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Favo rite wine mo vie s

Favorite wine movies

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the movie “Sideways.” It is my f avorite wine movie. I own the DVD andwatch it about once a year. In honor of the tenth anniversary of “Sideways,” I decided to list my f avorite winemovies. I am listing only f ive. I know there are many other movies that include a wine theme, but these are thetops in my book. I have placed them in the order of my pref erence.

Favorite winemovies

Sideways – 2004

This is a crazy movieabout two misf its whotake of f on a male-bonding trip to theSanta Barbara winecountry. Miles takesJack on a last hurrahbef ore Jack is to bemarried. Miles is a wineaf icionado, and Jackquite the opposite.This is the movie thatbrought Pinot Noir tonew heights in theworld of Calif orniawines. The movie hadsuch an inf luence that Pinot Noir sales took of f . Just the opposite was the ef f ect on Merlot. Miles slammedMerlot with one sentence, “I am not drinking any F&#%!@?! Merlot!” Check out our Sideways Wine Trail. Itf eatures all the Santa Barbara wineries that were f eatured in the movie “Sideways.”

A Walk in the Clouds – 1995

This movie takes place in the Napa Valley and stars Keanu Reeves. Many of the winery vineyard scenes wereshot at the Mount Veeder Winery and the Mayacamus Winery. Keanu Reeves is a soldier returning to his wif eaf ter f our years of service in World War II. He meets a wonderf ul woman on the bus and it turns out her f amilyowns a winery in the Napa Valley, a Mexican-owned winery at that. There many wonderf ul wine scenes. In onescene, the entire f amily awakes to f ight the f rost. The harvest scene is a classic! Another great character in themovie is the patriarch of the f amily, played by Anthony Quinn, an all around classy and loveable character. I amnot sure why this movie does not get more recognition f rom the wine buf f s. It is very enjoyable.

Bott le Shock – 2010

This is a movie based loosely on the f amous wine tasting in Paris in 1976. In a blind tasting, a Calif orniaChardonnay (Chateau Montelena 1973) and a Calif ornia Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap Wine Cellars 1973)

So mm

Chardonnay (Chateau Montelena 1973) and a Calif ornia Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap Wine Cellars 1973)took top honors in a blind tasting over French wines. In “Bottle Shock,” the movie centers on the saga ofChateau Montelena and owner Jim Barrett as he struggles to make and sell his wine. There is a lot of f iction inthis movie but it is very entertaining. Sadly, there is no mention of Mike Ggrich who was the winemaker atChateau Montelena at the time. One interesting point is that Freddy Rodriquez, who plays the part of GustavoBrambilia in “Bottle Shock,” also plays one of the f amily members in “A Walk in the Clouds.”

You Will Be My Son – 2013

This f ilm takes place in St. Emilion and is the story of an estate owner who is not happy that his son willeventually inherit his estate and run the winey. He does not think his son has the skill to carry on the quality ofhis wines. As you learn later in the movie, there is a deeper reason why he f eels this way about his son. Themovie takes quite a turn with a surprise ending. We love the scenes in the old wine cellar, digging through thewines and f inding many treasures. The movie is in French with English sub-tit les.

Somm – 2012

This is a documentary f ollowing f our men preparing f or the hardest test in the world, the Master of WineSommelier. I love the cinematography in this movie. We see vineyards, barrels, wine, wine glasses, and close-ups of each of the sommelier candidates. It is very artistic. I think you have to love wine to really enjoy thismovie.

About the WineTravelers:

Janelle and Joe are theWine Travelers. Wetravel the world insearch of wine, f ood,and other delights. OurWebsite is

WineCountryGetaways.com.