Somm to Sideways: Our Favorite Wine Movies

When you get bitten by the wine bug, you can’t stop thinking of the precious buzzy liquid. Wine is complex and satisfying because it’s about learning and learning some more; the more you know about wine and its nuances, the more you can enjoy each glass.

If you think about it, wine is everywhere, from hotels to restaurants, from the supermarket to the Academy Awards. Wine is prominently featured in literature and plays significant parts on the screen. Wine TV shows might not dominate prime time, but plenty of great shows are around. However, movies have taken an interest in wine to new heights. These are some wine movies to satisfy your insatiable thirst for the stuff.

Want to take your love of wine to a new level? Check out our reviews of local wine schools. Then, become a sommelier and live your wine movie!

Uncorked (2020)

He was loosely based on the black sommelier DLynn Proctor’s life and his path to becoming a Master Sommelier. In this wine movie, the story begins with the protagonist Elijah working at his family’s bbq joint in Memphis. Then, the story unfolds as he rises in the ranks of the Court of Master Sommeliers, a predominantly white organization haunted by allegations of racism.

Bottle Shock (2008)

With hints of comedy, this historical wine movie portrays perhaps the most crucial event in modern wine history: The Judgement of Paris in 1976. Of course, we all know the story, so there are no spoilers here, but the Californian wines defeated the French in a blind tasting for the first time in history. This broke the paradigm of French supremacy, opening the wine market for American wines and the rest of the new-world wine-producing countries.

You must know the history and a better way to study than a proper film to understand wine. However, this wine movie is so fun that even your beer lover friends will have a good time and learn something.

Sideways (2004)

The comedy-drama is based on Rex Pickett’s novel of the same name. The story follows Miles, a serious wine enthusiast, and his friend Jack on a Santa Barbara wine country trip. We won’t tell you much more, but this wine movie makes you laugh and cry in so many ways.   Moreover, it created the wine film genre.

Wine pushes the story forward, and while it’s a fun movie for mature audiences, it has plenty of Easter eggs for wine connoisseurs; see how many legendary wines you can spot! Our full review of Sideways.

A Good Year (2006)

A romantic comedy that appeals to wine lovers. The story follows Max Skinner (Russell Crowe), a stockbroker that inherits a Chateau in southern France from his grandfather. With the calm life in the wine country, the colorful characters, and the scenery, this film is soothing and inspirational. This wine movie is simply evocative with sunny vineyards and damp cellars-and the occasional night out in a picturesque town.

Somm (2012)

This documentary follows candidates on their path to the controversial Master Sommelier Diploma. Watch them study, face frustration, help each other, and ultimately present the most challenging wine exam.

The movie handles anticipation well, slowly building suspense and anxiety. There is a deep insight into the field’s vastness and the three-part exam that everybody wants to pass, but very few succeed.

This is the first of three movies in the Somm series, produced and directed by Jason Wise. Somm 2 and Somm 3 are great wine movies, but nothing beats the original film, which started the somm craze that we live in today. One of our all-time favorite wine films.

Sour Grapes (2016)

Fine wine can carry hefty price tags; some collectible bottles can cost as much as a small house. Wine collectors and the lucky few that have fat-enough wallets to enjoy ultra-premium wines lost their sleep overnight with the news of fake wine being passed around.

This documentary is based on the story of Rudy Kurniawan, a masterful forger of counterfeit wine that fooled even the most refined noses in the business. There’s a lesson to be learned here: if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

A Year in Burgundy (2013)

Wine is all about the people behind it. Visit the Cote d’Or and the prestigious vineyards in Burgundy and get to know the people who make some of the region’s most important wines.

From grape to bottle, learn about the challenges the vignerons face every season and appreciate the different approaches to what is considered one of the world’s best wines. A Year in Burgundy sounds like a dream vacation. This wine movie is as close as many of us will get to that dream. So enjoy a glass of Pinot and relax because this one is quite a ride.