Best Wine Songs, Ever

What inspires songwriters more than wine?  If it really is all about wine, women and song then it seems as though most of the important pleasure bases are well covered.  We decided to make a short list of five of the top wine songs.  Granted, this was not easy.  In fermenting a list down to five, we have had to leave out some real gems.  Therefore there can’t  be more than a handful of every one’s obvious favorites.  No Neil Diamond Red, Red Wine, no Eric Clapton Bottle of Red Wine and no Isley Brothers Spill the Wine.  Take issue with our final list if you must but we think we did a pretty good job given the incredible amount of music theme songs that wine has provided.  We also invite your comments on what we may have inadvertently failed to include.

5. Days of Wine and Roses

The film chronicles the depressing nature of addiction in modern life, following the downward spiral of two average Americans who succumb to alcoholism and attempt to cope with their problem. An Academy Award went to the film’s theme music, composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The film received four other Oscar nominations, including ones for Best Actor and Best Actress. We chose the Andy Williams version of the tune to feature.

4. Lilac Wine

“Lilac Wine” is a song written by James Shelton (words and music) in 1950. It was introduced by Hope Foye in the short-lived theater musical revue, “Dance Me a Song.” It was covered by Eartha Kitt (1953), by Judy Henske on her first, self-named album (1963), by Nina Simone on her album Wild Is The Wind and here by Jeff Buckley in 2008.

3. Killer Queen

“She keeps Moet et Chandon, In her pretty cabinet…’Let them eat cake’ she says, Just like Marie Antoinette.” Any band that can drop a lyrical nod to “Moet at Chandon”, the world’s largest champagne house, in a rock song deserves a spot on the list. The band is, of course, Queen.

2. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

How can this not be the #2 wine song off all time? It begins and ends with Joel’s instantly recognizable lyrics “A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead?” and the imagery of an in-his-prime Billy Joel, not even close to his first stint in rehab, is just too much to pass up.

1. Summer Wine

“Strawberries cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring. My summer wine is really made from all these things.” So begins what was originally a duet between Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra in 1967. So popular and enduring is the song that it became part of The Corrs live act with guest Bono.

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Posted by Ashley Lauren | Hip Tastes
  • had to revisit this...can't believe I didn't throw "Wine Me Up" by George Jones out there. Classic, depressed country drinking song.
  • You're right, that was and still is a classic wine song.
  • Hear, hear!
  • OMG That is the best!
  • I've been wanting to do this post for a while. It's a really cool idea, and I love how you put the songs in the post as well. I may have to do a "reactionary" one!

    Another one (as it seems you were looking for discussion on the topic) "Wharf Rat" by the Grateful Dead. Not only is it an incredibly haunting melody (some would say a glass of wine can be haunting too), but it has one of my favorite lines I've ever heard Jerry sing: "Half of my life I've spent doing time for some other f--ker's crime. The other half found me stumbling around, drunk on Burgundy wine."

    Also (and I have absolutely zero intention of being a jerk here), I think "Spill the Wine" was by War, with Eric Burdon singing.

    Cheers! Joe @suburbanwino
  • We thought about "Wharf Rat" cause it's so great but something had to give. And Eric Burdon with "Spill the Wine"...well, we may never hear the end of that. Thanks, Joe :)
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