Barbie with Wine at The Mockingbird

Tony Elvin
Jul 19, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Jul 30, 2025

Hey Barbie! Hey Ken! It's just Ken here with your wine blog from our evening at The Mockingbird in Digbeth!

It was fantastic to see you all! As promised, here are the details on all the wines we tasted, the movie trivia, and of course... our Barbie gallery!

Wine and Movie Magic: A Night to Remember

1) Freixenet Rosé Prosecco, Veneto, ITA - Waitrose Cellar £12.00

Freixenet Rosé Prosecco is a delightful pink prosecco from Trevisio, a province in Veneto, North Eastern Italy. Made from a blend of Glera and Pinot Nero grapes, pink Prosecco didn't officially exist until May 2019. This bubbly treat is produced by Freixenet, the famous Cava producers of Spain. Expect aromas of berries, white flowers, and apples leading to flavours of sweet red berries.

2) Lieux Perdus 'Lost Places' Pinot Noir Rosé, Languedoc, FRA - Online £9.99

This wine hails from Languedoc, right next to the world's most famous rosé region, Provence. The Pinot Noir grapes are lightly pressed to ensure no tannin from the skins. It’s light, dry, and pretty pink! With strawberry aromas and a palate packed full of creamy red fruit flavours, it finishes with a bright blackcurrant note.

3) Señorio de Sarrίa Rosado, Navarra, ESP - Online £11.95

This Spanish rosé packs a punch with 14% alcohol and a pink hue as deep as Barbie’s luggage (not a euphemism!). It offers a ripe berry fruit nose with hints of citrus and cherry. The palate is rounded and refreshing, featuring strawberry and raspberry fruit with a squeeze of refreshing lemon acidity.

4) Terrazze della Luna Pinot Grigio Rosato, Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGP, ITA - Online £9.39

Pinot Grigio is a white grape with a mottled pinkish skin, making it perfect for rosé. Macerated at low temperatures, the skin colour bleeds into the juice. This wine is a World Wine Awards Bronze winner! Expect fresh, lightly floral aromas and hints of white peach, with a gently rounded palate of ripe summer fruits and a zesty citrus finish.

5) Burlesque White Zinfandel, Lodi, California, USA - Online £8.49

This one’s Barbieland in a bottle! From old vine vineyards in Lodi, California, Zinfandel is 'America's Grape', known for making bold spicy reds or fun, accessible rosés. The grapes are lightly crushed and vinified in stainless steel tanks. On the nose, you’ll find notes of strawberry ice cream, while the palate bursts with bright berry fruits and an off-dry finish.

All About Barbie: Fun Facts and Trivia

🎬 Barbie is portrayed as 23% larger than everything in Barbieland to mimic the awkward, disproportionate scale of real Barbie dolls and their accessories. This design choice explains why Barbie sometimes appears too large for items like her car or why ceilings seem too low in the Dreamhouses.
🎭 Emma Mackey was cast as one of the Barbies due to frequent comparisons to Margot Robbie. Director Greta Gerwig intended to include a doppelgänger joke between their characters, but upon seeing them together in costume, they realised they didn't look as similar as presumed, so the scene was not filmed.
🎥 Saoirse Ronan was initially set to play one of the "Weird Barbies" alongside Kate McKinnon, but scheduling conflicts prevented her participation.
🎬 Director Greta Gerwig organised a sleepover for the female cast members before filming began to help them bond and establish positive relationships.
🎶 The film's soundtrack features original songs by artists such as Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Nicki Minaj, adding a contemporary musical flair to the movie.
🏆 Barbie became the highest-grossing film of 2023, earning over $1.44 billion worldwide and marking it as the highest-grossing film ever by a solo female director.
🎭 Helen Mirren serves as the film's narrator, adding a distinguished voice to the storytelling.
🎬 Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling each received $12.5 million for their roles as Barbie and Ken, respectively.
🎨 The film's aesthetic was inspired by mid-20th-century Technicolor musicals, contributing to its vibrant and nostalgic visual style.
🏠 Barbie's Dreamhouse was constructed as a practical set without walls, allowing for seamless camera movements and maintaining the dollhouse aesthetic.
🎬 The film includes a homage to "The Wizard of Oz", with a scene featuring a pink brick road leading to Barbie's Dreamhouse.
🎭 Kate McKinnon's character, "Weird Barbie," is based on the concept of dolls that have been played with too aggressively, resulting in unique and unconventional appearances.
🎬 The costume department recreated several iconic Barbie outfits from different eras, paying tribute to the doll's fashion evolution over the decades.
🎭 Ryan Gosling accepted the role of Ken after finding his daughter's Ken doll lying face down in the mud next to a lemon, which he took as a sign to join the project. 'Ken's story needs to be told,' he wrote on a 'post-it' note along with a photo of Ken in the mud, which he sent to Director Gerwig.
🎬 The film subtly addresses themes of consumerism and identity, encouraging viewers to reflect on the impact of popular culture.
🎭 Several scenes were improvised by the actors, allowing for genuine reactions and adding authenticity to the characters' interactions.
🎬 The production team consulted with Mattel historians to ensure accurate representations of Barbie's history and evolution throughout the film.
🎭 The film features a diverse cast of Barbies and Kens, reflecting the brand's efforts towards inclusivity and representation in recent years.
🎬 The end credits showcase a montage of real Barbie dolls from various decades, highlighting the brand's enduring legacy and cultural impact.