It's a Wonderful Life with Wine at The Mockingbird
- Tony Elvin
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Thank you to everyone who joined us for It's a Wonderful Life with Wine, we had a wonderfully festive time in your company!
Wonderful Wines
No civilized Christmas Day morning can start without a glass of fizz! Maybe with some smoked salmon, or when the guests arrive. This award-winning wine comes from the Kingscote, a 160-acre wildlife-rich estate. Using the Charmat method with Champagne grapes, it’s crisp, dry, and refreshing with notes of elderflower and gooseberry!
Maison Duvergey-Taboureau are renowned as Burgundy specialists. They took their expertise down to the South of France to produce this Chardonnay from key vineyards. The ideal climate and diverse soils result in delicious, complex wines at a fraction of the price of Burgundy. Expect notes of acacia flowers and nectarine with an elegant mineral finish!
Burgondie is the legendary territory that gave birth to the name Bourgogne. This garnet-purple Beaujolais reveals aromas of raspberries, redcurrants, and wild strawberries. It’s intense in the mouth with a beautiful floral finish and hints of black pepper—perfect for a decadent Christmas lunch!
This fruity Shiraz in a cooler-climate style (think Northern Rhône) has concentrated mulberry and black pepper notes, combined with soft plummy fruit flavors and smooth, savoury tannins. Perfect if you fancy something a bit bolder with your Christmas lunch!
Founded in 1865 by Norwegians Weise and Krohn, this wonderful port is a perfect match for Christmas pudding, mince pies, or cheese!
Wonderful Gallery
Wonderful Trivia
Some highlights from our movie trivia ...
Originally called The Greatest Gift, and written by Philip Van Doren Stern. No publishers were interested so Philip sent the story as a 21 page Christmas card to friends. An RKO Pictures producer saw a copy and bought the rights for $10k.
Cary Grant was to star but project went through ups and downs - RKO sold the movie concept to Frank Capra and he recruited Jimmy Stewart.
However Jimmy needed convincing by Lionel Barymore (Potter) as he felt the movie was too soon after WW2.
This is Capra, Reed and Stewart's favourite movie. It was also Donna Reed’s first starring role.
The movie bombed at box office, costing $3.7mill to produce and losing $0.4.
It wasn't until the copyright lapsed in 74 that the movie became free to show on tv for 20 yrs which drove its popularity. The ability to show it for free ended in '94 by which time it had become a much loved classic.
Bedford Falls was one of most elaborate sets ever, spread over 4 acres with 75 stores, 20 fully grown oak trees, factories, residential areas and a 300 yard main street.
The town was based on Seneca Falls in New York State where they hold Wonderful Life themed events each year.
The gym and pool is real and at a school in Beverly Hills that is currently being restored.
The film was shot during a heat wave of Summer 46. Look out for Jimmy Stewart sweating. Filming had to be stopped due to the insane heat.
They developed a new kind of snow for filming as traditionally they would use painted cornflakes. Unfortunately, these affected the audio so they used fire extinguisher foam with sugar and water.
Bert and Ernie are NOT the inspiration for the Sesame Street pair :(
The FBI didn’t like the film which was on a communist watch list for portraying the Capitalist banker as a corrupt scrooge.
Capra was hugely surprised at the movie’s success, he said:
“It’s the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen,"
"The film has a life of its own now and I can look at it like I had nothing to do with it. I’m like a parent whose kid grows up to be president. I’m proud… but it’s the kid who did the work.
I didn’t even think of it as a Christmas story when I first ran across it. I just liked the idea.”
Thank you!
We look forward to welcoming you back to another of our events very soon but why not check out our website or sign up to our monthly mailing list to find out about new events first:
Merry Christmas from Tony and the Wine Events Co Crew
Give the gift of Movies with Wine, check out a selection of our upcoming movies for 2026 ..
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