Relax! Watch Movies and Sip Wine

Winding down after a festivus of family and friends is mandatory, wouldn’t you agree? I don’t know about you, but I like to escape the chaos with a long awaited vacation, a good book read in a comfy chair or a riveting movie or two. This year, my choice will be the latter. In preparation for this down-time, I found four wine-related movies that I’ll watch over and over again. As a bonus, I revisited a few wines that pair beautifully with each. Enjoy the read and share your thoughts in the comments.

The Secret of Santa Vittoria & Donello Marche Sangiovese IGP from Il Conte Villa Prandone

Based on the 1966 novel by Robert Crichton, The Secret of Santa Vittoria is just as entertaining as it is a compelling snapshot of history. The 1969 movie is set during the summer of 1943 after the fall of Benito Mussolini’s Fascist government of Italy. A German army begins to occupy the small hill town of Santa Vittoria, located in Marche, with the purpose to take the town’s wine back to Germany. The residents are understandably emotional since their sole source of income is their wine. Under the leadership of Italo Bombini, newly designated mayor of Santa Vittoria and considered a fool by many, residents band together to  hide a million bottles of wine in the tunnels of an ancient Roman cave.

Enjoy this poignant and hilarious movie on Amazon Prime, learn a plethora of Italian gestures, cook some pasta and open a bottle or two of Donello Marche Sangiovese IGP ($15), made in the tradition of the family’s grandfather, from Il Conte Villa Prandone located in Marche. For more about the winery, the wine and others in the portfolio, click here.

UNCORKED & Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Cuvee des Moines Bleu Brut

In the spirit of perseverance and passion, this movie is one you’ll watch more than once. The main character, Elijah, works at a wine shop and at his family’s barbecue restaurant. Elijah’s parents expect him to assume leadership of the business, but his goals include becoming a master sommelier and not a pit-master at the restaurant. Following his dream, Elijah is accepted into the Master Sommelier program after passing the entrance exam and goes to Paris with his class’ exchange program, but realizes that he can’t afford the cost. Thanks to donations from a classmate and his own fundraising efforts, Elijah remains in Paris although his mother, Sylvia, is diagnosed with cancer. Once she dies, Elijah returns home and works at the family restaurant in order to help his father. He begins to miss sommelier classes and subsequently drops out of the program. With help, he re-enrolls, takes the sommelier exam and finds out that he doesn’t pass. Elijah returns to his two jobs and eventually re-enrolls in the program.

Watch UNCORKED on Netflix and pair with Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Cuvee des Moines Bleu Brut. Click here to learn more about this beautiful Champagne and to understand how family and wine affected me, too, a year or so ago.

Back to Burgundy & Louis Jadot Santenay “Clos de Malte” 2018

The premise of Back to Burgundy? Three adult siblings, Jean, Juliette, and Jeremie, reunite at their family home in Burgundy. Jean, the oldest who fell out of place throughout his childhood, unexpectedly returns from his vineyard work in Australia after an absence of ten years. Strong-willed Juliette, who has taken over the vineyard since their father became ill, and Jeremie, who has married into one of the region’s prestigious wine families, welcome him…but with more than a dash of resentment. Why did Jean leave the family? Why didn’t he keep in touch? Questions are raised (and ultimately answered). Soon after Jean’s return, their father passes away. Left behind is not only the family estate, but an inheritance tax of a half million dollars. What ensues is a story line that focuses on the steps the siblings take to re-build their relationships and the emotions expressed by each as they face and decide what to do about the family legacy.

Rent Back to Burgundy on Amazon Prime and open a bottle of Louis Jadot Santenay “Clos de Malte” 2018, a beautiful Pinot Noir from the region. For more, click here.

SOMM & Chateau de Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2017

Passing the Master Sommelier exam may be one of the toughest endeavors for anyone in the wine business. SOMM, a 2012 documentary, begins in the San Francisco Bay area where the film’s four main characters and families are introduced. Each character has different reasons as to why they want to pass the exam and what they want to do once they achieve their goal. The film continues with clips of the brutal lifestyle each candidate must manage – on-site classes, endless flash cards, color coded wine region maps, mock quizzes at any hour of the day (and night), blind tasting sessions, and so much more. Fast forward to when there are 10 days remaining before the exam and tensions are high. How will the exam affect their friendship if all don’t pass? Finally, who actually passes? Who doesn’t? What happens next?

Rent SOMM on Amazon Prime and pair with a beautiful, bold, balanced Chateau de Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2017. Click here for more.

Cheers! ~ Cindy

If you have time for one more article, check out “Read These, Sip Those – Three Books and Wines for Pairing.” Click here.