Beth Fish Reads: Weekend Cooking: Bottle Shock

28 May 2011

Weekend Cooking: Bottle Shock

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

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If you're of a certain age then you remember the days when people shunned California wines and the world looked to France for the best of the best. Then in 1976 things changed. Bottle Shock tells the story of how Montelena Winery challenged common knowledge and wine snobs across the globe. A fun and informative film featuring one of my favorite actors, Alan Rickman.

The acting is great, the scenery of Napa Valley is beautiful, and the Barrett family's ups and downs and uncertainty about their wine is a lesson in perseverance. The icing on the cake, however, is Rickman, who plays a wonderfully snobby British wine expert who encourages the Barretts to enter a competition in France with the idea that the upstart Americans will be put in their place once and for all.

Whether you consider yourself a wine person or not, this film, based on the real-life story of how California vineyards gained serious attention, is well worth watching.

These days, American wines hold their own quite well throughout the world.

34 comments:

Louise, 5/28/11, 6:14 AM: I don't know if I've ever had an American wine, but I do know that some good wines come out of California. A similar situation existed in Australia in the 70s- our wine industry was young, and not really making great wine I suspect. Now it's come of age, and making fabulous wines- in fact I might have some very soon!
Uniflame, 5/28/11, 6:18 AM: I am totally not a wine person. But a Snobby British Gentleman sound good :) I am not sure this is for me though.
Marg, 5/28/11, 7:28 AM: This sounds like it could be fun! If only to listen to Alan Rickman for a while

By the way, could you fix my link title in Mr Linky. Wasn't paying attention when I added my link.
TheBookGirl, 5/28/11, 7:32 AM: I am not very knowledgeable at all about wine, but I love Alan Rickman, and I would enjoy learning more about how tastes shifted in the industry. Thanks for hosting, as always, and enjoy your holiday weekend :)
Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook, 5/28/11, 7:46 AM: I've seen Bottle Shock and it was a very enjoyable movie that would have totally gone unnoticed by us if a friend hadn't mentioned it.
Rikki, 5/28/11, 8:13 AM: Sounds like a good film. I LOVE Alan Rickman! He alone would make watching it worthwhile.
Sandy Nawrot, 5/28/11, 8:14 AM: I love this movie (what else would you expect from me?). We have consumed Chateau Montelena wines, and they are wonderful. Am I weird to think that Alan Rickman is just a wee bit hot?
Nari @ The Novel World, 5/28/11, 9:37 AM: I'll have to put this movie on my Netflix queue. At some point last year, my husband and I turned into wine fans. =)
Beth, 5/28/11, 9:47 AM: I want to see this! Thanks for reminding me!
Diann @ The Thrifty Groove, 5/28/11, 12:41 PM: This sounds interesting. I do enjoy wine and I am far from a wine snob. LOL thanks for hosting! Have a great Memorial weekend!
Margot, 5/28/11, 12:57 PM: The trailer makes me want to see this movie. Is this coming this August or is it already on dvd?

I'm growing to love wine now that I've spent so much time in Sonoma County. Actually, I've visited wineries all over the United States. We seem to have gained great confidence in our ability to make good wine.
Carrie K., 5/28/11, 1:15 PM: I loved this movie - my best friend and I watched it on a girls' movie night last year. :) And I do love Rickman's acting, but Sandy, you are a bit weird to think he's hot! LOL
Beth F, 5/28/11, 1:16 PM: I love Alan Rickman and I'd watch anything he was in!

The movie is already out
Yoshi, 5/28/11, 1:29 PM: My latest post about "Cooked Locusts" may make you feel disgusted and say "EWWWWWW"LOL
Anonymous, 5/28/11, 2:28 PM: I absolutely love this movie! It definitely makes you want to drive to Napa and act like you know one wine from another. Or maybe even learn a thing or two. I've been really excited about the different lights movies and fiction have been shining on the California wine region, from movies like Sideways and Bottle Shock to books like Michele Scott's (amazing!) novel Happy Hour.
nat, 5/28/11, 3:33 PM: loved the trailer and the cutie with the long blond hair--who is he?? alan will always be snape in my head, is that okay? i don't really drink wine but this movie looks fun! happy holiday weekend.
Gnoe (@Graasland), 5/28/11, 5:17 PM: Well, I'm a film-a-holic as well as a food-a-holic, so thanks for the tip! :)
Heidenkind, 5/28/11, 5:34 PM: How is it even possible I haven't heard about this movie?!? I love Alan Rickman.
bermudaonion, 5/28/11, 8:28 PM: Wow, I bet my mother would love this movie!
Esme, 5/29/11, 12:22 AM: You always find the most interesting movies that I have never heard of.
caite, 5/29/11, 3:30 AM: this sounds fun...I am putting it on my 'too see' list!
Julie Goucher, 5/29/11, 8:12 AM: Sounds a great film. I must look out for it. Is it a new release?
Nan, 5/29/11, 10:48 AM: I just put it in my Netflix queue! I, too like Alan Rickman and my favorite of all his movies is Truly, Madly, Deeply in which he plays a ghost. For some reason it hasn't been available on dvd for a few years. I can't imagine why. My second fave of his is Love, Actually. Thanks for the recommendation.
Heather, 5/29/11, 11:54 AM: I remember being in the Caribbean in the 70's and my dad wanted to buy some wine. The only kind you could get was from California. It had a bad rep. I think the bottle you could buy was called 'Night Train'?

My library has this disk, so I'll be requesting it. Thanks.
Sherrie, 5/29/11, 12:56 PM: Hi Beth,
Sounds like a great movie. I'll have to find it and watch it. Have a great day!

Sherrie
Just Books
Joy Weese Moll, 5/29/11, 2:01 PM: I put this in my Netflix queue--with a nephew in the wholesale wine business, we're getting more interest.

It was great to meet you on Friday!
Bernadette, 5/29/11, 7:46 PM: Oh I do agree that this is a terrific little movie. I'm not much of a wine aficionado (though given that 95% of the people who come to visit the place where I live come because of the plethora of wineries I do know a little about the subject) and I knew nothing about this particular story but I enjoyed this movie very much.
Sheila (Bookjourney), 5/29/11, 10:19 PM: That sounds really interesting... I have never been much of a wine drinker but recently have found a couple that I do enjoy.
Leslie (Under My Apple Tree), 5/30/11, 2:09 AM: I haven't seen this movie. I'll have to find the video.

I do like my wines but I've never been particularly fond of California wines. Give me a good Italian Gavi or Pinot Grigio any day.
Yoshi, 5/30/11, 12:22 PM: Hello Beth, I ate super fantastic Ramen noodle! Ramen can not get better than this one! so goooood!
Kate, 5/30/11, 1:57 PM: I haven't seen this movie in ages but I remember enjoying it! Thanks for reminding me of it. Hope you've had a great weekend.
Kathy DeCosmo, 5/30/11, 10:21 PM: Thanks Beth,

We rented Bottle Shock this evening and really enjoyed it!

I feel like flying out to Napa and drinking the Chardonnay.

I just found Chateau Montelena on Twitter :) @ChMontelena and now a follower.

Thanks again!
Yoshi, 5/31/11, 10:12 PM: Last link to my post concerning food here. The last link is about Tofu and a Vegan.... They have one thing in common!
Marysol, 6/3/11, 8:52 AM: I've had some very nice CA. wines, and even found a few local wines that were good.
And, while I will admit I'd never heard of this movie, I'm interested in seeing it.
Does anyone know which wines go with popcorn? :)