Pairing Wine & Movies Round 9: Eppa Red Sangria
This week's wine and movie pairing is bittersweet. I'm excited to move on to another round in two weeks but I'm sad we only had three Keira movies to watch. She's such a great actress and I think that this particular film is a fantastic example of her talent. A Dangerous Method came out a few years ago and had mixed reviews. I've wanted to see it since it was in theaters and took this as the perfect opportunity.
A Dangerous Method is based off a true story about Sabina Spielrein, a Russian girl who goes to Carl Jung for treatment of hysteria. She is deeply troubled due to some disturbing events from her childhood and is hoping Jung can cure her of this mental illness. While she is being treated, Jung suggests she study medicine since it had always been an interest of hers and she sort of becomes his apprentice. At the same time, Jung is beginning to start his relationship with Freud. They both use psychoanalysis in their treatments and are working to further the field and make it a little more accepted. However, Jung starts to question a number of Freud's methods and interpretations and also breaks the cardinal rule of their practice, do not sleep with your patient. Him and Sabina begin an affair that leads to much destruction, most notably Jung and Freud's relationship. Freud loses respect for Jung after he mishandles the entire situation with Sabina and they begin to strongly disagree on a number of opinions. Sabina is ultimately cured of her hysteria, thanks to Freud's method of psychoanalysis, and goes on to become a psychologist herself even working under Freud at one point.
I honestly loved the film. There is so much that happens it's hard not to write a full synopsis of it. I thought Keira's performance as Sabina while in hysterics was brilliant. Her performance was incredible and I'm surprised she wasn't nominated for one award. Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortenson also give really great performances as Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud. I love the history of psychology, especially psychoanalysis. I find in intriguing and I think it's wrong to say that Freud has not had an impact on modern methods of therapy. He invented, or at least mainstreamed, the "talking method" which is what most of us do today if we see a shrink. His views were a little shortsighted and narrow minded, sure. But had he not started this conversation, who's to say anyone else would have. I thought the story was really interesting. I had no idea that Sabina was an actual person and this story was based off of reality. If you look into her actual history, she is actually a pretty influential person within the field of psychology. I would definitely recommend this movie but be ready to have a good discussion afterwards.
Eppa SupraFruta Sangria is crafted in Mendocino, California with real, organic SuperFruit juices and premium varietal wine made with organic grapes. It is anti-oxidant rich so the guilt is practically non-existent. The red wine includes SuperFruit juices from pomegranate, blueberry, blood orange and acai. According to Eppa, you immediately get sweet citrus scents of orange, lemon and lime and red wine aromas from the glass and flavors of dark berry, pomegranate, orange and soft red wine after the first sip. I don't know which I liked more, the red or white sangria. The white sangria was fresh and fruity but this one had the flavors of a classic sangria and you can't go wrong with that. I love the darker wine and I loved the heaviness from it as well. I thought it was sweet but not overtly so. I definitely got the orange elements and also berry. This is a classic. Serve it anywhere...seriously.
I think this movie and this wine pair well together because they're both intriguing. The sangria is not your typical red wine and the movie has your brain working on overdrive. Both make you think but they're both enjoyable. The red wine makes a better pairing for a heavier plot line that A Dangerous Method provides. I think I managed to actually make this pairing work!
Thank you to Deutsch Family Wines for providing Eppa SupraFruta Red Sangria. Opinions are 100% my own.
