Wine, Jazz and Movies

Let's get together for a wine-inspired movie night and watch a true cult movie, accompanied by synced wine tasting!

Bottle Shock (2008) is an American comedy-drama film based on the Judgment of Paris events - a famous 1976 wine competition where California wines defeated top French counterparts in a blind tasting, putting Napa Valley on the global map.

Plot:
Sommelier and wine shop owner Steven Spurrier, a British expat living in Paris travels to the not-yet-famous Napa Valley in search of contestants for his Judgement of Paris blind tasting event.

Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO_5bk-eA78

How the synced tasting works
The wines are inspired by the Great Judgment of Paris events: expect to taste Napa Valley Chardonnay (Chateau Montelena), white Burgundy, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and more.

We'll taste five wines over the course of the movie, each poured to follow the story on screen: French against Californian, all the way to the finale. Please note: We'll do our best to pour this exact lineup; however, if a bottle isn't available, we'll substitute one of comparable quality, price, and style.
Food: We'll sell light snacks (nuts, chips, etc.) at the venue.

Wine 1: White Burgundy
We open in Paris with Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant struggling to keep his shop afloat.
Olivier Merlin, Mâcon La Roche Vineuse "Vieilles Vignes": "A rich, deep, balanced Chardonnay showing the power of old vines — buttered apple, fine minerality, and a creamy finish."

Wine 2: California Chardonnay
Spurrier lands in California and starts tasting his way through the valley.
Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay: "Fresh and preserved lemon, nectarine, and a spine of mineral acidity through the finish."

Wines 3 & 4: Left-Bank Bordeaux vs. Napa Cabernet
As the story builds - no spoilers for the first-timers here! - we'll pour a French and a Californian red.
Château Cantemerle (Haut-Médoc): "Cedar, tobacco, smoke, dark cherry, and espresso; elegant and fresh on the palate."
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon : "Boysenberry, plum, spiced cocoa, and vanilla over supple tannins and bright acidity."

Wine 5: Chateau Montelena
We reach the finale: the 1976 Judgment of Paris, where California's wines finally face off against France's. Our last pour is the wine at the center of the movie.
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay - most likely, 2020 vintage:
"Green apple, honeysuckle, orange blossom, and lime leaf, then starfruit, pineapple, and Asian pear over crisp, focused acidity."

Tickets
The cost of this event is $49/person, including all wine pairings.
Taxes and PayPal fees amount to $6.

Cancellation Policy/Refunds
Due to the nature of this Meetup (wines purchased in advance), we cannot refund tickets in case of cancellations. Your wine pairings will be donated to the crowd and they will bring out a toast to you instead.