Bottle Shock

If you are looking for a film that is enjoyable, uplifting, gently warming and not too taxing, you could do a lot worse than Bottle Shock, a film about wine. I believe it is good form to wear a fine tailored blue blazer if one is to be a wine taster of good standing—I should warn you for this film review I have gone the whole hog and have garnered a blazer and a cravat. I digress.

Set in Californian sunshine with occasional visits to the French vineyards, the film documents a revolution in wine history with the upsurge of the upstart West Coast Napa Valley vineyards challenging the assumed superiority of vin Français. Now although we all know that these days Chilean wine kicks the ass* of both these regions for taste and quality, it is imperative that you push that hard won wisdom aside to enjoy this little piece of history. Before examining the deeper implications of this real life event—yes, the film was based on a true story—which meshes nicely with the concurrent memes of punk, rock and hip hop, we should move into a congenial space for wine. A film about wine is one that primes you to enjoy some good food and, of course, good wine whilst letting the film wash over you. Like a good wine, a film should have a rich and appropriate setting to get the most appreciation from it.

Food and Drink
In the case of myself and the honorary Mrs Lucas—I say honorary because although she married me, she charmingly keeps her own name—we started with a Gin and Tonic and Vodka Lime Soda aperitif, respectively. I prepared the evening’s cuisine with a starter of Mrs Lucas’s legendary Cream of Onion soup that was left over from the previous night, and I must add had seasoned beautifully in the 24 hours since we had tasted it in a celebratory evening with the Philippines-based artist Hugo Sheridan.

The second course was a salad, but wait, not just a salad, but a Salad. Organic mixed leaves, roasted chestnuts, oil soaked wolfberries, a hint of parmesan, pumpkin seeds, a little anchovy, vine tomatoes and olives.

The film was sipped during three courses, which reminds me, the third course was gently crushed organic double dark truffle chocolate, a macadamia shortbread biscuit, fresh blueberries and Yeo Valley organic yoghurt served in a wine glass. I say the film was sipped as we utilized the pause function to make a fully rounded evening experience of the whole thing.

Now I know some people might find this kind of film review somewhat indulgent and verbose, whereas you on the other hand who are still reading are aching to know about the wine that was lavished on our palette during the visual presentation. As all connoisseurs of the fermented grape understand, one does not just list the ingredients of the liquid, one moves into the poetic aroma of Dionysius in full cerebral mode, hence the need to prepare your imagination and re-create the mood at least partially for you regarding the setting for our consumption of the moving picture we are talking about.

Well, anyway, ache no more, for we chose Adobe 2006 Carmenére, made with organically grown grapes. Very nice. Enough said


The film, ah yes the film has several delightful characters. Actually I will talk about the film soon… do you want to know about it?

If so please put your request in the comment box provided it will nudge me into finishing this piece and revealing the story behind the story…