Just saw a great wine related movie called "Bottle Shock"

I watched it on netflix. True story about these guys.....

Chateau Montelena - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottle_Shock

 

Welcome to like 10 years ago. OK actually I just looked it up and it was really only 8 years ago. I will admit while I had heard about it I never watched it until earlier this year. It was a good movie!!

 

the actual story of the tasting is even more impressive - While France still can make exceptional wines - back in the day it was un heard of to have anything else in France win a wine tasting! let alone an American wine.

 

The movie is quite old and some of the facts are disputed, but that's usually par for the course with these movies. I thought it was very cool, when I watched it, and it made me get into Californian Chardonnay as I was living in the states at the time. And that can only be a good thing...

 

If you haven't read the book, do so. The stories behind the rise of the American premium wine industry are pretty amazing. E.g. a University of Chicago professor chucking his professorship to be a wine maker. Two buck chuck used to be Mondavi seconds, etc. The second half of the book drags a bit.

 

It was a good one!

Matt

 

Fred Franzia and Bronco Wine: A big ruckus over 'Two Buck Chuck'

 

Wife & I toured this winery few years back. Despite their famous chardonnay victory, thought the Cab Sauvs were the star of the show...T

 

I believe the winery at the time was indeed Chateau Montelena but the winemaker is Mike Grgich who later opened his own shop. The make a great cabernet and blend,

MB


"Miljenko “Mike” Grgich first gained international recognition at the celebrated “Paris Tasting” of 1976. Then, in a now-historic blind tasting, a panel of eminent French judges swirled, sniffed, and sipped an array of the fabled white Burgundies of France and a small sampling of upstart Chardonnays from the Napa Valley. When their scores were tallied, the French judges were shocked: they had chosen the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Mike Grgich, as the finest white wine in the world. Mon Dieu! The results stunned the international wine establishment and immediately earned Mike a reputation as one of the greatest winemakers in the world."

 

For months after the release of that movie 75% of the people who came into our winery were suddenly wine experts because they had watched it. Merlot sales nationwide dropped 20% for almost 2 years.

 

Dave...Presumably, chardonnay sales skyrocketed? And, perhaps the birth of the term ”chardonnay sipping liberal”?...T

 

i'd also recc: Red Obsession

great movie about how Asian demand is rocking prices to the upside. good movie. narrated by russel crowe

 

Another great film in the same genre: Scottish art film called "the Angel's Share." story revolves around Scotch tasters

 

Thanks for the recommendation!

Matt

 

I found this movie awhile back because of Chris Pine! Hippie hair!