My Top 5 Binge-Worthy Shows

I thought this was a good time to share some of my favorite binge-worthy shows with suggested wines to pair with each. There are many good television shows on regular stations, but most of these have already had their season finales, leaving us stranded in our isolation. Prime, Netlix and other streaming services offer great alternatives for those grieving the loss of sports and gyms to work to out our frustrations. I must say, this is the golden age of Streaming. All of my top five shows come from either Prime or Netflix.

Hearing that Bosch was returning this past week on Prime, made my day. My wife and I had enjoyed the first five seasons, but there was a long pause before the current (and final) season began. Bosch is a wonderful hard-boiled police/mystery series, based upon the writing of best-selling author, Michael Connelly. Harry Bosch (played by Titus Welliver) is an old-school detective in the L.A. police force. The series is fast-paced, wonderfully written and a cast of largely unknown, but superb actors and actresses. The episodes go by so quickly you find yourself groaning at the end of each one. My suggested wine pairing: Amalthea Cellars Legends Edition Europa IV. One classic deserves another.

Silent Witness is another mystery series on Prime. This one has been running in England for 22 seasons! So long that none of the characters in the first several years are still in some of the later episodes. In addition to the super scripts, the character development and interactions between them is superb. Ii is also one of those shows that can be very suspenseful (my personal favorite) and always has you guessing who did it. The title comes from the perspective of the lead characters, who are pathologists. The theme is the dead are the silent witnesses to the crime. Warning: don’t try to do other things while you are watching as you will doubtless miss something important. My pairing suggestion: A bold, full-bodied Cab, like Turdo Vineyards Turis 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (along with your thick-cut slab of steak).

The Killing is on Netflix. Filmed in British Columbia, it is based upon a popular Danish TV series. It is very well done. Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman play the flawed, but zealous detectives on this haunting, dark series. The camera shots reflect the darkness, with a minimum of sunshine or bright interiors. But if that doesn’t put you off or send you surfing, you will be rewarded with some great TV. The Killing ran for four seasons on Netflix (44 episodes). My pairing suggestion: Tomasello Winery Palmaris 2014 Petit Verdot Reserve (a delicious, dark wine with a long finish).

DCI Banks is another British detective series. This one is on Prime. Again, no well-known actors or actresses (at least to American audiences). The secret sauce is the writing. In my opinion, nobody does murder mysteries better than the British. DCI Banks ran for five seasons (32 episodes). My suggested wine pairing: Try a Dry Riesling (it pairs well with the British dry humor and the sometimes salty language). While New Jersey makes some fine Rieslings, I don’t presently have one in my cellar. But I did find a wonderful 2017 Dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes made by Ravines Wine Cellars (pictured above).

The Fall is a psychological thriller on Prime. It is filmed in Belfast Ireland. Yet another British series, starring Gillian Anderson, of The X-Files. Her co-star is James Dornan (star of 50 Shades of Grey). Another one on the dark side, with twists and turns, but excellent writing. My pairing recommendation: Hawk Haven Vineyards 2019 Gewurtztraminer. I am not usually a big fan of Gewurtz, but this one is fantastic. The spicy note in the wine seems apropos. Should you need something stronger, perhaps a nip of Jameson. It is filmed in Ireland.

A final note: If you are looking for a cool way to connect with loved ones that you haven’t seen since this COVID-19 mess began, I have a suggestion. Old York Cellars is utilizing their What Exit wines to send a message on a bottle.” You can personalize the message and they will appreciate the message and the excellent wine, while 20% of the proceeds go to the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. It’s a win-win proposition. For more information go to their website at www.oldyorkcellars.com

Cheers!

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