Nov

Bonfire Night with EastEnders

Jacob Gaffney in General Bonfire Night, EastEnders

During a recent Bonfire night bash with a few stars from the soap EastEnders, a curious thought occurred: is there a wine that can be paired with both fireworks and celebrity company?

The answer is definitely not mulled wine, which was widely available at the party. Brits love it, as would Americans, InterWined reckons. There is much to like, it’s warmed cozily on a massive pot on the stove, plied with spices as if the chef is trying to get the wine drunk (well, I guess he is!)…and then best served in a styro cup, held with two hands and sipped with eyes up to the sky watching the pyrotechnic display — as British as a sausage roll.

But it doesn’t really go with celebrities. It’s too simple minded, it doesn’t seek to be seen and heard…without appearing to be seeking to be seen and heard. You know how it is with celebrities, they say something and you laugh as if it was the funniest thing you ever heard. That’s the deal; and, sorry mulled wine, you don’t make the casting. Next!

Australian Chardonnay is perfect for EastEnders, especially when served in a pint glass. It makes you think you are having more fun than you actually are. Much like watching EastEnders, come to think of it. But with fireworks? Chardonnay lacks the zip and zing, I’m afraid, to go really well with sparklers and bottle rockets.

Before I reveal the wine that goes best with EastEnders and Bonfire Night, I would like to add that a bottle of Corona here or there during the celebration may have had a mitigating factor on the outcome of this otherwise authoritative review.

The wine with zip and zing…a good drink for a great price: It’s Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine. It’s not as pretentious as champagne. This isn’t a nightclub full of celebrities, it’s just someone’s house, after all. It’s also not as unpretentious as Prosecco, the Italian sparkling wine. This is just someone’s house after all, and it’s full of celebrities!

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