From Russia With Love

From Russia With Love is the second Bond movie, and continues his familiarity with exotic locations and the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Bond is in Istanbul this time, and then takes a ride on the Orient Express.

Bond starts the movie back with Sylvia Trench, the golfing woman from the first movie. He's got a bottle of Taittinger Blanc de Blanc in the river, keeping cool, while he seduces her.

With the Gypsies, who know how to bellydance well, Bond is drinking Raki, or Lion's Milk. This wine is pretty much the drink of choice in Turkey and is flavored with anise!

When Bond, his girlfriend and the enemy, Grant, are having dinner together on the Orient Express, we get one of the more famous wine scenes from the series. First, Bond and Tatiana have a bottle of Taittinger Blanc de Blanc Champagne with their sole. That's a nice combination. But Grant orders a Chianti. The waiter asks in confusion if he wants a white Chianti, and Grant says "No, the red kind." Back in 1963 wine was about Following the Rules, and one rule was that fish meant white wine.

Later, when Bond realizes that Grant is with the enemy, Bond says:

"Red wine with fish. Well, that should have told me something."

Grant responds:

"You may know the right wines, but you’re the one on your knees."

Of course Bond wins in the end!

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