What brings together a depressed divorced aspiring writer and a failed actor - and great seducer - who is about to get married? A good film and a story full of wine. A holiday trip of an odd couple - one of those that only appear in the movies - but that the vagaries of life could make it plausible in reality. It is the film Sideways ("Between Drinks"), a film produced in the United States that was released in 2004, and which became a hit with wine lovers.
Winner of an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay (from Rex Pickett's novel of the same name), and a non-winner of the Oscar for Best Non-Human Actor, clearly wine, the film is a true cinematic ode to this priceless beverage.
Still from the film "Sideways" (2004), directed by Alexander Payne, starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church.
The film has witty dialogues and brings something to the table: no matter what your background is, there is always a good feeling between wine lovers. Because wine brings people together. Whoever is satisfied with a cheap Merlot will probably not enjoy the pleasure of tasting a lover of a perfect Pinot.
Those who have enjoyed watching Sideways will probably be left with a thirsty palate. But rest assured, the cellar is full of titles. There are dozens of titles maturing in the vinocinema library. For lovers of vintage, one can only turn to safe bets such as Alfred Hitchcock' s "Notorious" ( "Notorious", 1946), starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. The film contains all the essential ingredients of the master of suspense: American spies in love, Nazis trying to reorganise in Brazil and, of course, bottles of wine - which hold more than just wine - and exciting scenes in a large wine cellar.
Still from the film "Chained" (1946), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman.
Another title to put on hold is Days of wine and roses ("Days of Wine and Roses", 1962), in which Blake Edwards brings together the couple Jack Lemon and Lee Remick to remind us how important it is to enjoy wine... in moderation.
Are you in the mood for more Californian wine? Then don't miss This land is mine ("This earth is mine", 1959), by Henry King -not to be confused with Jean Renoir's "This land is mine", 1943-, with Rock Hudson and Jean Simmons.
For lovers of contemporary films, titles such as A walk through the clouds ('A Walk in the Clouds', 1992) by Alfonso Arau; the documentary Mondovino ('A Walk in the Clouds', 2004), by Jonathan Nossiter; A good year ('A Good Year', 2006), by Ridley Scott; Julie & Julia (2009), by Nora Ephron; or even the television series Gran Reserva (2010), by Carlos Sedes, would also be interesting options to keep in the bottle rack.
Film and Wine Festivals
La Solana
But if you are really passionate about the magical combination of film and wine, then you should definitely go for the big one: wine film festivals. The municipality of La Solana (in the province of Ciudad Real) has been organising for the last 12 editions what is the oldest wine film festival in Spain. Spain's oldest wine and film festival. The event, organised by La Solana Town Council and the La Mancha Designation of Origin -through the Municipal Board of the Festival-, takes place in the first week of December and includes awards in two main categories: Film Awards and Wine of Cinema.
In addition to its official sections, the Festival carries out a series of parallel activities (exhibitions, competitions and wine tastings, tapas tasting, etc.) with which it aims to make a cultural commitment to the region.
SEMINCI
Further north, in Valladolid, is where the SEMINICIValladolid International Film Week, which has been running for no less than 60 years now. In its last edition (2015), the event included a section dedicated especially to the cinema and wineThe event, which combined the screening of films related to the world of wine and wine tasting of wine from different regions, and even countries.
Most Penedès
But you have to go to Catalonia, specifically to Vilafranca del Penedès, to find the only international festival entirely dedicated to film and wine. The Most, Penedès International Wine and Cava Film Festivalhas been running for 6 editions now and is still going strong.
Most Festival, organised by the Vinseum - Museum of Wine Cultures of Catalonia and the Cine Club Vilafranca, brings together audiovisual productions related to the culture of the vine, wine and cava. The event is a toast to good cinema with the screening of films by great directors that have not been released commercially and a good selection of short films.
Apart from disseminating the arts and wine cultures through audiovisual creation, the festival aims to bring oenology closer to the audience -from all possible angles-, promoting values such as quality, diversity or involvement with the territory.
Held in the first half of November, the festival offers a wide range of activities linked to the world of wine, film and wine tourism for all audiences. Most Festival also becomes the main event organised in Catalonia on the occasion of the European Day of Wine Tourism (8th November).
Oenovidéo
And if you still feel like going north, you might well consider attending the Oenovidéo International Film and Wine Festival in Frontignan, one of the most important and longest-running events in the world of film and wine. International Oenovidéo Festivalone of the most important - and the oldest with 23 editions already held - in the world of film and wine, in the muscat capital of the world, Frontignan, in Languedoc-Roussillon, France.
In 20 years, the festival has introduced its attendees to more than 1,200 films in competition, awarding prizes to a total of 200 films. In the last edition, held last May, the festival's line-up included a selection of 28 films, a total of 15 hours of screenings.
For 80 years, the appellation Frontignan has become the red carpet for film, photography and wine enthusiasts and professionals. Between sessions, festival-goers were able to awaken their senses in the Muscat lands, along with film producers and directors, and the characteristic sweet wine taste of Frontignan.
At the beginning of the article we saw how Sideways became a particular film roadtrip for wine lovers. We hope that with this article the reader will decide to start their particular route to the most vinéphile festivals in Spain.
