The Butler Poured It: Bordeaux Stars in ‘Death on the Nile’

Fine wine is once again rocking boats on the silver screen, this time voyaging from Bordeaux’s River Garonne to the star-studded set of Death on the Nile. Château Malartic-Lagravière 1920 is the wine of choice in the newest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s 1937 Hercule Poirot detective thriller, starring Kenneth Branagh and Gal Gadot.

“Death on the Nile belongs to these great stories the cinema is able to bring alive in a spectacular way,” Malartic-Lagravière co-owner Véronique Bonnie told Wine Spectator via email. “The splendid and historical Egyptian scenery, the exceptional cast, the thrill of the story—all of it makes us travel and experience an emotional moment out of time, as a glass of Malartic would.”

The Bonnie family is originally from the Brussels region, giving them a natural link to the Belgian Poirot. And Malartic has ties to maritime history, embodied by the barque (La Minerve) on the wine’s label. “Since it takes place predominantly on the water, Death on the Nile dovetails perfectly with the brand,” said Véronique’s sister-in-law Séverine Bonnie, who serves as the château’s director of marketing, communication and hospitality.

Choose your weapon … er, bottle. (20th Century Studios)

But it’s not just an on-screen affair. A few years ago, Branagh, who also directed the film, autographed a 6-liter imperial of Malartic 2016, engraved with “Death on the Nile.” The 6-liter giant (one of only 10 produced) was auctioned in late 2020, with proceeds benefiting the facial hair–themed, men’s health–focused Movember Foundation—a spot-on choice, considering Poirot’s famed handlebar mustache.

This isn’t Malartic’s first dive into Hollywood. Its wines have appeared in films like Taken II and Love, Weddings and Other Disasters, and in December 2021, Véronique presented Scarlett Johansson with a magnum of Malartic after the Black Widow star received the 35th American Cinematheque Award. This was the second time the Bonnie family sponsored the award; Charlize Theron was honored with a magnum in 2019. Malartic’s wine has been hitting the small screen as well, recently appearing on Netflix’s Emily in Paris. The Left Bank winery has even been in the director’s seat: In 2020, it launched a YouTube series, Le Grand Voyage, exploring everything Bordeaux.

“Bordeaux is an iconic place for winemaking, as Hollywood is for filmmaking,” said Véronique. “We want to show our community, friends and future consumers that we are connected to them.” Death on the Nile premieres Feb. 11 in theaters nationwide.

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