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Synopsis:
Looking for a way to boost his failing Parisian wine shop, a
snobbish Brit named Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) heads to
California's Napa Valley, preparing for a tasting contest he
has set up, pitting his favorite French wines against
up-and-coming vintages from California. He assumes that a
victory by the French wines will spur people to flock to his
store, but he is surprised to find that the California wines
are not quite as awful as he had imagined. He is especially
intrigued by a Chardonnay made by Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman)
and his son, Bo (Chris Pine), at Chateau Montelena, but Jim
is a perfectionist who never thinks his wine is ready and
does not want to be involved in the contest, believing it
will be a circus and an excuse to embarrass the California
wineries. He has a tense relationship with his son, an
easygoing surfer dude who seems more interested in the
summer intern, Sam (Rachael Taylor), than working in the
family business. Meanwhile, the rest of the Napa Valley
vintners are excited about participating in the contest,
including Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez), one of Jim's best
employees, who is making his own wine on the side with
Garcia (Miguel Sandoval). As Spurrier gets closer to
deciding which California wines will be selected for the
contest, friendships and families threaten to tear apart and
love blossoms. Based on a true story--Jim and Bo Barrett
served as consultants on the film - BOTTLE SHOCK is a tasty
treat, cowritten by husband-and-wife team Randall Miller and
Jody Savin (with Ross Schwartz); Miller also serves as one
of the editors and producers. Pullman is outstanding as the
former corporate suit trying to live out his dream; the cast
also includes Bradley Whitford and Eliza Dushku in small but
important roles. The period soundtrack features several
Doobie Brothers songs as well as 1970s tunes by America, Bad
Company, and Foghat.
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