Film Review - Wine for the Confused

John Cleese is no wine expert, but he does enjoy consuming wine and, as he says in the beginning of the movie, he is a celebrity, which gives him some credibility.  In Wine for the Confused, the English actor goes through the basics of wine for anyone just starting out.  He provides vocabulary that can be used to discuss wine, explores the main varietals of whites and reds, and gives pointers for buying and serving wine.

This film is a documentary that takes place, predominantly, in California.  During the film, Cleese visits a few vineyards to better understand certain flavor profiles of different varietals.  He also goes to a restaurant, a store, a wine cellar, and his own blind tasting party.  Throughout the film, he teaches the viewer important things to know in order to tackle the somewhat overwhelming world of wine.  Having completed the first half of the semester of my class already, I found the film to be a bit too basic.  However, it did reiterate some key information I've learned thus far.

Perhaps the most important message of the film was to trust one’s own opinion above anything else.  Mr. Cleese explains that he might score the same wine that received 96 points from Wine Spectator only 37 points.  As long as he sticks to his guns, he will be fine; there is no need to be frightened by your own opinions.

In keeping with one’s own ideas, the film discusses blind tastings as well as ways to describe a wine effectively.  By putting language around wine, people can discuss flavor profiles and taste preferences with greater ease.  Common descriptors of wines that Cleese mentions include light-, heavy-, and medium-bodied, fruitiness, spice, dry vs. sweet, complex, chewy, chalky, and milky.  By having blind tastings where the responses are extremely varied, Cleese points out the same thing we learned in class: you are your own expert of what you like, so the most important opinion is your own.

Cleese explains different varietals that are pretty common in the United States.  He discusses three whites – Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay—and then three reds—Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.  He talks about how whites are generally lighter and fruitier than reds.  He mentions the true meaning of a dry wine (no residual sugar) and how acid can help balance the fruitiness of a wine.  For reds, he talks about tannins and the earthy tones often associated with them. 

As Cleese explains the different varietals, he visits a few vineyards to see how and where the wine is made.  One of the most interesting and important things he talks about in the winemaking process is the climate and terroir.  At one of the vineyards, the winemaker mentions that the big tree next to the grove affects the grapes, which, in turn, affect the wine made from those grapes. He even mentions how grapes from those vines taste different from ones a few miles away at their other site!  Clearly, the land is important.

Find a sommelier that you can trust!

One of the most interesting parts of the film, to me, was the discussion on buying wine.  Cleese attempts to get rid of the stereotype that good wine must be expensive.  In fact, there are some great inexpensive wines, but you have to look for them.  He also talks about how important it is to have a sommelier that you can trust.  As he says, if someone is trying to tell you what you’ll like without listening to you, then that person really should not be giving you advice.  Wine may seem overwhelming, but you should never let someone pressure you in to doing something you do not want to do.

Finally, Mr. Cleese talks about the appropriate ways to store and serve wine.  This section was peppered with bits of information.  For instance, red wine is commonly served at room temperature, but that dates back to the time before central heating, so room temperature is actually about sixty degrees Fahrenheit.  In addition, wine should be stored in a stable environment because high temperature differentials can have adverse effects on wine.

With a wide range of facts and fun, this film attempts to break down the barriers many still hold regarding wine.  It shows its viewers that wine is not an elitist beverage; anyone can drink wine, and anyone can talk about it.  Wine is accessible.

While this film is fun and informative, I would not recommend it to an experienced wine audience.  It is great for people just getting into wine because it breaks down the "snobby" and "intellectual" stereotypes many people hold for wine drinkers.  It also makes wine more accessible.  However, for people who are already immersed in the wine world, this documentary may feel trivial and repetitive.  It's not the kind of documentary one wants to watch again and again, but it does educate those who are, as the film's title implies, confused.

Drinking wine does not make one pretentious. Anyone
     can drink wine, and anyone can talk about wine.