The New Year's holidays are perfect for sitting around with your family and watching a warm and pleasant wine movie. The films recommended in this issue have picturesque wine regions, not only have knowledge, wine, but also have delicate and warm affection and love, and will have a deeper understanding of the wine world after watching it
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line">
Back to Burgundy </h1>
Recommended Index: *****
Mellow Apocalypse of Life
The protagonists of the film are three siblings of the first winery in Burgundy, and when they become adults, the three of them each embark on a different path: the eldest son, Jean, left his hometown and went to Australia to start a family, during which he had no contact with his father. The second daughter, Juliet, remained with her father and ran the winery with the help of Marcel, the elder of the winery. The youngest Jeremy marries the right winery, but the married life is not satisfactory.
After the death of their father, the three brothers and sisters had to reunite to think about the future of the winery. The three brothers and sisters had to pick grapes without their fathers to continue to make wine, while struggling to survive in a business environment of internal and external troubles, and finally had to solve the problem of high inheritance tax faced by the inheritance winery. In such a complex environment, the three siblings gradually unite and find themselves, and finally the family's vineyard and winemaking spirit can be inherited.
The film truly presents scenes of grape growing, harvesting and brewing, and the beauty of the four seasons of the first year of Burgundy is fascinating. The emotional changes of the three brothers and sisters are also paved with quite delicate and layered progression. The whole film is like a mellow Burgundy wine, which makes people feel comfortable and gain the inspiration of life.
Bottle shock
In the wine industry, there are some "landmark events" that people talk about, such as the "Paris Trials" that made California wine famous in 1976. From the perspective of the witnesses, the film dramatically restores the story of California wine's victory over French wine in blind tasting, thus ending the french wine monopoly.
The film stars Professor Snape (Alan Rickman), a wine merchant who travels around the Napa Valley to save his precarious career, planning to hold a small tasting in Paris. Jim and Abo, on the other hand, are father and son with very different personalities, working together to run a winery in Napa Valley. They wanted to make Chardonnay from California to compete with French wines. And it was Steven who "discerned the pearls" who discovered their wine and arranged to attend his own tasting, and the story began...
Unlike The cold and affectionate Professor Snape in Harry Potter, Bill Pullman's performance in the film is full of laughs and the storyline is quite tight and interesting. The breathtaking beauty of Napa Valley and the lively performances of the actors have combined to create the "best image promo" for California white wine.
<h1 class = "pgc-h-center-line" > A Walk in the Clouds</h1>
Recommended Index:****
Lyrical and romantic wine country prose poems
Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves), an American soldier who returned home after World War II, meets the beautiful girl Victoria Aragon (Attana Sanchez Gijón) on the train and returns with her to the mist-shrouded vineyard , the land of clouds.
The film not only records the peak of Keanu Reeves's appearance, but also uses a large number of empty shots to show the idyllic scenery of the wine country, which is as addictive as a lyrical prose poem. In order to prevent the vine from frosting, the two lit torches in the vineyard and lightly fanned the paper fan in the moonlight, engraved as a classic love scene in the hearts of countless movie fans. Although the film was shot in 1995, it is still quite classic today, perfect for huddled around the fire with the family on holidays.
< h1 class = "pgc-h-center-line" > sour grapes</h1>
The "cat and mouse game" of the wine world, geniuses and fraudsters are only on the line
The live-action version of "Cat and Mouse Game" is comparable to the Wine Fraud Documentary of Hollywood blockbusters. Rudy Kurniawan, the "Dr. Kandi" who is familiar with the famous Burgundy and has unparalleled taste ability, is the unknowable side of the counterfeit seller who bottles fake wine and sells it at a high price. Laurent Ponsot, the owner of the clever Domaine Ponsot, is after the world at his own expense to catch the counterfeiter.
In addition, there are countless world's top auction houses, collectors, and connoisseurs who are involved in this fraud case, and many even refuse to accept the facts after being told that they have been deceived. The film has a clear rhythm and interlocking links, and the whole viewing process is very addictive. This story has gone beyond the scope of the fraud case and become a contest between geniuses. If you're looking for a "cool drama" to watch during the Christmas holidays, this "Sour Grapes" must not be missed.
