Hallmark started it all in 2010 when they branched out from greeting cards and started producing holiday movies. Now they’re everywhere! I watched my first holiday movie on Netflix in 2019. then came 2020, and I feel like I watched them all. And now – holidays movie, from classics to new ones, are must-see viewing every holiday season for bajillions of people. But what are you eating and drinking while curled up in your fleece lounge pants and fuzzy slippers?

Here are some suggestions. (And if you must know, I was supposed to talk about these wine-and-chip pairings for holiday movies on TV on Dec. 8 and just a few days before that I got smacked in the face by a glass door and do you KNOW how long it takes for a black eye to fade? Jesus. Anyway … I’m sharing nonetheless because I want to!)

“White Christmas” – This is a classic! I bet I’ve seen it 50 times. I practically know the entire script and I sing along to every song like it’s my job. For this movie – choose Zardetto Prosecco and classic potato chips. 

The Zardetto website talks about the brand’s authenticity, but how it also challenges convention – kind of how the crew did in White Christmas! Zardetto is easy to find in stores and affordalicious at about $15 a bottle. Plus, it has fun, peel-off labels that reveal a message on every bottle! (You can even go online and customize one for a friend – it’s really cool.)

“It’s a Wonderful Life” – While I always loved White Christmas, my bro always loved this movie. It’s perfect with Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand with salt-and-vinegar chips. Why? Well, first because James Stewart’s character George Bailey gets pretty salty and vinegar-y during the movie, when his dreams get thrown in the dumpster thanks to the 1929 stock market crash, and he wants to end it all.

This wine SINGS with the tangy chips like “Buffalo Gal gonna come out tonight… come out tonight…”. You’re gonna pick up all the things you love about NZ Sauvignon B — bright sunny citrus and green, herbaceous flavors. The chips and wine sort of slice right through each other on your palate, each making the other better. Kind of how Mary and George made each other better in the movie! It’s also an affordalicious wonder at about $16, and widely available at tons of stores.

“Christmas Vacation” – I mean, who doesn’t die laughing at this movie? When they bring home a Christmas tree that’s WAY too big for the house and they fit it in anyway – and when Cousin Eddie shows up in his trash heap of a mobile home? I feel like this guy would go all in on a bag of BBQ potato chips.

And what to pair with them? Borsao Tres Picos – a Spanish red made from the Garnacha grape that is a Christmas miracle with BBQ flavors! You’re going to get blackberries, plums, and a nice little hint of leather, along with some vanilla. The whole thing pairs so well with tomato-ey BBQ flavors. And it’s another budget-friendly bottle, at less than $20 – shazam!

“Spirited” - I just rewatched this (on Apple TV) and I think the perfect pairing is: Champagne and and truffle chips! Why? Because Ryan Reynolds’ character is sort of a high-falutin’ rich guy, so Champagne seemed like something he’d drink! Plus which: if I’m not drinking Prosecco, I’m drinking Champagne.

I pick Champagne Palmer Brut Reserve because a) I love it for its rich and brioche-y notes and 2) it’s another affordalicious buy at $49-$55 – which is a steal. Champagne Palmer was started in the late 1940s by a group of seven families who were growing grapes for other Champagne producers and they came together and said, “Hey, let’s start our own damn Champagne brand.” (Okay, that’s probably not exactly what they said, but you get the gist.) So they did, and every wine they make is a dream.

FYI: I share links to wine.com because its a good place to get more info about the wines including scores and what-not. (I don’t get anything if you buy from wine.com, and frankly, I like buying from local indie wine shops when I can.)

Happy holidays and happy movie night to you!