The French fashion house, Balmain, and Kanye West teamed up to create a campaign based on the song ‘Wolves’ from his album “The Life Of Pablo”. Neither party has ever done a collaboration like this before. This is the first of its kind- merging music and fashion in a brilliant and revolutionary way. Each model, outfit, movement, sound, and emotion contributes to the video in a powerful way. The video stars Kanye, Kim Kardashian, Vic Mensa, Sia, and top models like Joan Smalls, Jourdan Dunn, and Alessandra Ambrosio dressed in Balmain couture. This video really inspired me because Olivier Rousteing (design director for Balmain) and Kanye West did something “out of the box” for their industries that I want to see happen within the wine world. They created a new way to connect one artistic industry to another by pairing fashion with music; in the same way I hope to see music and fashion paired with wine. For many years we’ve only focused on food and wine pairings but no one has spoken about wine in relation to other aspects and interests in our lives. That’s why I’m so excited to be working with I Like This Grape to promote modern wine culture through fashion, film, and music. It’s time for this industry to evolve and reach the newest generation of wine drinkers by making wine relatable.
“You’re much too good to be true. I’m just, bad for you.”
Push this Balmain and Kanye West collaboration further and pair it with Bérêche et Fils Brut Reserve Champagne from Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne. The assemblage consists of 30% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 35% Pinot Meunier including 30% of reserve wines from previous vintages. Bérêche has been a family owned Champagne House since 1847. They do not use commercial yeasts to start primary fermentation. The wine is aged on the lees, unfiltered, and manually disgorged. The Brut Reserve Champagne tastes of baked red apples, biscuit, honey, toast, and yeasty flavors. I chose a grower Champagne to pair with Balmain to continue on the exclusive, French, luxury theme. What else would you pair with crystal embroidered couture other than something sparkling? The song ‘Wolves’ is dismal, painful, lonely, and regretful. Tears are seen on Kim and Kanye and all the models. It tells of heartbreak, regret, sadness, and feeling lost. Like Napolean said, Champagne is deserved in victory and defeat. While watching this video I hope your only pain be Champagne.