The Emmy® Award-winning HBO® drama “Game Of Thrones” has long given wine a prominent role in its scenes from the Seven Kingdoms. Now fans and fine wine drinkers can uncork a bottle of “Game Of Thrones” wine on their own, as HBO Global Licensing and Vintage Wine Estates have just released a Chardonnay, a proprietary red blend and a reserve-style Cabernet Sauvignon that would bring a smile to the lips of any Lannister.
Made by Vintage Wine Estates and acclaimed winemaker Bob Cabral, a fan of the show, the “Game Of Thrones” Chardonnay, Red Blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon come from specially selected vineyard lots and are aged in the finest oak barrels. With the “Game Of Thrones” wines, Cabral, who was named Winemaker of the Year in 2011 by Wine Enthusiast and has crafted more than 100 wines scoring 95 points or higher on the 100-point scale, was aiming for wines with layers of complexity and flavor.
“I’m a huge ‘Game of Thrones’ fan, and these wines capture the complexity of the drama,” said Cabral. “But the wines also have great pedigree. We source grapes from premier vineyard sites and use the finest winemaking techniques to create wines of incredible richness and texture.”
In battle and to signify status, the noble houses of the Seven Kingdoms carry colorful banners displaying distinctive symbols. A sigil—an animal or object identified with the various houses—provided Cabral inspiration for the wines. House Lannister is represented by a Golden Lion—an accurate symbol for the regal, golden “Game Of Thrones” 2016 Chardonnay, Central Coast ($19.99).
House Targaryen’s sigil is a Three-Headed Dragon, expressed in the multiple varietals which come together in the 2014 Red Blend, Paso Robles ($19.99). This wine is a blend of Syrah, Tempranillo, and Petite Sirah, which lend fragrant aromas of black cherry, vanilla, and cocoa and give the wine a lush, rich palate.
The sigil for House Stark is the Direwolf. This powerful alpha canine finds expression in the most prized wine of all, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($49.99). The wine captures the essence of the archetype in a complex, balanced wine with classic structure and multiple layers of flavor.
The Chardonnay and Red Blend is available today, March 13th, and the Cabernet Sauvignon will be available March 20th through the website www.gameofthroneswines.com. The wines will also be available in stores around the country in April.
Based on the bestselling fantasy book series by George R.R. Martin, “Game Of Thrones” is an epic story of treachery and nobility set on the continent of Westeros, where summers and winters can last years, and only the lust for power is eternal. The Emmy®- and Golden Globe-winning series has captured the imagination of fans globally, making it one of the most popular shows on television. Season 7 of the series will debut on HBO this summer.
