And the Oscar Goes to...

Which wine best suits which nominee?

Published on Feb 21, 2007

By Kara Newman

Each year millions of viewers hunker down to watch the stars come out at the Academy Awards. This year, it's also an excuse to open a bottle of wine to pair with your favorite actor or actress.

Just ask the wine experts at Manhattan wine emporium Bottlerocket (www.bottlerocketwine.com), who have cleverly selected wines to match the nominees. Here's a selected shortlist, all likely to be best in show:

BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES

Actress: Penelope Cruz
Wine match: Cellar Can Blau. Can Blau 2005. (Monsant, Spain)
The sultry actress is matched with a "sexy" dark-purple Spanish wine with "soft, velvety" qualities.

Actress: Judi Dench
Wine Match: Château Lamothe. Bordeaux 2005. (Bordeaux, France)
Ever-acerbic Dame Judi is paired with a white Bordeaux that is equally "dry and a bit crisp."

Actress: Meryl Streep
Wine Match: Conundrum. White Table Wine 2005. (California)
Like the proverbially cool blonde Streep, winemaker Conundrum also has built a loyal following over the years. This dry, medium-bodied white incorporates a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon grapes.

BEST ACTOR NOMINEES

Actor: Will Smith
Wine Match: Pure Love Wines. Layer Cake Shiraz 2005. (Barossa Valley, Australia)
"So smooth and sweet, you can't help but like the guy," quips Bottlerocket. Described as "the wine version of a big, rich piece of chocolate cake," this intense, full-bodied shiraz is the inaugural release from Jason Woodbridge, producer of the cult wine Hundred Acre Cabernet from Napa Valley.

Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio
Wine Match: Domaine de la Madone. Beaujolais Nouveau 2006. (Burgundy, France)
Like Leo, everyone knows and loves Beaujolais Nouveau, which is youthful and easy on the palate. "Let's be honest, the guy is great, but light-bodied and somewhat fruity," opines Bottlerocket. Ouch.

Actor: Peter O'Toole
Wine Match: Château Tour Simard. Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1999. (Bordeaux, France)
Two beloved, well-aged classics find a match. 'Nuff said.

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