Stranger Things S5: Wine’s Awkward Spotlight, Culture Check
Stranger Things wrapped its five-season run and, surprisingly, wine had some serious screen time. Less surprisingly, it wasn’t the glow-up we were hoping for. Sean P. Sullivan (Northwest Wine Report) chronicled the glass-half-empty moments—from Karen Wheeler’s Chardonnay spiral to a Bordeaux-style dad dinner gone wrong—and it’s a useful mirror for how wine is often depicted on TV: a prop for dysfunction, a punchline, and occasionally a hero. Let’s unpack what the show gets right (and very wrong) about wine culture.
Why This Matters
Behind every great bottle is a story, and this one matters. It reflects broader trends shaping how wine is made, sold, and enjoyed. Stay curious—your palate will thank you.
Key Takeaways
- Key themes: Stranger Things, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon—stay informed on these evolving trends.
- The takeaway? Keep exploring, keep tasting, and don’t be afraid to try something new.
Style Snapshot: Chardonnay, Cabernet, and the 80s vibe
The bottle most front-and-center is Chardonnay—no shock there. In the U.S., Chardonnay is the quintessential white: generally dry, medium- to full-bodied, and often treated with oak for vanilla/butter notes, especially in California. If you grew up with 80s-90s wine, Chardonnay was everywhere, hence the later “ABC” (Anything But Chardonnay) backlash Sullivan hints at.
We also get the awkward ordering of Cabernet Sauvignon at Enzo’s. Cabernet is a dry, full-bodied red with firm tannins and black-fruited energy. If a sommelier had wandered in from the Upside Down, they’d likely steer Hopper toward Napa Valley Cabernet or a Left Bank Bordeaux (think blends led by Cab) and gently coach the pronunciation. The intimidation factor is real; the show nails that part.
Context: Wine as a narrative tool—when it stings
Sullivan highlights a pattern: wine equals trouble. Karen Wheeler is framed as a lush—arguably the season’s most uncomfortable beat. It’s not the existence of wine in the scene; it’s that wine becomes shorthand for alcoholism, which is heavy and handled as both drama and gag. The show doubles down when Karen grabs a Chardonnay bottle as a weapon. Effective? Yes. Positive portrayal? Not exactly.
Then there’s the Turnbow dinner, where dad is “wasted again.” Sullivan’s eye goes straight to the glass and sediment (same, tbh), musing about whether it’s Lafite while the plot leans into parental impairment. And the true horror moment—for wine geeks anyway—comes when the Turnbow cellar collapses through the floor. As Sullivan deadpans:
“This is surely the most traumatic scene of the season.” — Sean P. Sullivan, Northwest Wine Report
Finally, Hopper at Enzo’s wrestles with Cabernet Sauvignon, a callback to the earlier Chianti moment. The line lands as humor, but it points to a broader reality: ordering wine is often intimidating, which keeps newcomers at arm’s length. Sullivan captures both the cringe and the empathy.
What the show gets right (and where it whiffs)
Credit where it’s due: putting wine at the celebratory table—graduations, dinners out—reflects the “wine as food” ethos many of us champion. Sullivan even cheers this when it happens, before the script swerves to punchline. He writes, “Wine on the table! Wine as food. Right? Not so much.” The whiff is that wine’s cultural role becomes either comic relief or symbol of dysfunction rather than a nuanced part of daily life.
That said, the Chardonnay-as-suburban default is historically on point. And yes, Cabernet pronunciation hiccups are relatable. If anything, those scenes should be an invitation, not a gate. Ask the server. Point to the list. Try a half bottle. No Demogorgon will appear.
So…how should we read (and drink) this?
Stranger Things isn’t a wine lesson; it’s a thriller that uses familiar signals to move the plot. Still, it’s worth noticing how those signals shape perceptions. If you’re Chardonnay-curious, explore beyond the oak-bomb stereotype—California does plenty of fresh, mineral-driven styles now, and regions like Santa Barbara and Sonoma Coast deliver that breezy, Pacific vibe without butter overload. For Cabernet, if Napa’s power feels intense, consider Washington State for structured, slightly cooler-fruited expressions or look to Bordeaux for savory, age-worthy blends.
Best occasion: Casual weeknight or celebratory dinner—think wine as food, not a plot device.
Best pairing direction: Chardonnay with roast chicken or creamy pasta; Cabernet with grilled steaks or mushroom-heavy dishes. Keep it simple and seasonal.
Bottom line: Sullivan’s piece is a wry, informed read that cares about both wine and the people around it. The show may give wine an awkward spotlight, but we can use that moment to demystify, welcome newcomers, and remind ourselves why wine belongs at the table—no broken bottles required.