Friday, June 5, 2026

Blood Of The Vines - Carquake

Pairing wine with movies!  See the trailers and hear the fascinating commentary for these movies and many more at Trailers From Hell. This week, we're in the driver's seat for three films that owe their existence to the auto industry. We have wine pairings for each film, although we encourage you to wait until you're safely home before uncorking the bottle. Or unscrewing the cap. Or tearing open the box.

The Italian Job is a 1969 British caper with laughs. Michael Caine and Noël Coward got plenty of bravos for their parts as crooks trying to steal a truckload of gold bullion in Italy. It's worth remembering while dealing with explosives, that "you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off." If you want more laffs, there is a wealth of comedic talent in the cast, including Bennie Hill.

The often copied Mini Cooper car chase should be used for entertainment purposes only. Do not try it at home, No matter how good a driver you think you are. You're not.

The wine pairing for a movie about Italian criminal activity should be one that was the subject of a crime, right? Several years ago, some nefarious types passed off cheapo wine as 2015 Bolgheri Sassicaia. A bottle costs close to $500. Just pray it hasn't had the doors blown off it.

In 1971's Vanishing Point, a stock car driver takes a bet to deliver a white Dodge Challenger R/T from Denver to San Francisco in 15 hours. If that sounds too easy, imagine doing that task with a police chase behind you. It doesn't sound like easy money now, does it?

It's said to be one of Steven Spielberg's favorite films, and it inspired Edgar Wright's 2017 car-a-palooza, Baby Driver. Vanishing Point vanished after only a couple of weeks in release, but it has since become a cult classic. It's an especially big trunk full of muscle car fun for people who go to the Friday Night Car Show at Bob's Big Boy.

Adobe Road Wines of Sonoma County has a full line of racing themed offerings. Their Redline Cabernet Sauvignon goes fast for $48.

The star in 1977's Grand Theft Auto is Ron Howard, who also directed it. But the big co-star is a Rolls Royce, which takes a beating throughout the film, a beating that's usually reserved for a demolition derby. Uh, spoiler alert. There is a demolition derby. The Rolls carries a young couple as they elope to Las Vegas, where there will be plenty of time for wine. 

A tip of the headset to the late L.A. legend The Real Don Steele, who has a role in the movie as, wait for it, a radio DJ. 

There are more Master Sommeliers in Sin City than in any other city in the world, so getting a recommendation shouldn't be a problem. Ordering that wine in a restaurant, if you're someone who looks a lot like Opie, means you'd better have your ID with you. For the Rolls Royce, only a Dom Perignon Champagne will do. At least at first. As the wear and tear on the vehicle mounts, you'll be looking for something cheap, maybe in a box. The Franzia Dark Red Blend is priced at $16 for a five liter box.

Nowadays people know GTA as a game, and in the GTA V edition, there is a virtual wine called Costa Del Perro, which translates to "coast of the dog," but you can only have that wine virtually, as a player in the game. 


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