< h1 class = "pgc-h-center-line" > somm</h1>
The world's hardest "master sommelier" to cultivate a record
The story revolves around the preparation of several young people for one of the world's most difficult exams, the Master of Sommelier, presenting us with a "bloody battle" in the wine world. Sommelier is an industry that places high demands on both wine knowledge and tasting ability.
Even professional practitioners need at least 5-10 years of hard work to be eligible to launch an impact, a solid theoretical foundation, blind product ability, service skills are indispensable, as of June 2020, there are only 268 MS recipients worldwide. The countless memory cards in the film, one blind tasting after another, and the nervous excitement before participating in the final judging make the audience more deeply aware of the weight of this title. If you're preparing for a wine certificate, this film is sure to bring you spiritual energy.
<h1 class = "pgc-h-center-line" > Uncorked</h1>
Referral Index:***
A sommelier's dream journey with ideals and real choices
The conflict between ideals and reality is the eternal theme of life, and this film interspersed with wine, youth and father-son relationship reflects such a choice. Out of a love of wine, the protagonist Ilya strives to prepare for the difficult Master Sommelier professional certification. But at the same time, his father Louis hopes that he can take over the popular family barbecue shop and inherit his father's business. The father and son, who were not good at communication, were unable to untie the knot until the death of Ilya's mother, who was fully supportive, and then tried to understand and accept each other.
The film shows a lot of scenes of memory production areas, tasting, and service training, and people with relevant preparation experience will definitely feel kind. While practicing blind tasting in Libya, the smile of his deceased mother intertwined with the aroma and taste of wine, and he silently shed tears at the funeral, constituting the most moving scene in the whole film.
The overall narrative of the film is flat and there is not much dramatization, and the teacher who takes elijah's wine tasting class in the play is the only Dlynn Proctor in the documentary "Somm" who does not pass the Master Sommelier (MS) exam. Vividly explained to the audience: life is not a movie, nor is it always Happy Ending, but those who strive to persist in moving towards the goal will definitely get the most beautiful scenery on the journey.
<h1 class = "pgc-h-center-line" > glass of wine (Sideways</h1>).
The wine version of "people on the road", comforting life with fine wine
Since its release in 2004, the film has set off a Pinot Noir boom in the United States and has successfully received three Oscar nominations. The film follows two frustrated middle-aged men on a trip to the California appellation, and the conversation around wine is even more thought-provoking.
Life is not always smooth, just as some wines perform mediocrely when they first open the bottle, but after the precipitation of time, they have fully demonstrated their hidden strength. This slower-paced film does not have a plot of ups and downs, but quietly soothes the viewer's heart in a soothing plot.
<h1 class= "pgc-h-center-line" > year in Burgundy</h1>
The story of the birth of Burgundy
When faced with "sky-high" Burgundy estates such as Domaine Romanée Conti and Domaine Leroy, have you ever wondered why Burgundy is so expensive? I believe that this detailed video that documents the entire process of planting and harvesting in 2011 by 7 wine farmers will help you find the answer.
Directed by British director David Kennard, the film aims to "showcase the heart and soul of a unique winemaker". Among them, Lalou Bize-Leroy, the owner of Le Birch, will appear with six other star owners to record for us "the story behind a bottle of Burgundy wine".
<h1 class = "pgc-h-center-line" > Mondovino</h1>
Ecological record of the wine industry
Jonathan Nossiter, the film's director, has documented the impact of globalization on different wine regions through visits to seven countries, 5,000 hours of interviews, and a mobile phone camera. In order to faithfully present the ideas and positions of the interviewed people, no narration is used, and the operation mode of the wine industry is completely and informatively presented.
Overall, the film is not a relaxed and pleasant food companion film, but for wine practitioners, this film is a good presentation of the difference between the operation mode of large groups and small wineries, the difference between the cultivation and brewing of new and old production areas and other "industry insiders", which is quite valuable. Perhaps because of this, "Wine Family", as a documentary, was rarely nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and eventually won the César Award.
About the author
Master of Wine Management, Burgundy Business School, France
French National Certified Sommelier, WSET Level 3 Certification
Passionate about wine, food, art and travel
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