The Handmaid's Tale has a legion of fans who can't get enough of the suspense and drama in the fictional Republic of Gilead but they drew the line when an online retailer tried to cash in with a Handmaid's Tale wine.
As the finale of Season 2 played out across the USA and on HULU, People magazine revealed that there were three Handmaid's Tale varients being sold online at Lot18.com.
Less than 24 hours after it went on sale MGM and the online retailer pulled the plug on sales, possibly due to the icy reception it received.
“Can you turn rape into marketing copy?” “Sure, you bet.” “Great, it’s for Handmaid’s Tale wine.” “Haha, love it.” pic.twitter.com/9089Cveu0G
— Margaret Lyons (@margeincharge) July 10, 2018
Hey @hulu I had some better ideas for merchandising! Handmaid’s Tale the pepper spray. Handmaid’s Tale the IUD. Handmaid’s Tale the enormous donation to the National Network of Abortion Funds. https://t.co/gIRH62wdyf
— Jess Zimmerman (@j_zimms) July 10, 2018
Ofred and Ofglen are two feisty women, forced into a life of servitude, they are both mentally and physically abused and the series centres around their daily battles and ultimate goal to escape the town they held up in.
Serena Joy is the matriarch who has enslaved Ofred and, along with her her husband are the architects of the modern-day version of servitude imposed on these women held captive in the town.
There were two red wines dedicated to Offred and Ofglen, played by Elisabeth Moss and Alexis Bledel respectively and a white wine for Serena Joy played by Yvonne Strahovski
The #HandmaidsTale wines were:
- The Offred wine
- a 2017 Pays d’Oc Pinot Noir. On the label it's described as: " “rich and complex. Lush, fruit flavors of cherry and cassis are complemented by earthy flavors of mushroom and forest floor. We honor Offred with a wine that will stay with you long after you’ve finished your glass and a powerful experience you will never forget.”
- The Ofglen wine
- a 2017 Rogue Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. On the label, it's described as “a daring testament to the heights that Oregon Cabs can reach, featuring concentrated flavors of cherry, plum and coffee bean that give way to a warm, spicy finish.”
- The Serena Joy wine
- a 2016 Bordeaux Blanc. On the label, it's described as a “sophisticated, traditional and austere… While the wine may initially come off as restrained, a few sips reveal it to be hiding layers of approachable white grapefruit and lemongrass, backed by weight and concentration.”