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Game of Thrones Wine Review: Worthy of the Iron Throne?

Game of Thrones Wine Review: Worthy of the Iron Throne?

Game of Thrones wine is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a wine for Game of Thrones lovers. In celebration of the final season, these wines are intended for fans to enjoy while they watch the show or hold onto for their collection of memorabilia.

If you do plan to collect these bottles, get two of each, because you’re going to want to try them, too!

About Game of Thrones Wine

Expert winemaker Bob Cabral has legendary skills and he’s summoned them to make wines that are worthy of every house. He’s been making wines for more than 30 years, but he wants to celebrate the final season of the award-winning HBO show, Game of Thrones, with you!

The idea behind Game of Thrones Wine is to create unique, persistent flavours that reflect the strength of character in the show. He has used his winemaking expertise to source grapes from only the best regions and produce four wines that all Game of Thrones lovers will enjoy.

Bob Cabral has been growing grapes and making wine since he was a kid. He helped his grandfather make wine and learned good techniques early. He’s a fourth-generation grape grower, but he also sources grapes from other regions that are ideally suited for the types of wine he wants to make.

He learned what he could from the family farm in Escalon, California and set out to earn his degrees from Fresno State University. While working at Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard, Bob planted and produced the first California Pinot Noir to earn 100 points.

More than 100 of his wines have ranked between 95 and 100 points, and in 2011, he won the Wine Star Award and Winemaker of the Year from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

After becoming a huge fan of the Game of Thrones series, he set out to craft wines that would embody not only the spirit of the show but the terroir of their kingdoms. He is meticulous and patient with his wines and has been cultivating them since the early days of the show.

Cabral released the Game of Thrones Cabernet Sauvignon, Game of Thrones Red Blend, and Game of Thrones Chardonnay in 2017 during the show’s seventh season. In the summer of 2018, he released the Game of Thrones Pinot Noir.

To create these wines, Bob summons his legendary skills and uses the knowledge that far surpasses his peers. He’s not hiding behind the marketing of a hugely popular TV show. He really knows his stuff. Game of Thrones wines might be a novelty item, but they’re definitely still worth trying.

Types of Game of Thrones Wine

There is four Game of Thrones wines available for purchase, but only the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay are available on the official website, so you’ll have to find the others at another online retailer.

The Game of Thrones wine official website seems to rotate availability of each of these so what’s available for purchase on the official site may vary from what’s listed in this review, depending on when you access the site and order.

2017 Game of Thrones Pinot Noir

This wine is made with grapes sourced from the famous kingdom of Willamette Valley in Oregon. Oregon is one of the top producers of Pinot Noir because of its climate and near-perfect growing conditions. There are only a handful of places in the world that have perfect conditions for growing Pinot Noir grapes and Oregon is one of them.

Winter is here, and it’s the perfect season to enjoy a robust Pinot Noir with flavours as complex as its history. Willamette Valley is tucked in between two mountain ranges with a cool climate influence largely by the Pacific Ocean.

The soil here is deep, rich, and drains well. While the 2017 Pinot Noir is 99% estate-grown, the grapes are sourced from several different vineyards, chosen carefully by Cabral for their expertise.

The grapes are picked at optimum ripeness. The average sugar level at harvest was 24.8 Brix and they were fermented for seven days before pressing directly into a tank for complete malolactic fermentation.

The wine was then aged for 10 months in new French and new American toasted oak barrels for a bright and creamy mouthfeel. This wine is ripe, elegant, rich, and full of fruit aroma. It has subtle earth tones like spice and vanilla and a long, smooth finish.

Well, blended tannins make this wine smooth despite its high acidity. It’s both brilliant and well-built, which is a testament to the winemaker’s expertise.

The Game of Thrones Pinot Noir features a cork that comes with either the House Martell or House Tyrell sigil.

2016 Game of Thrones Chardonnay

The Game of Thrones Chardonnay is actually a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Riesling. It’s an elegant white wine with a gorgeous golden colour for people who prefer a more refined sipping wine.

The grapes were sourced from the central coast and produce a bright, crisp wine with fragrant florals. It’s creamy on the palate with apricots, peaches, lemon, tangerine, honey, and baking spices. It’s balanced nicely with some acidity and a long, lingering oak finish.

The Game of Thrones Chardonnay colour most closely resembles the Lannister line of golden locks and the label features a golden lion, which is the Lannister sigil.

