Lisa Rowlands

Given the strength of association the two things now share, it is difficult to remember a time when the state of California and the production of fine wine, were not inextricably linked. Today, viticulture is such a key component of the landscape and an integral part of the state’s economy, that one imagines it has always been this way. However, large scale winemaking is a relatively new addition to the west coast and the road from simple subsistence agriculture to worldwide critical acclaim has been anything but straight. So how did the golden state transform itself into a new world wine superpower?

Rather surprisingly, given that it is one of the world’s most widely planted white grape varieties, Chasselas - known variously as Fendant, Gutedel and Perlan (amongst an unusually long list of pseudonyms which also includes Queen Victoria) - remains a mystery to most casual consumers and amateur wine critics. And whilst one might argue that a lack of prominence given such prevalence suggests that the grape has little to offer the wine world, an enthusiastic army of vignerons across Switzerland would very much beg to differ…

Film and wine have a long history of entanglement and inextricable links. From James Bond’s quip that he should’ve known something was wrong when undercover assassin Donald Grant ordered ‘red wine with fish’ in From Russia with Love, to Ross Jennings’ (Jeff Daniels) refusal to throw a bottle of Château Margaux at the advancing spider in Arachnophobia, wine has played a pivotal role in some truly iconic movie scenes. Here, I explore some of the best…