When You Play The Game of Thrones You Win or You Die – Cersei Lannister

Although the TV show has come to an end, the love for the show has nowhere near been lost, in this article, I have found what I believe is a brilliant Sparkling Wine match for 6 of the Game of Thrones houses, including:

• House Stark
• House Lannister
• House Targaryen
• House Baratheon
• House Tyrell
• House Martell

These bottles have been picked because of their labels, with some looking like they were made for the show.

Game of Thrones

The first episode of Game of Thrones aired on the 17th of April 2011 on HBO in the United States and the final one aired on the 19th of May 2019, a total of 73 episodes were created.

The first book, called A Game of Thrones was published in August 1996, there have been 5 books released so far, with a further 2 forthcoming. the books are written by George R. R. Martin.

(Spoiler Alert Ahead)

House Stark

Winter Is Coming

First Home to the Kings of Winter, then to the Warden of the North, then the King of the North and now home to the Queen of the North.

A man who passes the sentence should swing the sword – Eddard Stark

House Stark stood for what was right, they fought for their family and never gave up, even when they didn’t share the same name.

Their home, Winterfell sits in the snowy north of Westeros.

First lesson, stick them with the pointy end – Jon Snow

House Stark

• Eddard Stark (Warden of the North) (Married) Catelyn Tully (Children) Robb Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Richon Stark
• Benjien Stark
• Lyanna Stark (Married) Rhaegar Targaryen (Child) Jon Snow

You Know Nothing Jon Snow – Ygritte

The Sigil of House Stark is of a Direwolf, the bottle I have chosen has a light grey label with a picture of a wolf on it.

Villa Wolf

Villa Wolf was founded back in 1756, back then it was originally called J.L. Wolf Estate, then in the late 20th century the estate needed help, this is when the Dr. Loosen Estate saw their chance to help, they took over the vineyard in 1996 bringing the company to where it is today.

Dr. Lossen Villa Wolf is also suitable for vegetarians & vegans.

Tasting Notes – “Crisp acidity in flavours with citrus and apricot.”

House Lannister

Hear Me Roar 

A house whose roar was as strong as its bite, tactically strong, and bound by blood, holding the capital until their dying breath.

Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armour, and it can never be used to hurt you – Tyrion Lannister

House Lannister

• Tywin Lannister
• Kevan Lannister
• Tyrion Lannister
• Cersei Lannister (It’s Complicated) Jamie Lannister (Children) Joffrey Lannister, Myrcella Lannister, Tommen Lannister

Any man who has to say ‘I am the King’ is no true King – Tywin Lannister

The Sigil of House Lannister is of a lion on a red banner and this bottle has a roaring lion, ready to fight on its label.

No man is free. Only children and fools think elsewise – Tywin Lannister

Frelih

Jožef Frelih is the man who created Frelih, the Slovenian Winery with a label you won’t soon forget, it all began in 1892 when he moved to Šentrupert in Slovenia, they offer award winning Sparkling Wines that are perfect for the Lannister House.

Vinska klet Frelih – Frelih Rosé Brut Nature 2016 Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Pink rose petals, red candy, rhubarb and raspberry on the aroma.”

Flavour – “A touch dryer, with raspberries, pink grapefruit and rhubarb on the palate.”

This Slovenian Sparkling Wine won a Bronze Medal in the Spring Fling Category at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2019.

House Targaryen

Fire And Blood

You are now in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.

When my dragons are grown, we will take back what was stolen from me and destroy those who wronged me! – Daenerys Targaryen

The Targaryens ride into battle on the back of dragons, instilling fear into the hearts of their enemies, Daenerys Targaryen was no different, she always stood strong and fought for what was her’s.

I will take what is mine with fire and blood – Daenerys Targaryen

House Targaryen

• Aemon Targaryen
• Aerys II Targaryen (Children) Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen (Married) Khal Drogo
• Rhaegar Targaryen (Married) Lyanna Stak (Child) Jon Snow

The Sigil of House Targaryen is of a Three-Headed Dragon, now we don’t have a bottle of award winning Sparkling Wine with a Dragon, so I had to think outside the obvious.

Dracarys – Daenerys Targaryen

So I went for a bottle of Fitz, with the label and the story behind the winery, this gave it enough credibility to be House Targaryens Sparkling Wine, Fitz wanted to be different in the English Sparkling Wine market and Daenerys wanted to change Westeros, she freed slaves, fought to save Westeros from a very cold winter and never gave up, even when the odds stood against her.

Fitz

A Sparkling Wine Made In England but not able to call itself English Sparkling Wine.

Fitz didn’t want to be like the other English Sparkling Wines, they wanted to be different, so they decided to make their fizz using the Charmat Method instead of the Classic Method.

Fitz Sparkling Wine – Fitz Pink Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Ripe red berry fruits, candy, strawberry with a hint of spice on the aroma.”

