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Napa takes Bottle Shock to its heart
July 29, 2008
 Bob Ecker in Napa
Bottle Shock, the notorious film based on the 1976 Judgment of Paris, had its Napa Valley debut last Saturday.
Projected al fresco below the walls of Chateau Montelena – which has just been bought by Michel Reybier, the owner of the renowned Chateau Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux – the premiere was attended by Napa A-listers including press, movie stars and Napa society.
Coni Thornburg, general manager of the Calistoga Ranch, set the generally uncritical tone: 'What an enchanting evening, sitting under the stars, with the stars and seeing this film.'
The film, which received mixed reviews when it showed at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year, recounts Steven Spurrier's travels in California, looking for worthy American wines for the tasting.
Spurrier is played by Alan Rickman (pictured), who portrays him as 'priggish yet open-minded', according to the script notes.
While Variety called it 'sprawling', 'painfully corny' yet with a 'charming aftertaste,' Napa was more positive.
'The film was educational, had a little bit of romance and a beautiful finish, like a fine wine,' Thornburg said.
Bottle Shock was directed by Randall Miller and tells the story of the Barretts, son Bo and father Jim (played by Bill Pullman) from Chateau Montelena, whose 1973 Chardonnay beat four Burgundies and half a dozen American whites at the now-legendary Paris Tasting of 1976, organised by Spurrier.
'It was really fun. It's amazing to see it come full circle, especially now with the French buying this winery,' said guest Eden Umble, PR Coordinator for the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce.
Tasmanian actress Rachael Taylor, who plays Sam, part of a complicated love triangle involved Bo Barret and an 'upstart Latino winemaker', said she was thrilled to be back at Montelena.
'Bo and Heidi Barrett really educated me, and helped me understand the spirit of this land.'
Another film, Judgement of Paris, based closely on the 1976 tasting, is in production
Have your say...
To post your comment on this story, email us at news@decanter.com, making sure the relevant headline is in the subject field
 Bottle Shock will help the wine industry just like Sideways. However, I am looking forward to the real thing based on the actual events of The Judgment of Paris. Too bad that movie got de-railed by the writer's strike in the USA.
Ron Saikowski, Texas, USA
I'm writing so far after the fact, here, but I just saw Bottle Shock last night and stumbled across your review.
Rural Californians aren't THAT dumb that they can't recognize a British accent - even in the provincial 70's! Regarding the comment "can we get a barrel sample for this French wine snob?" California wine makers meant that Spurrier was a snob regarding French wine. Clearly they realized that Spurrier is not actually French.
From your review, Steven Spurrier's objection to Bottle Shock seems to be based solely on the fact that he feels the actor portraying him should be younger. Hmmm.
I thought Bottle Shock was an enjoyable movie - well acted, great story, a fun period piece. It was predictable because, of course, we all know the ending. But that's not the movie's fault.
Prior to the Bottle Shock premiere, I attended an event, hosted at Crushpad winery in San Francisco. It was a blind taste-test of all the CA and French wines that were featured in the movie. Montelena won the whites - AGAIN. Both the popular and judges' vote. And Bo Barret was there to witness it. Now that was a really cool ending.
Catherine Hurley
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