House of the Dragon, the much-hyped prequel to Game of Thrones, is coming to HBO and HBO Max on August 21. The series is based on author George R.R. Martin’s book, Fire & Blood. It’s set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and tells the story of the House Targaryen.
That’s good news for GOT fans, but even those who don’t watch the show can enjoy House of the Dragon wines, a new lineup that was vinted and bottled by Seven Kingdoms Cellars, a division of California-based Vintage Wine Estates.
The wines on offer include an Oregon Pinot Noir, a California Cabernet Sauvignon, and a red blend from the Lodi appellation in California. The brand utilizes a different winemaker for each varietal and growing region to create wines that represent each appellation.
This partnership is another collaboration between Vintage Wine Estates and Warner Bros., who also teamed up on a line of Game of Thrones wines that launched in spring 2019 before the final season debuted. Here’s what you’ll be drinking, should you choose to pair the new House of the Dragon series with a bottle of red.
House of the Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine and Pinot Noir (left to right)
House of the Dragon 2021 Pinot Noir
This Pinot Noir is a good example of Oregon’s signature varietal, and under guidance from winemaker David O’Reilly, it’s sourced equally from four different wine growing areas—Applegate Valley, Illinois Valley, Rogue Valley and Willamette Valley—and made in a fruit-driven style.
The grapes were fermented in a combination of small open-top fermenters and stainless steel fermenting tanks, with selected yeasts propagated from cellars in Burgundy. It was pressed during the last days of fermentation and matured in a combination of small French oak barrels and larger stainless steel tanks for eight months.
The garnet-colored wine has aromatics of tart red cherry and cranberry, followed by subtle earthy and savory notes. The palate is medium-bodied, with silky textures and bright red fruit that shows a bit darker in profile than the nose. It’s 13.5% ABV.
House of the Dragon 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker Nancy Walker enlisted multiple California wine-growing regions to source fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon, creating a final blend that’s rich and complex. The wine is aged nine to 12 months in French oak barrels and is finished for three more months in ex-bourbon barrels. That latter step imparts a bolder and more intense character.
The 14.4% ABV wine is dense and jammy, with notes of cherry tobacco and creamy vanilla leading to a long, mouth-coating finish.
House of the Dragon 2020 Red Wine
Located directly east of San Francisco at the edge of the Sacramento River Delta, the Lodi appellation is noted for its Mediterranean climate, distinctive sandy soils and heritage old vines.
To make this red blend, winemaker Tami McKay leaned on the classics—it’s a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Verdot and 8% Malbec. It’s aged in medium-toast French oak barrels for nine months to smooth off the rough edges and bottled at 13.9% ABV.
The wine is velvety and dark in color, with aromas of cocoa, cranberry and black currant. Rich maple, dark red fruit, toffee and creamy caramel follow, coating the palate, before it finishes with layers of dark berries and coffee.
House of the Dragon wines are available online and in select retail locations across the country. The Pinot Noir, Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon are priced at a reasonable $20, so you can try one or pick up the whole lineup.