BOTTLE SHOCK

Year: 2008
USA: Freestyle Releasing
UK: Paramount Pictures UK
Cast: Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, Eliza Dushku, Freddie Rodriguez, Rachael Taylor, Dennis Farina, Bradley Whitford, Miguel Sandoval, Joe Regalbuto, Hal B Klein, Philippe Bergeron
Director: Randall M Miller
Country: USA
USA: 110 mins
UK: 108 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual content and a scene of drug use
UK Certificate: 12A contains infrequent strong language and moderate sex and drug references
USA Release Date: 6 August 2008
UK Release Date: 20 March 2009 (Limited Release)

UK Distributor

Synopsis

"Based on a true story of love, victory and fermentation."

BOTTLE SHOCK chronicles the early days of California wine making and features the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as "Judgment of Paris", which put California wines on the map for good.

Comedy docudrama telling the story of the origins of modern Californian winemaking. Alan Rickman stars as Steven Spurrier, a Parisian sommelier who travels to Napa Valley in 1976 in the hope of tracking down the finest wine and taking it back to Paris for a blind taste test (since christened 'the Judgement of Paris'). Arriving at the heavily mortgaged Chateau Montelena, Steven meets struggling winemaker Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman), who - along with his hippy son Bo (Chris Pine), Mexican foreman Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez) and beautiful free spirit Sam (Rachael Taylor) - dreams of producing the perfect chardonnay.

There are certain unforgettable moments in history when America has triumphed against long odds and proved itself to the world: Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon; the U.S. Men's Hockey team beating the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics. But one such moment has never received the recognition it deserves: In 1976, a small American winery sent shock waves through the wine industry by besting the exalted French wines in a blind tasting, putting California wines on the map for good.

Novice vintner Jim Barrett risked everything to realize his dream of creating the perfect hand-crafted California Chardonnay. Meanwhile in Paris, struggling wine seller Steven Spurrier came up with an idea for a publicity stunt to help his floundering shop. Little did Spurrier and Barrett realize they were about to change the history of wine forever.