās having a party tonight.
cheese & charcuterie + Beaujolais = classic pairing
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No. 9: 2021 SpƤtburgunder
GRETA GERWIGĀ ć» Lady Bird (2017)
CHRISTINE āLADY BIRDā MCPHERSON listens, cries hard, then starts laughing and singing along. It turns out her life is just beginning. She ducks into the church entry-way. She gets out her phone and calls home. It rings and rings. She leaves a message.
CHRISTINE: Hi Mom and Dad, itās me. Christine. Itās the name you gave me. Itās a good one. Dad, this is more for Mom. Hey Mom: did you feel emotional the first time that you drove in Sacramento? I did and wanted to tell you, but we werenāt really talking when it happened. All those bends Iāve known my whole life, and the stores, the whole thing. But I wanted to tell you. I love you. Thank you, Iām... thank you.
Sacramentoās Pasty Shack hand pies (montage scene) + SpƤtburgunder = classic pairing
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No. 10: 2019 CarmĆ©nĆØre
NORA EPHRONĀ ć» When Harry Met Sally (1989)
INT. Katzās Delicatessen.
SALLY ALBRIGHT: Nothing. It's just that all men are sure it never happened to them and that most women at one time or another have done it, so you do the math.
HARRY BURNS: You don't think that I could tell the difference?
SALLY: No.
HARRY: Get outta here. [...] Are you OK?
SALLY: Oh...Oh god...Ooo Oh Godā¦ Oh...Oh...Oh...Godā¦ Oh yeah right thereā¦ Oh! Ohā¦ Yes Yes Yes Yes...Oh...Ohā¦ Yes Yes Yes....Oh...Yes Yes Yesā¦ Oh...Oh... Ohā¦ Oh God Oh... Oh... Huh...SALLY finishes, looks at HARRY, and smiles. HARRY looks back, looking a little uneasy.
LADY (from another table): I'll have what she's having.
Katzās pastrami sandwich + CarmĆ©nĆØre = classic pairing
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No. 11: 2018 ChĆ¢teauneuf-du-Pape
NANCY MEYERSĀ ć» Itās Complicated (2009)
INT. JANE ADLERās kitchen. Early evening. JANE places the croque-monsieurs onto two waiting plates, adds some salad on the side. ADAM SCHAFFER stands nearby with a glass of wine.
ADAM: That looks amazing.Ā
JANE: It's called a croque-monsieur. It's one of the first things I learned to make when I lived in Paris because the ingredients are really cheap.
croque-monsieur + ChĆ¢teauneuf-du-Pape = classic pairing
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No. 12 + 13: Anthill Farms / Papapietro Perry 2017 Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard
NANCY MEYERSĀ ć» The Parent Trap (1998)
CHESSY: Hell-o, Gorgeous! You grew, [...] you look fabulous, we missed you, don't let these bums talk you out of going back. You're a growing girl. You need adventure. You hungry? I made cornbread and chili.
twins with same birthday vs. same vineyard & vintage by different winemakers ć» cornbread & chili + Sonoma Pinot Noir = classic pairing
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No. 14: 2016 Etna Rosso
NANCY MEYERSĀ ć» The Intern (2015)
INT. Offices. The place is nearly empty. JULES OSTIN is working alone in her room and takes a bite of a slice of pizza. She notices BEN WHITTAKER, way across a field of desks, also eating. Angle, BEN typing slowly at his computer, eating Subway. He notices JULES approaching, carrying a pizza box and two bottles of beer.Ā
JULES (arrives at his desk): I hate eating alone.
BEN: So do I.
pizza + Etna Rosso = classic pairing
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No. 15: NV Terre Siciliane Passito Blanco
NANCY MEYERSĀ ć» Somethingās Gotta Give (2003)
ERICA BARRY: Okay, soā¦ pasta, leftover coq au vin, or grilled cheese.
HARRY SANBORN: Pancakes.
ERICA: Totally what I wanted. Blueberries?
blueberry pancakes + Passito Blanco = classic pairing
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No. 16: 1986 Sauternes-Barsac
NORA EPHRONĀ ć» Heartburn (1986)
COLLEAGUE: I don't see how you can feel that way about raisins.
RACHEL SAMSTAT: Rice pudding is a very personal thing. [...]
RICHARD: How will you be able to handle this from Washington?
