Who says wine pairings are just for food? Indeed, snacks are just the beginning. From the opening credits on the bottle to the parting shot of a finishing sip, good wine tells a story and relates an experience that you, as the drinker, can connect to―just like a good movie. With Hollywood’s biggest night just a few days away, we’re pairing this year’s Best Picture Nominees with our own picks for bottles that capture the essence of these compelling tales. Join us in-store for preview tastings this weekend, or shop online for your Oscars party’s main feature. The nominees are: 

Van Volxem Saar Riesling 2018 and “Jojo Rabbit”:

This crisp white from one of Germany’s most prestigious wine regions is buoyant and refreshing, with a singular balance and acidity that is the perfect partner to Taika Waititi’s cheeky, anti-hate satire about Hitler’s terrible rise to power through the eyes of a shy 10-year-old boy.

Chateau Panchille Bordeaux Superieur Rouge 2015 and “1917”: 

Hints of blackberry, black cherry, forest floor, and smooth tannins anchor this lush red from Bordeaux, lands near the setting of Sam Mendes’ unforgettable tale about two British soldiers with an impossible mission–to carry a message from the trenches across hostile territory to stop a key British military unit from walking into a devastating trap.

Bebame El Dorado Red Blend 2015 and “Little Women”: 

This stunning blend of Cabernet Franc and Gamay from California is refreshing, subtly spicy, and so easy to drink that it’s easy to miss the fine winemaking at work. Greta Gerwig’s update of the classic tale of young women, life, love, and literature is much the same. This pairing is not to be missed. 

LAM Pinotage 2017 and “Parasite”: 

This South African is plush, fresh, and nuanced, just like this sleeper hit from Korean horror maestro Bong Joon-Ho. Each sip offers aromas of cherries, plums, and blueberries with warm spice undertones, anchored by balance and acidity that will keep you on your toes just as much as the evolving relationship between the two families at the center of this amazing film. 

Le Plan Sauvignon Blanc 2017 and “Ford v. Ferrari”:

We had no choice but to pair this bright and racy Sauvignon Blanc from Dutch race car driver-turned-winemaker Dirk Vermeersch with this gripping tale of car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles teaming up to build a unique, high-performance car for Ford that would defeat the dominant Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans.

Cascina del Torcc Barolo 2015 and “The Irishman”:

Let’s face it, no one makes movies with scope and graceful storytelling like Martin Scorcese. Similarly, there’s no place on the planet for finely structured, intoxicatingly beautiful reds like Barolo. This mind-blowingly inexpensive red is filled with wild black fruits, notes of tar, roses, violets, cedar, tobacco. It’s the perfect partner for Frank Sheeran’s reflections on his life as a hustler and mob hitman. 

SO2 Cabernet Franc 2018 and “Joker”:

This is a stripped down, unsulphured, and unfiltered Loire Valley Cabernet Franc with intensity and verve that mirrors this Joaquin Phoenix flick about the Joker’s dark beginnings and a chain reaction of events that lead to the emergence of a supervillain. 

Dido La Universal Montsant 2017 and “Marriage Story”:

This bold Spanish red from husband-and-wife winemakers Sara Perez and Rene Barbier is a testament to love in all of its beauty and savagery. It’s irrestible, just like Noah Baumbach’s blistering, passionate look at life after ever after.

Sobon Estate Amador County Zinfandel 2018 and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”:

This certified organic Zinfandel is chock-full with notes of cranberry, black cherry, mocha and spice. There’s a lot going on here, almost as much as what’s going on in Quentin Tarantino’s star-studded tale of aging TV star Rick Dalton, his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth, and yes, Sharon Tate, struggling to find their footing in a city as rapidly changing as it is ruthless.