A Memorable Movie Moment, A Memorable Wine Moment

    For those us of addicted to movies, we just can’t help but find actors or actresses that we love. For whatever reason, the scripts they choose or their personality on screen resonates with us, and we are constantly looking forward to our next on-screen adventure with them. For me, it’s Cameron Diaz.

    From the time I saw “The Mask” as a nine-year-old, I thought Diaz was the coolest woman, and I have enjoyed so many of her movies over the years. From “Any Given Sunday,” to the Charlie’s Angels movies, to “Bad Teacher,” to the “The Holiday,” I was always so thrilled when a new movie of hers was coming out. So, you can imagine my excitement when I happened upon an article talking about her partnership in a new wine line, “Avaline.” I had to get me some of that wine!

    Avaline, according to their website, started up when Diaz and her friend Katherine Powers were enjoying a glass of wine one day. They started talking about what all goes into a bottle of wine, and both firm believers in label transparency when it comes to products, felt that many wines were lacking in this area. They decided to create an all-natural wine brand that allowed consumers to know exactly what went into the bottle they were drinking.

    Now, I personally have my own reserved thoughts on this natural-wine movement, but I couldn’t wait to try a bottle and see what amazing concoction my favorite actress played a part in. Upon receiving a bottle of the Avaline Red Blend from my husband, I knew that I had to enjoy this bottle of wine at the perfect moment, watching my favorite Diaz movie, “The Sweetest Thing.” That perfect moment took place on a classic Colorado, it’s March but I am going to give you one more dump of snow, day.

    One of my husband and I’s favorite things to do on a snowy day is eat Red Baron pizzas for dinner while watching a movie. Waking up to four inches of snow, we knew this would most likely be the last day of the season to partake in this tradition, so after spending the afternoon building a snowman – whom we named Coalbert Iceman – we got ready for our pizza night.

    When we began discussions of what movie to watch, images of my bottle of Avaline popped into my head. I asked my husband if he would be up for watching “The Sweetest Thing,” and he agreed. This pizza night just got epic.

    With minutes left until our pizzas were ready, I gleefully poured a glass of my “Cameron Diaz Wine.” A lovely garnet in color, I was greeted with aromas of strawberries and baking spice, reminding me of a berry pie. I desperately wanted to take a sip, but I waited until we were seated, dinner in front of us, movie starting up on the TV.  As the montage of Christina Walter’s (Diaz’s character) jaded lovers played on the screen, I took my first sip of the wine. I was hit with notes of triple berry, baking spice leading with cinnamon, violet, and a hint of peppery heat. It was the perfect wine for the movie, as its sweet and spicy flavor matched the tone of the story so wonderfully, it was as if they were made to go together. I instantly got lost in both the wine and the movie.

    The whole evening experience was such a treat. I was getting the nostalgia aspect of watching a movie I have loved since high school, while enjoying it with a new favorite wine, all thanks to an actress I have respected for years and years. How could I not raise a glass to that?

    Now that I have enjoyed the Avaline Red Blend, I can’t wait to try the other varieties they offer. And, though I recently learned that the movie Diaz is in the works of making with Jamie Foxx will be her last, I am so grateful that I will still get to see my favorite actress, not on screen, but in the wines she has put her heart into. That is something this wine and movie lover can certainly get behind.