Super-Fetch Wines to Celebrate 19 Years of Mean Girls

Happy October 3 to all who celebrate! Tina Fey’s girl power comedy, Mean Girls debuted in 2004, giving us almost two decades of quotable phrases, laugh-out-loud moments and endless memes. To celebrate the 19-year anniversary of this early ‘00s classic, get your posse together and check out this perfect curation of unbeatable wines.

“You go, Glen Coco!” x Shiraz Blend

When Damian yelled, “You go, Glen Coco!” in a North Shore High classroom in Mean Girls, he wasn’t just handing out candy cane grams. He was dishing out empowerment. Much like Glen Coco, who swooped in and snagged four whole candy grams without even saying a word, Shiraz wines are full of unexpected delights.

Shiraz varies dramatically depending on which hemisphere it’s grown in. If you’re sipping on a Northern Hemisphere Shiraz, you’re experiencing a structured wine with peppery kicks and herbal nuances. Down under in Australia, Shiraz wines get ripe and jammy, bursting with juicy blackberries and smoother tannins. It’s like the same grape went on a gap year and came back with a brand-new personality.

So, if you’re looking for a wine that’ll make you want to stand up and cheer, look no further than Tank Garage’s “It Was All a Dream.” This Shiraz blend is a work of art in a bottle, a tribute to anyone who ever dared to dream. For this blend, Tank Garage utilized unique winemaking and blending techniques to create “Aussie-style opulence with California complexity,” and each bottle contributes a donation to the Roots Fund, an organization that supports people of color in the wine industry. Pour yourself a glass—or why not four? Four for you, Glen Coco. You go, Glen Coco!

“I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom.” x Dry Zinfandel

When Mean Girls’ Mrs. George tells Cady, “I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom,” she unwittingly sums up what makes Zinfandel so endearing. It’s not your average grape—it’s a grape with flair, individuality and a bold expression of place.

Zinfandel is a wine that rejects the notion of being boxed into a single category. It can range from sweet to dry and from fruit-forward to spicy, but one thing remains constant: It’s never boring. This grape brings something different to the table, embodying the spirit of being unique and cool, just like not-so-regular moms everywhere.

If you’re looking for a Zinfandel that’s as cool as Amy Poehler in a pink velour tracksuit, Mauritson’s 2021 Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley is a fantastic pick. I had the privilege of meeting the folks behind this wine last month, and their dedication to making a positive impact is inspiring. Every year, Mauritson Wines host an event called Project Zin, in which proceeds go to support individuals with Down Syndrome. This year, they raised $350,000 for the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area (DSCBA).The wine itself is energetic and sophisticated, making it a unique expression not just of terroir but of the values behind the bottle.

“You can’t sit with us!” x Rich Cabernet Sauvignon

Ah, the immortal words every outcast dreads and every in-crowd cherishes. In the world of wines, Cabernet Sauvignon is often that table you wish you could join, not just for its popularity, but for its undeniable richness and allure.

Rich, complex and a touch demanding: Cabernet Sauvignon is the Regina George of wines. Its concentrated flavors and muscular tannins make it the perfect candidate for special occasions and VIP tables. It’s the bottle you open when you’re feeling lavish, opulent and a tad bit exclusive.

For a Cabernet that embodies these exact traits, check out Priest Ranch’s 2018 Snake Oil. This wine radiates class with its deep ruby hue and intoxicating nose brimming with earth, spice and warm chocolate mocha notes. Its tannins are as gripping as a high-school clique, but they mellow into a silky, lingering finish that even Cady Heron would appreciate. 

“The limit does not exist.” x Flavorful Chardonnay

When Mean Girls’ Cady Heron famously proclaimed, “The limit does not exist,” she wasn’t just acing a mathlete challenge; she was setting the tone for boundless possibilities. The same can be said about a bottle of uniquely flavorful Chardonnay. I rekindled my love for Chardonnay when I visited Lynmar Estate last month. Their Chardonnay is out of this world, but what truly sets it apart is its commitment to sustainable practices and stewardship from its makers.

Lynmar Estate is not your average winery. Owned by the visionary couple Lynn and Anisya Fritz, the estate has long been at the forefront of sustainability. And it’s not just about eco-friendly growing techniques; it’s about rewriting the business model of wine-making itself. In a sphere that can often focus solely on the end product, Lynmar takes a holistic approach, nurturing not just the vines but also the people and the land they come from.

“Sustainability isn’t just about practice,” says Anisya Fritz, “It’s about relationships too.” That sentiment echoes throughout every bottle they produce. Everyone at Lynmar, including vineyard workers, are full-time employees with benefits—a rare occurrence in an industry often marred by seasonal layoffs and contract work. Lynmar Estate has also historically made groundbreaking contributions to the field of logistics, sharing their unique business insight with various educational institutions over the past few decades.

What results from this enlightened philosophy is something as complex and layered as the social dynamics of a high school cafeteria: the brand’s Quail Hill Vineyard Chardonnay 2019. This Chardonnay is an exemplar of the flavorful potentials of the varietal, offering an experience that’s as enriching as it is delicious. Just like Cady Heron discovered, the limit truly does not exist, whether in calculus or in the endless possibilities for responsible winemaking.

“On Wednesdays, we wear pink!” x Unique Rosé

There are many rules in high school, some written, many unspoken. But if there’s one rule that’s stood the test of time (and internet memes), it’s that on Wednesdays, we wear pink. And what better way to honor this pop-culture sacrament than with a bottle of rosé?

Rosé is no longer just the sweet, simple sipper of yesteryears. Today, it stands tall in its own category, featuring a versatile range of dry, crisp, fruity and even complex profiles. From Provence to California, winemakers are taking rosé seriously, experimenting with grape varietals, aging techniques and barrel fermentation.

So, as you celebrate 19 years of Mean Girls, don’t just settle for any rosé. Pick one that stands out just as much as Regina George in a crowd like Lynmar Estate’s Rosé of Pinot Noir: a rosé that’s as unique and multifaceted as the characters of this unforgettable film.

And remember, you don’t just have to wear pink this October 3; you can drink it too.