As travel costs climb and local discovery becomes more appealing, the “staycation” is having a moment. But who says staying home can’t feel like a passport-worthy adventure? Whether you’re lounging in your backyard or curled up on the couch, these Italian wines and film pairings offer a staycation that’s far more than a consolation prize. It’s a celebration of la dolce vita—one sip and one scene at a time.
Northern Allure: Soave & Call Me By Your Name
Start your journey in the Veneto region with Pasqua’s whimsically named ‘Hey French, You Could Have Made This But You Didn’t’ (3rd ed.). This multi-vintage white, anchored by Garganega and sourced from volcanic soils in Monte Calvarina, is a bold blend that defies convention with mineral energy and layered elegance (SRP $45). Match it with Call Me By Your Name—a sun-drenched love story filmed in Northern Italy that, like the wine, captures fleeting beauty with poetic precision.
Adriatic Escape: Friuli & Under the Riccione Sun
Next, head east to the breezy coastlines of Friuli Venezia Giulia with Attems Pinot Grigio Friuli DOC 2024, a fresh, mineral-driven white full of wildflowers, pear, and citrus peel (SRP $24). It’s the liquid equivalent of a beach day. For the full seaside effect, pair it with Netflix’s Under the Riccione Sun, a coming-of-age film set on the Adriatic Riviera. Together, they deliver all the summer sparkle—no plane ticket required.
Tuscan Romance: Montalcino & A Room with a View
Settle into Tuscany’s rolling hills with Tenuta Luce’s Lucente Toscana IGT 2022—a silky blend of Merlot and Sangiovese, brimming with blackberry, spice, and quiet sophistication (SRP $37). Its perfect match? A Room with a View, the Oscar-winning film set in Florence and the Tuscan countryside. Romantic, timeless, and emotionally rich, the film mirrors Lucente’s graceful depth.
The Heartbeat of a Love Story: Veneto & Romeo & Juliet
In the city of Romeo and Juliet, Pasqua’s Passione Sentimento Rosso Veneto IGT 2022 (SRP $17.99) tells its own tale of love through a bold blend of Merlot, Corvina, and Croatina. A portion of the grapes undergo appassimento—a drying process that concentrates flavor—resulting in a plush, velvety red with notes of sweet spice and ripe berries. Pair it with the original, Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 Romeo and Juliet, and Verona becomes not just a setting, but a sensation.
The Casanova Connection: Gorizia & Casanova
Further northeast lies Gorizia, where Attems Pinot Grigio Ramato Rosé 2024 (SRP $25) revives a historic winemaking style. This copper-hued wine, made with brief skin contact and aged on lees, is both textural and aromatic—citrusy, floral, and perfect for long summer afternoons. In 1744, Casanova himself passed through this elegant border town; toast his legacy with Casanova starring Heath Ledger, and let Gorizia’s quiet beauty unfold from your glass.
Intensity from Italy’s Deep South: Salento, Puglia and Walking on Sunshine
Wrap up your imaginative journey in the sunbaked lands of Puglia, where Varvaglione 1921 crafts wines that are as intense and expressive as the region itself. Papale Linea Oro Primitivo di Manduria DOP 2021 (SRP $40) bursts with aromas of ripe plum, dark cherry, vanilla, and exotic spice. Deep, rich, velvety, this wine embodies the intensity of southern Italy—robust, earthy, and layered with flavor. Sip while watching Walking on Sunshine (2014). This feel-good movie (filmed in Salento!) matches the sunny, ripe fruit character of the wine. Think of a glass on the terrace at sunset, dancing to ‘80s hits.
Photos courtesy of the wineries