Review: Mondovino

[pointedview]

I watched Mondovino last night, a documentary about the globalization of wine that contrasts small producers with large ones. I found it interesting, although perhaps a touch outdated in at least one respect: the movie gives a lot of coverage to mega-producer Mondavi, but Mondavi was acquired by Constellation in 2004. Since Mondovino was also

Comments

[tagplazen]

Holy crap, you just made me want to drink a whole lot of wine.

Which on the surface may not be that impressive, but the fact I would want to drink wine is surely a change.

I kept thinking about your post all day.

I read a while ago that wines from Portugal are great to try out because they're one of the few countries that hasn't plowed under their indeginous grapes to import strains from France. Have you heard about this?

[pointedview]

It would be tremendous fun to do a wine tasting with y'all. I mean, worst case scenario, even if you hate the wine, you get a little buzz. How bad can it be?

I had heard that Portugal retains a significant number of their indigenous varietals. I've only had Port, Madeira, and Vinho Verde, as far as I know (I love good Vinho Verde), but I think there are many more than that. I'm open to trying all of them, though!

[quandry]

The modern innovation cuts both ways, definitely. Sure, wine used to vary more by region, but there was also a lot more plonk out there. Things like temperature control during fermentation and modern hygeine practices have meant truly amazing steps in quality. Of course, some of this has happened at the expense of variation

[pointedview]

Look, I'm not asking for a lot: I only want to live somewhere that has all the advantages of France with none of the drawbacks, and simultaneously, somehow, has all the advantages of the US with none of the drawbacks. :) A gal can dream, right? :D

In all seriousness, AYYYY-men on the bit about "wine shouldn't be interchangeable with lemon juice!"

[quandry]

Can I be your neighbor? I can also promise that I'm going at eating leftovers you don't know what to do with.

[hokiegirl1]

Interesting - I had heard about this documentary, so it's good to read your opinion on it. I know that many people are saying that with the love of wine becoming popular that it is creating a lot of cheap wine where they are creating shortcuts with over harvesting, not letting the wines age well and then providing good marketing so that it is in wine magazines everywhere making people want to drink them. I have always to take Andrea Immer's course on wines, but sadly they are all in NYC. I need to look into signing up on her website though.

[pointedview]

Oooh, if you get to take Andrea's course, you've got to promise to write all about it!