Let's be honest, there is nothing better than Harry Potter and wine. Okay, maybe a few things, but the list that beats those two things is incredibly small. So for those of us looking for any excuse to do something Harry Potter related, something wine related, or both, this is just for you. *Warning: spoilers ahead, you've been warned!
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The intro to the books that changed many of our lives and brought way too many jokes among "Potterheads" about using the Marauder's Map, naming spells that fit appropriately into certain situations and the never ending hidden meaning J.K. has plagued our lives with, a refreshing Moscato would fit. For many people, Moscatos are introductory wines; fruity and easy to drink, simplistic. They're the jumping off point into more complex, full bodied wines. We all know that reflects well on the dark twists and turns the books brought in later years. Pairing a moscato with something sweet is best, usually a fruity dessert or any type of butter-based pastry.
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Things get a bit trickier in this installment of the Harry Potter series. History about Hogwarts is divulged and hidden areas housing a massive serpent is involved, so the excitement level is upped significantly. For this, a pinot grigio is a good wine to sip on, as the acidic "bite" reflects basilisk tendencies well. This pairs perfectly with spicy Chinese cuisine or Thai food.
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: One of my personal favorites, as it promotes the age old lesson of not judging a book by its cover (which happens with many characters in the series, coughSnapecough). Through the complexity and range of feelings Harry has about Sirius, the book reflects a conflicted and, finally, harmonious relationship between godfather and godson. This particular book deserves a full bodied malbec paired with sautéed spinach, grilled halibut and dulce de leche to finish.
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: A overall fan favorite, this book brings Durmstrang, Beauxbatons and Hogwarts students together to compete and, in the end, realize that working together will bring them far more success than competing against one another. For the three schools coming together, a perfect pairing as a reflection would be a buttery chardonnay accompanied by a plate of crab and garlic sautéed shrimp, grilled squash and banana bread with vanilla pudding for dessert.
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: With it's seriously tragic ending (R.I.P. Sirius), a lot of wine and good food will be needed to make it through without ending up in the fetal position, crying your eyes out and wondering why Bellatrix has to be such a murderous, horrid person (though admittedly she's on my top list of HP villains). Here you'll need about 3 bottles of merlot paired with a lovely grilled steak with caramelized onions on top, a tomato, onion, cucumber salad drizzled with olive oil and a pinch of salt and dark chocolate fondue with berries to numb the pain of the scene in which Sirius departs the world of the living.
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: This one was a massive turning point for me personally, because so many things are explained having to do with James, Lily and, most importantly, Snape. We also grieve the lost of the enigmatic and wise headmaster of Hogwarts, none other than Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. To heal our loss and get ready for the clear battle ahead against Voldemort (or He Who Must Not Be Named for the more sensitive crowd) a floral and fruit influenced voignier with a plate of scallops in a lemon cream sauce and a chocolate cake with berry ganache to finish.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The finale to one of the best literary works in my opinion (I'm obviously biased as I sit here in my Harry Potter t-shirt, with the theme song playing on a loop in the background and wearing my time turner necklace). But between the epic battle at Hogwarts, Bellatrix being ended as Molly Weasley spews the most epic and mama bear-esque comment. The epilogue gives us an insight into the future of the characters a lot of us grew up with. For the final touch, a cabernet sauvignon works wonderfully paired with beef stew, grilled broccolini and espresso gelato as the finishing touch to the most epic of stories
So when someone asks if you just have to have a wine/Harry Potter night your response should be: Always...