Taste – “Red berry fruits and red apples on the palate.”

This Sparkling Wine Made In England won the Trophy in the Light & Fruity Category at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2019.

House Tyrell

Growing Strong

Are You Going To Bring The Food Or Do You Mean To Starve Us To Death? – Obenina Redwyne

There are a lot of smart characters in Game of Thrones, but none as confident is Obenina Redwyne, the house that dawns a rose hides a thorn, they were never the strongest house, but they always put themselves next to those who were.

The City Is Made Brighter By My Presence? Is That Your Usual Line, Lord Varys? Are You Here To Seduce Me? – Obenina Redwyne

House Tyrell

• Obenina Redwyne
• Mace Tyrell
• Loras Tyrell
• Margaery Tyrell (Married) Renly Baratheon + Joffrey Baratheon + Tommen Baratheon

The Sigil of House Tyrell is of a Rose, so that’s why I chose a bottle of Motzenbäcker Marie, which has a lovely flowery label.

Motzenbäcker

Motzenbäcker has a history dating back to 1758, currently, 4 generations of the Menger-Krug family are helping in creating Motzenbäcker’s Wines & Sparkling Wines, they all have their own specialist fields and gift new ideas to their Wine & Sparkling Wine, they all reside in the wine estate Krug´scher Hof and Motzenbäcker.

All the grapes used in a bottle of Motzenbäcker are grown on their land and they even have vines going on 40 years old.

Another interesting piece of information to take note of is that on the first full moon Motzenbäcker lumber wood to create their large moon oak barrels which contain their very best wines, with only their Chardonnay and Riesling grapes gaining entry, they are allowed to ripen in these barrels for 11 months.

You can find out more about Motzenbäcker and the people who help make the wines right here.

Motzenbäcker – Marie Brut Tasting Notes

Aroma – “A lovely open air, refreshing and fruity nose.”

Flavours – “A light Zesty and Zingy taste.”

This German Sparkling Wine won a Bronze Medal in the Zesty & Zingy Category at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2019.

House Martell

Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken

It’s a big and beautiful world. Most of us live and die in the same corner where we were born and never get to see any of it. I don’t want to be most of us – Oberyn Martell

From the glittering sands of Dorne, the Martells never surrendered, but sometimes choosing not to fight is the best option, confident in their abilities and experts of Guerrilla Warfare.

I will be your champion – Oberyn Martell

House Martell

• Doran Martell (Child) Trtstane Martell
• Ella Martell
• Oberyn Martell (Married) Ellaria Sand (Children) Obara Sand, Nymeria Sand, Tyene Sand

The Sigil of House Marell is of a spear through a sun, I couldn’t find that exact image on a label, but I found a rising sun on a bottle of Vinakoper that brilliantly embodies House Martell.

Vinakoper

‘A Glass of Sun’

Vinakoper has been producing ‘top-quality wines with love and respect’ since 1947. In 1951 they opened their cellar which contained inside, at the time, the largest Oak barrel in Europe, with a capacity of 41,427 litres.

Vinakoper first bottled their sweet Muscato Sparkling Wine in 1996.

Vinakoper – Capris Muškat Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Apricot and gooseberry.”

Flavours – “Honeydew melon, apricot and citrus.”

This Slovenian Sparkling Wine won a Silver Medal in the Dessert Category at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2018.

House Baratheon

Ours Is The Fury

The house of kings, or the house of traitors, the Baratheon brothers stood divided, but determined, fighting for the throne, no matter the cost.

We march to victory or we march to defeat, but we go forward, only forward – Stannis Baratheon

House Baratheon

• Robert Baratheon (King) (Married) Cersei Lannister
• Stannis Baratheon (Married) Selyse Baratheon (Child) Shireen Baratheon
• Renly Baratheon (Married) Margaery Tyrell
• Gendry

A man without friends is a man without power – Renly Baratheon

The Sigil of House Baratheon is a stag, I couldn’t find a bottle with this on, so I went with a king instead, to represent the feud between Stannis Baratheon & Renly Baratheon on who was going to take the throne.

Cantina Rotaliana

Located in Northern Italy, in the city of Trento, Cantina Rotaliana has over 80 years of experience in creating great tasting Wines and Sparkling Wines.

The winery is only called Cantina Rotaliana because of a merger back in 1968 when the winery was first created in 1931, it was called Cantina Cooperativa di Mezzolombardo, the winery joined forces with another winery, Società Enologica Rotaliana, to create the name we know today, Cantina Rotaliana di Mezzolombardo.

Cantina Rotaliana – R Riserva Brut 2011 Trentodoc Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Toffee, golden fruits and caramel on the aroma.”

Flavours – “Golden fruits and tropical flavours with butter and brioche.”

This Italian Sparkling Wine won a Gold Medal in the Classic & Elegant Category at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2019.

6 great houses with 6 great Sparkling Wines, who will you drink for?