RACHEL: I don't have to be here to run a rice pudding competition.
vintage = film year ć» rice pudding + Sauternes-Barsac = classic pairing
THE WINEUP
/ October 16, 2023 @ Paulus Hook, Jersey City /
La Rogerie 2014 Champagne āHĆ©roĆÆneā Blanc de Blancs
$100 @ Flatiron Wines (circa 2023)
Corkhoarder (New York) | š«š· sparkling white (dĆ©g. 1/2023)
Chardonnay
welcomed brightness ć» formidable heroine ć» without pretense or bravado
Jo Landron 2020 Muscadet SĆØvre-et-Maine āLes Houxā
$21 @ Chambers Street Wines (c. 2023)
Polaner Selections (New York) | š«š· still white
Melon de Bourgogne
textural depth ć» leesy lemon squeezy ć» luscious salinity
MicroBio 2014 Verdejo āCircustancialā Castilla y LeĆ³n
$30 @ DespaƱa Vinos y MƔs (c. 2023)
Selections de la ViƱa (New York) | šŖšø still orange
Verdejo
caramelized pineapple ć» unctuously oxidative ć» sherry fun sans high ABV
La Ferme de la SansonniĆØre 2020 Chenin Blanc āLa Luneā
$75 @ Parcelle Wine (c. 2023)
Louis/Dressner Selections (New York) | š«š· still white
Chenin Blanc
honeyed & weighty ć» magically etherealć» juicy acidity
Quintodecimo 2021 Irpinia āVia del Campoā
$55 @ Eataly Vino (c. 2023)
Omniwines (New York) | š®š¹ still white
Falanghina
zippy acid trip ć» stony staying power ć» bruschetta bestie
Jermann 2020 Venezia Giulia Bianco āWhere Dreams Have No Endā¦ā
$75 @ Astor Wines (c. 2023)
Jermann Wines (California) | š®š¹ still white
Chardonnay
Parisian patisserie ć» tropical tang ć» balanced oak
I Cacciagalli 2019 Roccamonfina āPellerosaā Rosato
$40 @ Eataly Vino (c. 2023)
PortoVino Imports (New York) | š®š¹ still rosĆ©
Aglianico
tomato water ć» amphora agent ć» not your auntās rosĆ©
Alex Foillard 2019 CĆ“te de Brouilly
$36 @ Last Bottle Wines (c. 2023)
First Bottle Wines (California) | š«š· still red
Gamay
savory dark fruit ć» elegant structure ć» cheese & charcuterie coterie
Enderle & Moll 2021 Pinot Noir āBuntsandsteinā Baden
$63 @ Leon & Son Wine (c. 2023)
Vom Boden (New York) | š©šŖ still red
Pinot Noir (SpƤtburgunder)
quiet confidence ć» Burgundian tune ć» earthy finesse
Antiyal 2019 CarmĆ©nĆØre āViƱedo Escorialā Maipo Valley
$66 @ Leon & Son Wine (c. 2023)
RIPE Wine Imports (New York) | šØš± still red
CarmĆ©nĆØre
decanter desiredć» meaty tsunami of reduction ć» Chilean Bordeaux
Domaine de Cristia 2018 ChĆ¢teaneuf-du-Pape āCuvĆ©e Renaissanceā
$90 @ Flatiron Wines (c. 2023)
Bowler Wine (New York) | š«š· still red
Grenache / MourvĆØdre
olive tapenade ć» plush & powerful ć» big & balanced
Anthill Farms 2017 Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast
$39 @ Last Bottle Wines (c. 2022)
Anthill Farms Winery (California) | šŗšø still red
Pinot Noir
Hallie Parker ć» spunky & free-spirited ć» naturally wild
Papapietro Perry 2017 Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast
$76 @ Papapietro Perry Winery (c. 2023)
Papapietro Perry Winery (California) | šŗšø still red
Pinot Noir
Annie James ć» refined & reserved ć» truly traditional
Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2016 Etna Rosso āCalderara Sottanaā
$54 @ Last Bottle Wines (c. 2023)
de Grazia Imports (Missouri) | š®š¹ still red
Nerello Mascalese
spiced oranges ć» Sicilian heat ć» juicy & finessed
Feudo Montoni NV Terre Siciliane Passito Bianco
$44 @ Flatiron Wines (c. 2023)
Wilson Daniels (New York) | š®š¹ dessert white
Grillo / Catarratto
peach cobbler ć» Paddingtonās pal ć» sweet & savory
ChĆ¢teau Climens 1986 Sauternes-Barsac
$129 @ Acker Wines (c. 2023)
The Wine House SF (California) | š«š· dessert white
SĆ©millon
candied citrus ć» dessert showstopper ć» SĆ©millon supreme
THE CODA
āAbove all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.ā
āNora Ephron
It was an absolute delight arranging this tasting, especially having the opportunity to revisit fond memories with my mother as I rewatched in preparation my favorite films by three multi-hyphenate filmmakers ā exceptional examinations of beloved heroines, their homes, and lifeās many operas. I very much enjoyed finding the consummate scene for each pairing, tying the olfactory and gustatory aspects of wine to visuals not limited only to the hue observed in the glass, but instead to the dynamic enlivened through dialogue on film.
In the words of Noraās sister Delia2, when youāre already in love (with wine, in my case), the only place you ever fall in love again is in the movies. Sixteen wines back-to-back is not for the faint of heart, so much gratitude to my wine posse in Jersey City for indulging my fierce pairing whims and letting me refine my storytelling ability in vino through the voices of Nora, Nancy, and Greta.
āWhat Itās Like to be Directed by Nancy Meyers?ā by Rachel Handler from Vulture
āYouāve Got Nora: A Valentineās Day Tribute to Nora Ephronā by Erin Carlson from Vanity Fair