Wine Movies

An evening at the [wine] movies

It appears that the cold and blustery days of winter are finally on their way. We will soon be enduring blowing snow drifts, clogged roads, and closed offices. And, given its late start, these challenges may be with us through March. UGH. 

So, for wine lovers, here is a suggestion pass the dreary nights with a glass of your favorite Ohio “warm winter red,” perhaps accompanied by a large bowl of popcorn.

There are dozens of wine-themed movies available to rent, buy, or watch on streaming services like Amazon Prime, YouTube, Netflix, and/or Hulu to fill many snowed-in evenings.

Here are just a few:

Year in Burgundy:  sharing the story of 7 Burgundian families through a full year in the storied French Region.

Somm:  telling the story of 4 men trying to pass all the requirements to be admitted to the Court of Master Sommeliers, one of the most difficult accomplishments in the entire world of wine. 

Bottle Shock: This tells the story of the famous 1976 Judgement of Paris where a handful of early California wine pioneers participated in a blind tasting where some of France’s most respected judges rated the California upstarts above some of the best of all French wines. The results shocked the whole world and are credited with the launch of the California wine industry and its international acceptance.

Sideways: is surely the most acclaimed of all on this list. Miles and his friend Jack visit the Santa Barbara area, sipping Pinot Noir, visiting bars, restaurants, and wineries [the Fess Parker/ aka Daniel Boone Winery was where much of it was filmed], and get involved with some beautiful women along the way. The movie won nominations and awards from the Oscars, Screen Actors Guild, and many others. However, from the wine industry perspective, it is well remembered as it drove sales of Pinot Noir to new heights and tourism traffic to southern California for decades. 

Decanted.: is the story that chronicles some of the earliest beginnings of Napa Valley told by the winemakers who helped build the storied reputation of the Valley. 

Mondovino:  This is a ten-episode Prime video series that has about 9 hours of content and is all about winemaking and marketing around the world. Robert Parker, one of the most famous wine reviewers, Robert Mondavi, the visionary behind his family winery and behind the reputation of Napa itself and many other well-known wine stars also contribute.  

Barolo Boys: This tells the story of several Italian boys who look to make the best wine in the world. It is beautifully filmed in some of Italy’s most picturesque wine regions.

The Secret of Santa Vittoria:  This is the suspenseful story of a quiet village whose residents, amid death threats, hide a million bottles of wine in an ancient cave as the Nazis were retreating across the Continent.

And if you run out of wine-themed flicks before the spring thaw arrives:  Here is a link for a longer list:

·        https://www.firstleaf.com/wine-school/article/best-wine-films-netflix-amazon-hulu

For additional information:  dwinchell@ohiowines.org