VCR: Orphan Black

A slight tweak to the series for the next few months... L and I are expecting! So 'Vino' will consist of what L is drinking, plus a soft drink suggestion from me, the mama-to-be...

VINO

Deep Gully 2014 - a full-bodied, rich shiraz cabernet sauvignon blend from southern Australia. Its taste offers 'layers of smooth black fruits, sweet spice and a twist of pepper'.

SOFT DRINK SUGGESTION

Belvoir Raspberry Lemonade - really refreshing, especially when you pop a couple of fresh raspberries in it with ice. I also like to drink it out of a champagne flute so I don't feel left out...!

REMOTE

Orphan Black - a Canadian sci-fi thriller TV series on Netflix. L and I have just finished season 1 (4 currently available), upon recommendation from my hair stylist. The series begins with the main character, Sarah Manning (a streetwise hustler), witnessing the suicide of a woman who looks exactly like her. After stealing her identity to escape her own life, she soon discovers she is one of many clones dotted around the world. A big hand to actress Tatiana Maslany who delivers a range of character performances, as Sarah gradually meets other clones - from a science student to a soccer mum. It takes a couple of episodes to get into, but once you learn more about the situation alongside Sarah, you're suddenly hooked. A gripping week night series when you want to escape from your busy day.

Here's the trailer for season 1: 

Love playing sofa detective? Then you'll also love this VCR recommendation.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

RedHeads Lot 7 Shiraz, Australia. This full-bodied, rich red offers a 'smack of oak'. Best enjoyed in front of the fire or cosied up on the couch.

REMOTE

Armageddon. I have to admit... I hadn't watched this 1998 classic the whole way through until now. (Pretty shocking, isn't it?) Although I'm 18 years late, it was worth the wait. Even by today's standards - the effects are impressive, while the storyline and A-list acting keeps you on the edge of your seat (seeking light relief in a glass of red...). In a nutshell: Bruce Willis and his team of deep core drillers race against the clock to destroy an asteroid - the size of Texas - that's heading straight towards Earth. Just your average day in Hollywood.

One of the movie's most memorable scenes is an inspirational Presidential speech (a scene most common in 90s classics!). "I address you tonight, not as the President of the United States, not as the leader of a country, but as a citizen of humanity":

Fancy another inspirational speech from a movie President? Take the stage Bill Pullman.

Vino. Couch. Remote.

vino

Brangelina's Miraval rosé, Côtes de Provence. The Hollywood power couple bought the French wine making estate (Chateau Miraval) in 2012 for £35m, making it their wedding venue in 2014. After enlisting the expertise of famous winemaker Marc Perrin, 2015 saw the launch of Miraval rosé to the high street, which received rave reviews from critics.

Papa B and I discovered this blushing bottle during a pre-wedding trip to Calais last year, bringing back a couple of cases for our wedding Sunday. Every so often I open a bottle and am reminded of very happy days. If you spot a bottle, definitely give it a try. (Bravo Brangelina.)

remote

The Pelican brief. If you love 90s Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington movies - this is for you. Great plot, impeccable acting and a hell of a lot of running from the bad guys:

If you love films from the 90s, you'll love this.

you might also like...

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Acaballo Shiraz Carmenere 2014, Chile. A rich and spicy deep plum red that will warm your cockles on a winter's evening.

REMOTE

The Affair. - I'm going to put this out there: this is the most addictive TV drama series I've ever watched. Struggling novelist Noah (played by Dominic West) meets a young waitress, Alison (Ruth Wilson), while holidaying with his wife Helen (Maura Tierney) and his four kids. Alison is struggling with her marriage to Cole (Joshua Jackson) following the freak death of their four-year-old son. As they embark on a passionate love affair, you begin to think this is a pretty pedestrian plot. But here's the twist: each episode is divided into Noah's recollection, followed by Alison's. Both are similar - but slightly different. Noah positions Alison to be a siren luring him into infidelity via tight dresses and suggestive glances, while Alison leads us to believe in Noah's unfaltering pursuit of her. You're not quite sure who to believe. Why does it matter? - Because these recollections form the basis of a murder investigation. You don't know whether they're suspects or helping with police enquiries, but their separate testaments don't match up.

Series 2 is even better, with both Helen and Cole's perspectives being thrown into the mix. With the four main actors having shows including The Wire, Luther, ER and Dawson's Creek under their belts, it's no surprise the acting is first class. Plus it's got a killer intro song:

Airing on Sky Atlantic (UK) and Showtime (US), this Golden Globe-winning series is definitely worth a watch. (N.B.  appropriate for adults only as it's pretty raunchy in places!) Here's the pivotal scene from series 1: Noah meets Alison:

If you love scandalous TV series, you might like this also.

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Hangin' Snakes 2012 Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley, Australia. This red made an appearance at our wedding - every now and again we treat ourselves to a bottle. Bright purple in colour, its taste is like 'sweet fruited summer berries... with white pepper, herbs and a hint of stone fruit.' It's one of the nicest reds we've ever had.

REMOTE

Scandal. - A US drama / thriller series about a former White House Communications Director (Olivia Pope) who starts her own crisis management firm. Starring Kerry Washington as Pope and Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant, the series begins with the ultimate scandal: the pair are embroiled in a passionate love affair (Grant is married). Now on series 5, every episode presents Pope with problems to fix, usually on behalf of high powered politicians or friends who need a favour. Offering a mix of murder, love triangles and politics - it's definitely one to switch on when you want to switch off. The best bit? That no matter how her day goes, Pope always manages to find time to enjoy a glass of red wine on her sofa (now what sort of person would do a thing like that?...).

Scandal airs on abc in the US, Sky Living in the UK.

Love political dramas? You'll love Frost/Nixon.

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Whispering Jack Chardonnay 2014 - A medium bodied dry white from South Africa. Its crisp taste includes lime zest and tangerine notes, making it a refreshing alternative during a cosy night in if you don't fancy red.

REMOTE

Peep Show. - A TV series following the sad but brilliant lives of flatmates Mark and Jeremy. It's an all-access pass to their amusing yet disturbing minds as they bumble through life getting into awkward situations. This was our go-to box set at university for its easy watching and incredible one-liners. In 2010, it became the longest running comedy series on C4 (its first episode aired in 2003). Now in its final series, the El Dude Brothers are taking their last bow - but not before they've given us one last trip down Cringeworthy Alley. Perfect viewing if you're looking to laugh and forget about life's stresses - because no matter how bad your day might have been - you can find comfort in the knowledge that it likely couldn't have been as bad as Mark's.

(N.B. It's near to impossible to find a clip without swear words in (!) so I've found one which uses less of them...):

If you love to laugh, check out Modern Family - another iconic comedy series (which is much more family friendly than Peep Show-!).