*** WARNING!! Movie Spoiler ***

My husband Johnathan, who makes his living building large WordPress based sites, informed me that I must state that this may spoil a movie for you, even though this particular movie does not have a surprise ending or an unpredictable plot. So read on at your own risk….

The other night we saw Bottle Shock the new Alan Rickman (he’s my favorite) film that depicts the rise of California wine onto the international wine stage in the 70s. It was a great foodie/wino movie with dry humor, family struggle, and sure victory for the little guy. I even smelled some red wine being enjoyed in our theatre - people really get into this stuff. Just like Sideways with Paul Giamatti, it moved at a good pace, had great foodie/wine verbage and makes you lust to go to Napa Valley and learn the art of the vine. Bill Pullman, I think, has one facial expression, but plays the disgruntled struggling vineyard owner so well, as well as the disappointed dad. Inevetibaly the son (Chris Pine) saves the day and represents the Napa winemakers at the French tasting that Alan Rickman’s character has conjured up. The Napa Chardonnay tricks the expert French palates and they accidentaly (it was a blind tasting) ruled Chateau Catalena the winner of the tasting. And no one would pay to see the movie if there wasn’t a shallow love interest in the hot blond intern (Rachael Taylor). Very entertaining, with lots of “full bodied” Napa Valley shots, and descriptions of phenomenal wine ingredients I just don’t seem to taste. But, Johnathan and I are quickly planning a pilgramage to Napa as soon as the “Chardonnay clears” (cryptic I know, but this will make sense once you see the film).