Bottle Shock
What’s it rated? PG-13
When? 2008
Where’s it showing?
Le Vigne Winery, 5115 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles,
Saturday, Aug. 8 (doors at 6:30, film at 8 p.m.;
21-and-older; $22.84 at pasopictureshow.com)
Randall Miller (Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School, Nobel Son, CBGB) directs this quirky comedy-drama he co-wrote with Jody Savin and Ross Schwartz about the early days of California winemaking and the now-famous 1976 blind winetasting known as the “Judgment of Paris,” in which a Napa Valley chardonnay won, proving French wines can be beaten and ushering in the celebrated California wine industry.
The ensemble comedy boasts an all-star cast including Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodriguez, Eliza Dushku, Dennis Farina, and Bradley Whitford. It also includes a bumping ’70s soundtrack with hits by The Doobie Brothers, Bad Company, Foghat, The Allman Brothers Band, Harry Nilsson, America, and more.
The story, a fictionalized version of real events, is centered on a struggling vineyard called Chateau Montelena deeply in debt and run by fictional Jim Barrett (Pullman) who worries about his lazy son, Bo (Pine). In Paris, wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Rickman)—based on a real person—comes up with the blind tasting idea to hopefully introduce wines from other parts of the world. That the French accepted tells you everything about their hubris at the time. Fun vineyard flick! (110 min.)
—Glen Starkey
This article appears in July 30 – August 6, 2026.
