The Story of the Movie “Bottle Shock”

I love movies that are based on a true story and the 2006-vintage “Bottle Shock” has always been a favorite. But what's actually true and what's artistic license? Read on…

The climax of the movie centers on the Judgment of Paris from 1976, a blind taste test that placed Napa on the radar of many oenophiles. And although Napa was already fairly well known, as the Robert Mondavi Winery was established there in 1966, the Judgment of Paris was the catalyst for the growth of the Napa Valley wine industry.

The roots of wine-making in Napa date to the 1800s. The industry withered significantly as a result of Prohibition, however, until the blind tasting brought credibility to American wine producers.

The movie starred Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, and Rachael Taylor. Rickman plays Steven Spurrier, a sommelier who owns a struggling wine store in Paris.

As a marketing ploy, Spurrier decides to hold a blind taste test to introduce the French to quality wines produced outside their country. The French had a long history of disdain in regard to the wine-producing abilities of outsiders.

In search of quality wines to be judged alongside their French counterparts, Spurrier visits California, ending up in Napa Valley at Chateau Montelena. He meets with Jim Barrett, played by Bill Pullman, and introduces him to the concept behind the taste test.

Barrett is suspicious of Spurrier and believes he is setting him up to be a laughingstock for the French, so he refuses. Barrett's son Bo Barrett, played by Chris Pine, goes behind his dad's back and gives Spurrier a few samples of the winery's 1973 Chardonnay.

Bo is a Jeff Spicoli-esque surfer type who consistently disappoints his father due to a lack of motivation; Taylor's character of Sam Fulton is an attractive young grad student interning at the winery, but more on those two later.

One of the turning points of the movie is when the chardonnay turns brown in the bottles. Out of frustration, Barrett Sr. orders an employee to dump it, not realizing the effect is only temporary, the result of limiting oxygen levels during production.

After realizing the chardonnay is unspoiled, Bo and Sam race against time to save it. In a classic Hollywood moment, Bo's truck breaks down and the circumstances look even more dire. Bo tries to get help by waving down a passing driver but fails; Sam removes her shirt and gets the necessary attention.

Bo is then invited to Paris for the tasting competition, where he represents his fellow vintners in the Napa Valley area. In a twist that tips the expectations of the global wine industry, the eight Parisian judges name the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay their favorite, with another California wine, the Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 1973, winning the red category.

As a nod to the significance of the Judgment of Paris, the Smithsonian Institution dedicated a display case to the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon. A number of follow-up competitions have been held; famously the Parisian judges in the first event were confident the American wines would not stand the test of time. In an anniversary contest in 2006, the California wines were again placed against their French counterparts, with California winning the top spot.

Though Spurrier asked numerous journalists to cover the first event, only one showed up, George Taber of Time magazine. Though only four paragraphs, the article he produced is the major reason why the event earned notoriety.

Jim Barrett made wine into his 80s. His son Bo Barrett is the current CEO of Chateau Montelena and the spouse of Heidi Barrett, the individual who inspired the character of Sam Fulton.

Heidi Barrett is an icon in the American wine industry. Her dad was a winemaker and she has been the creative force behind many famous California wines.

The wine industry is traditionally male-dominated and Barrett's story is interesting for many reasons, one of which is that she was one of only four women in her grad school class at UC Davis, where she earned a degree in Fermentation Science. She is also a helicopter pilot and the mother of Chelsea Barrett, who is the director of winemaking at Materra Cunat Family Vineyards.

A favorite produced by Chelsea Barrett is La Sirena Wine.

Of course, as with most films based on a true story, there are some creative licenses at play. This does not make the movie any less enjoyable to watch and, should you decide to pair it with a Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from 1973, you can purchase a bottle for around $56,000.

If you're curious about a small alternative asset collection, fine wine has historically outperformed many traditional investments over long periods—though liquidity and storage (obviously) matter.