Bottle Shock!

Bottle Shock!

It’s about time that the 1976 “Judgment of Paris” receives an ample pour of due respect in the movies. If “Sideways” serves as an appropriate apritif, “Bottle Shock”, with its worldwide historical significance, is certainly a main course for not just present and future wine lovers, but perhaps for anyone with a belief in the noble ideal of overcoming all odds.

From “The Little Engine That Could” that we read (or which was read to us) in our childhood, and Joe Namath leading the lowly New York Jets of the AFL to a victory in Super Bowl 3, to the “Karate Kid” of the 1980’s, we all love a story about the underdog – fighting an unappreciated, upward struggle, with nary a hope or chance in sight against a towering Goliath. In a way, what theme could be more “American”? 

As such, the canvas for this comedic drama is the infamous Paris wine tasting of 1976,  which pitted numerous esteemed French wines, against wines from the upstart California, in a blind tasting to be judged by luminaries of the French wine world. How could the untested yet precocious wines of California stand a chance? Well, if you don’t already know the outcome, you'll have to use your imagination - or better yet, come and see this inspiring movie with a friend. 

Starring Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, Rachel Taylor, Dennis Farina, Eliza Dushku, Freddy Rodriguez, and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman, this dramatic comedy focuses on the quest of Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) and his son (Chris Pine) in producing a world-class Chardonnay at Napa’s Chateau Montelena. Set in the beautiful wine country of California, this film is also a feast for the eyes – and without a doubt, will awaken the inner oenophile in the multitudes.  

Please have a look at the Bottle Shock website. And, for a nice dinner afterward, what would be more appropriate than a nice Chateau Montelena?