Exciting reports and documentaries, wonderful films and series about wine: culture and food journalist Susanne Reininger knows what wine fans must have seen in the media libraries. Here are her tips.
Documentary, arte-Mediathek, 28 min., until 25.11.2027
In the stairwell, in bed, in the bathtub ("Panic Room"): Wine is uncorked everywhere in the film. However, this is just one chapter of the arte documentary, which brings together cinema scenes all about wine, from Hollywood blockbusters to French noir films: Starring in leading and supporting roles are suspicious winemakers ("You will be my son"), grumpy wine merchants ("Wine tasting for beginners"), highly talented sommeliers ("Uncorked") and thirsty lovers ("Ghostbusters II"). Superstars from Anthony Quinn to Jodie Foster and Daniel Craig included.
The cinematic wine tour takes you through around 70 years of cinema and ends with a top 5 ranking of the best scenes. Among them is my favourite: the legendary blind tasting in the comedy "Brust oder Keule" with Louis de Funès.
"Wine in film" is quirky and original. The thematic categorisation and concise synopses of the respective films, which incidentally can be heard in the original language, offer (not only) wine lovers a delicious viewing pleasure. The documentary is also an excellent source of a little know-it-all advice for the next tasting.
Netflix (co-production with RTS), eight-part series with 45-minute episodes
The "Domaine du Mont d'Or" is the oldest winery in Valais and is considered the pioneer of Sylvaner in Switzerland. Now the renowned winery can be seen with many vintages from its treasure trove in the Netflix series "Winter Palace". The series is based on true events, is set in the Swiss Alps in 1899 and shows the emergence of winter tourism and the luxury hotel industry. It follows the ambitious hotelier André Morel (Cyril Metzger), who dreams of opening a five-star hotel that remains open throughout the winter season.
However, the wines of the Swiss domaine are not just an accessory for the film, but are Spiegel of the tastes and habits of the time. And they symbolise the special atmosphere of this key period in the history of the Swiss hotel industry.
For Swiss audiences, the series sometimes seems strange, almost un-Swiss in certain aspects, criticised an editor at Swiss television. This can be seen, for example, in a sequence in which fondue is served. Let's take a look for ourselves at this opulent historical drama, which impresses with its magnificent costumes, grandiose backdrops and excellent wines.
Report, ZDF media centre, 4:42 min.
The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the resulting labour shortage is not only having a massive impact on agriculture. The war also has serious consequences for vineyards and winegrowers. ZDF correspondent Alicia Jung portrays the story of the traditional family winery "Villa Tinta" in Odessa. The region around the famous harbour city on the Black Sea is the largest wine-growing area in Ukraine, covering over 50 percent of the country's vineyards.
Valery Tintulov, owner of the winery, is considered one of the country's most renowned winemakers. He describes how he and his brother are coping with the grape harvest during the war - and making plans for the future. The winemaker is planning to import his flagship wine "Odessa Black" to Germany. This is pioneering work, as production in Ukraine is mainly for the domestic market.
The short, unagitated reportage and the close-ups in the vineyard give me as a viewer the feeling of being there - especially at the moment when a bomber flies over the vineyard. My recommendation: definitely watch it!