2017 Game of Thrones Red Blend

The Game of Thrones Red Blend is a blend of select lots carefully compiled to create a robust red that pairs well with roasts, hearty meats, and pie. It’s a great wine to pour around the table at large feasts and holiday gatherings.

This Game of Thrones wine label features the three-headed dragon sigil of the House Targaryen. The dragon’s three heads reflect the multiple varieties used to form this wine.

2014 Game of Thrones Cabernet Sauvignon

The Game of Thrones Cabernet Sauvignon has a bold approach to chocolate and coffee flavours and a thick velvety texture. It also has robust cherry and vanilla flavours that are decadent and inviting.

This wine is by far the most expensive of the Game of Thrones wines. The label features the dire wolf of the House Stark sigil.

Wine Cost and Shipping

Unfortunately, Game of Thrones is not available at any national retailers. You have to order it online and have it shipped if you would like some, which adds to the cost of the bottle unless you buy in bulk for reduced shipping.

In some areas, you can find the Game of Thrones wines for as little as $8 per bottle online. Drizly is one retailer that has all four Game of Thrones wine varieties, but they don’t ship everywhere.

Game of Thrones wines cost $20 per bottle on the official website, but they offer a discount on three or more bottles and shipping is only $0.01 if you order a case. Tax is calculated at checkout for all wines. Flat rate shipping is $14.95 for 1 to 4 bottles and $9.95 for 5 to 11 bottles.

The good news is, you still have plenty of time to order for Christmas as of the date of publishing this review! If you miss the Christmas deadline, aim for New Year’s! It’s not the cheapest wine around, but it’s a small price to pay for excellent wine and a fantastic collector’s item.

They have expedited shipping options and will ship to most states. Because of alcohol shipping laws, they cannot ship to Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Utah.

Packages will be delivered via UPS. An adult 21 years of age or older must sign for the package. Depending upon your location, your wine will be delivered 3 to 14 days after leaving the warehouse.

UPS will make three attempts to deliver to the address, so make sure you use your UPS tracking number for a more accurate delivery window so you can be sure an adult is there to sign for it.

FAQ

There are some frequently asked questions that have some people curious about Game of Thrones wines.

Who makes Game of Thrones wines?

Bob Cabral is a part of Vintage Estate Wines, which is a small group of independent family wineries throughout the Pacific Northwest. They banded together to produce excellent wines and great customer experiences.
The Game of Thrones wines is a collaborative effort between Bob Cabral and HBO’s Game of Thrones TV show.

Where can I buy Game of Thrones wines in Canada?

Legend has it that the SAQ sells Game of Thrones wines in Quebec. However, if you’re not in Quebec and you want to get your hands on some Game of Thrones wine, you can get it at LCBO in Ontario, Manitoba Liquor Mart in Manitoba, B. C. Liquor Stores in Vancouver, and various liquor outlets in Alberta.
Unfortunately, it’s not available in Atlantic Canada or Saskatchewan.

Which is the best red wine?

Opinions vary, and all Game of Thrones wines are very good, but I’m partial to the Pinot Noir over the Red Blend. However, the Red Blend isn’t as abrupt, so for those of you who prefer something that’s not as intense, the Red Blend may be the right option for you.

My Recommendations

I’m a sucker for chocolate and coffee flavours in a wine, so my favourite Game of Thrones wine is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. Of course, that’s also the most expensive. Leave it to me to favourite the one that costs me the most money.

That’s not to say that the other Game of Thrones wines isn’t excellent though. My second favourite is Chardonnay. I love the creamy, buttery texture of Chardonnay, and Cabral’s expertise really shines here.

I can’t handle much acidity in my wine, so the Pinot Noir is not for me. I know that without trying it first. However, upon the first sip, I can immediately see why grapes sourced from the Willamette Valley in Oregon are always the right choice for Pinot Noir. If you like Pinot Noir, you’ll love the Game of Thrones Pinot Noir.

The Game of Thrones Red Blend is the least remarkable of the four Game of Thrones wines. The flavours are not as forward or persistent as the other varieties.

The Verdict

These wines are not just gimmicks. They seem gimmicky to those who haven’t jumped on the Game of Thrones bandwagon, and even some who have. But Bob Cabral’s alcollades speak for themselves and these wines are an awesome addition to his collection of exceptional wines.

Even if you don’t like Game of Thrones, all wine lovers should try some of Cabral’s wines at some point. They’re worth seeking out. And for those of you who can’t believe Game of Thrones is almost over, drown your sorrows in these fantastic varieties.

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