Sideways, the little movie about 2 guys on a road trip through Santa Barbara wine country, emphasizes some of those special aspects of wine such as each harvest being different from the previous ones and grape varieties having unique qualities to impart to the wine.

Now comes Bottle Shock starring Alan Rickman, Chris Pine and Bill Pullman which tells the story of the wine competition on 24th May 1976 organised by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier. This became known as The Judgement of Paris in which French judges did blind tasting of top quality chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon wines from France and California. In both the red and white categories the American wines beat the French bring New World wines to attention of wine aficionados all over.

Bottle Shock movie

The Californian cabernet sauvignon wines tasted were:

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973

Ridge Vineyards – Monte Bello 1971

Heitz Wine Cellars – Martha’s Vineyard 1970

Clos Du  Val Winery 1972

Mayacamas Vineyards 1971

Freemark Abbey Winery 1969

And the Bordeaux wines:

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1970

Chateau Montrose 1970

Chateau Haut-Brion 1970

Chateau Leoville Las Cases 1971

Californian chardonnay wines tasted:

Chateau Montelema 1973

Chalone Vineyard 1974

Spring Mountain Vineyard 1973

Freemark Abbey Winery 1972

Veedercrest Vineyards 1972

David Bruce Winery 1973

And the Burgundies:

Meursalt Charmes Roulot 1973

Beune Clos des Mouches Joseph Drauhen 1973

Batard-Montrachet Ramonet-Prudham 1973

Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles Domain Leflaive 1972

Steven Spurrier comments:

There is hardly a word that is true in the script and many, many inventions as far as I am concerned. 

Don’t let that put you off - the story line is well thought out and enjoyable although there are the inevitable Hollywood moments. It focuses on heroic forces, the philosophy and passion of Napa Valley winemakers and is very human. As the telling of a pivotal event in modern wine history it is a must to see.