Regardless of their individual drama and intricate story lines, there’s one thing every character on “Big Little Lies” has in common: They need a damn drink. In fact, wine plays a huge role in the show’s plot lines. Think about it: Whether it’s lunch between Madeline and Jane, dinner at Nathan and Bonnie’s, or Renata freaking out about something at her floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a glass of wine is always prevalent in the shot. It got us thinking: Which wine is each of these characters drinking during all of these scandalous scenes? Better yet, if each character were a glass of wine, which would they be? The answers are in.
Madeline Mackenzie – Sauvignon Blanc
Madeline’s popularity in the town is similar to that of Sauvignon Blanc. Everyone knows her. Her zippy, zesty, and occasionally feisty personality entirely mimics that of our beloved SB. And if anyone needs a go-to wine-chugging partner, both she and SB are the answer.
Celeste Wright – Pinot Noir
Just like Pinot Noir, Celeste is classy AF. While on the surface she appears simple, she’s actually extremely layered and complex. Celeste is an educated woman, so she’s definitely a wine that requires much pondering, like a classic Burgundian Pinot. Delicate, elegant, and downright sophisticated.
Jane Chapman – Riesling
Like Riesling, Jane Chapman is all over the damn spectrum. At times, she’s super sweet, like a fine Trockenbeerenauslese, yet at other times, she’s raw to to the bone, just like a dry Trocken bottle. She’s super complex, hard to make sense of, and, above all, very misunderstood. Aged Rieslings also develop notes of gunpowder and flint as they age — kind of like the pistol she keeps under her pillow at night.
Perry Wright – Northern Rhone Syrah
Perry’s character is bold, dominant, and powerful, a.k.a., all the things we love about northern Rhone Syrah. His personality is extremely carnal, with meaty, leathery notes, just like a solid bottle of Cornas. Rough, rigid tannins are the epitome of his dark personality.
Ed Mackenzie – Pinot Grigio
Oh, Ed. Kind of a pushover, not really a ton of personality, just sort of… there, like the bottle of name-brand Pinot Grigio sitting on your counter. He’s enjoyable, for sure, but more of a filler than anything else. Still, you know he’ll never let you down.
Bonnie Carlson – Natural Wine
Organic, biodynamic, and all things sustainable are what these two are all about. Like natural wine, Bonnie loves nature, holistic practices, and respecting the environment, of course. Call them hippies if you want, they don’t care. They’ve got more important things to worry about, like yoga.
Nathan Carlson – Petit Verdot
Like Petit Verdot, Nathan’s got himself involved in multiple blends here. He generally never runs the show and prefers to stand in the shadows of his more dominant (lady) counterparts. He’s definitely got some sort of personality inside him; he just does it best when it’s masked by others.
Renata Klein – Barolo
The evolution of Renata Klein is just like that of a fine Barolo. At the beginning, she’s tannic and austere, just like a young Nebbiolo. Though as time goes on, her elegance evolves. What starts out as an angry, screaming personality develops into a refined, elegant work of art. And in terms of the wine world/career world, they’re both absolute bosses.
Joseph – Vin Jaune
Like all creatives, our favorite town play director is a little funky, sort of like an oxidative vin jaune. Despite being a pretty big deal, he keeps himself under the radar, only letting his unique, creative side be known. Though once you have a glass of him, you just can’t stop going back.
