Barbie with Wine for 'Women in Property'
- Tony Elvin
- Apr 6
- 4 min read
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 and, as promised, here are details on all the wines we tasted, the movie trivia and of course .. our Barbie gallery!
Pretty in Pink
Pink prosecco from Trevisio (a province in the Veneto, North Eastrer Italy)
Made from a blend of Glera and Pinot Nero grapes, pink Prosecco didn't officially exist until May 2019.
This Prosecco is actually made by Freixenet, the famous Cava producers of Spain.
Aromas of berries, white flowers and apples lead to flavours of sweet red berries.
This wine is from the Languedoc, next door to the world's most famous rosé region, Provence.
Pinot noir grapes are lightly pressed, to ensure no tannin in the wine from the skins.
Light, dry, pretty pink; strawberries aromas lead to a palate packed full of creamy red fruit flavours balanced with a bright, blackcurrant finish.
Fermented in stainless steel, using natural wild yeasts, False Bay producers have made a cinsault dominant rose made from mostly old bush vines from Stellenbosch and Swartland in South Africa's Coastal Region.
A pale, spicy and textural rosé with summer fruits on the palate and a clean, savoury, dry finish.
Pinot Grigio is a white grape with a mottled pinkish skin so can make rosé. Macerated at low temp, the skin colour bleeds into the juice. This is a World Wine Awards Bronze winner.
Fresh lightly floral aromas, and hints of white peach. Gently rounded palate with ripe summer fruits and a hint of redcurrants. Zesty citrus fruit on the finish with lively acidity.
Old vine vineyards in Lodi region of central California. Zinfandel is 'America's Grape', able to make a bold spicy red or a fun and accessible rosé.
Zinfandel grapes are lightly crushed and then vinified in stainless steel tanks.
On the nose, notes of strawberry ice cream, on the palate, bright berry fruits with an off dry finish.
All about Barbie
🎬 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.
