Due to unexpected roadwork near the original meeting point in Piazza dei Cavalleggeri, we kindly ask you to meet us at a new location: Via dei Renai, in front of Pizzeria I Tarocchi (https://maps.app.goo.gl/sScAhW7r5dkkNate7)
We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding!
Wine Tours in Tuscany - About Angie - +39 3333185705 - angie.chianti@gmail.com
Wine and cinema are both storytellers. A single glass or a single frame can capture centuries of tradition, fleeting emotions, or a sense of place. Whether it’s the golden hills of Tuscany or the rustic cellars of Provence, films about wine invite us to imagine — and often, to travel.
This guide takes you through some of the most iconic wine moments in film, including those centered on Italian wine regions and others where wine plays a meaningful, symbolic role. Whether you’re searching for romantic movies about wine, curious about the story of California wines beating French wines, or simply looking for the best wine movies on Netflix — this is your cinematic passport.
This movie, directed by Alexander Payne and Setting in Santa Ynez Valley, California is more than a road trip comedy — it’s a poignant, character-driven exploration of friendship, failure, and the redemptive power of wine. The story centers on Miles Raymond, a depressed English teacher and unpublished novelist, and his best friend Jack, a washed-up actor, who embark on a weeklong wine-tasting tour in California’s Santa Ynez Valley before Jack’s wedding.
What begins as a bachelor getaway slowly unravels into a deep, emotional examination of regret, hope, and self-worth — all against the backdrop of sunlit vineyards, rustic tasting rooms, and full-bodied reds.
Miles is a wine connoisseur, particularly obsessed with Pinot Noir. His relationship with this grape variety is emblematic of his character: Pinot is notoriously delicate and difficult to cultivate, needing “constant care and attention” — just like Miles, who struggles with insecurity, past failures, and fear of vulnerability.
Memorable Scene:
Miles’ monologue about Pinot Noir isn’t just about wine; it’s a confession of his emotional fragility. When Maya, a waitress and wine enthusiast, listens intently, the scene shifts from flirtation to revelation — it’s one of the film’s most iconic and touching moments.
Jack, on the other hand, prefers bold wines like Cabernet — confident, flashy, and easy to enjoy — a perfect match for his impulsive personality.
The film had a surprising influence on wine culture. Pinot Noir sales surged after its release, while Merlot — humorously ridiculed by Miles — saw a temporary decline. Why is a wine flight called a wine flight? The answer is beautifully illustrated in Sideways, where characters explore a variety of wines in small pours. A wine flight is essentially a tasting journey — and much like the characters themselves, each glass reveals complexity, contrast, and surprise.
Though set in California, the ambiance of Sideways — relaxed, sun-drenched, and tinged with personal discovery — appeals to travelers drawn to wine experiences worldwide. Italian regions like Tuscany and Piedmont offer similar terrain and a slower pace ideal for reflective wine journeys.
In fact, the film’s success inspired a trend of wine-themed road trips, where travelers explore lesser-known wine areas, meet local vintners, and immerse themselves in the culture of the grape — a core theme echoed in many tuscany wine tours today
This movie Directed by Audrey Wells is set in Cortona, Tuscany – Italy’s heartland of wine and renaissance charm, is a visually rich, emotionally tender film that follows Frances Mayes, a recently divorced American writer who impulsively buys a dilapidated villa in Tuscany. What begins as an escape quickly turns into a personal renaissance — a story of rebuilding not just a house, but a life.
Though wine isn’t the film’s explicit focus, it’s present in nearly every moment of Frances’ transformation. From countryside dinners and grape harvest festivals to quiet evenings on the terrace, wine becomes a symbol of community, culture, and emotional renewal.
Memorable Scene:
Frances participates in a local vendemmia — a grape harvest celebration where the wine flows freely, food is shared, and joy is abundant. This moment marks her emotional turning point, as she moves from outsider to integrated member of the local community.
Wine in this film isn’t about prestige — it’s about connection. A bottle on the table is never just about what’s in the glass, but who you share it with.
Tuscany has long been considered one of the definitive answers to the question: “What place is known as wine country?” With its gently rolling hills, medieval hill towns, and rows of Sangiovese vines stretching into golden light, Tuscany embodies everything that wine lovers romanticize. Films like this one have only deepened that global fascination.
Since the release of Under the Tuscan Sun, tourism to towns like Cortona, Siena, Florence has flourished, particularly among travelers seeking to reconnect with life’s simple pleasures. Many now visit to live their own version of the film: staying in a rustic villa,
The film paints an irresistible picture of Tuscany — not just for its aesthetics, but for its emotional promise: that a new beginning can happen at any stage of life, especially when paired with the comforts of good food, open landscapes, and generous glasses of wine.
Modern wine lovers visiting Tuscany can follow in Frances’ footsteps, staying in agriturismi (farm stays), enjoying long lunches under fig trees, or exploring Chianti vineyards, or joining a cooking class followed by a wine tasting at sunset.
Directed by Ridley Scott and set in Provence, France – with parallels that resonate strongly with Tuscany.
A Good Year is a romantic dramedy about reconnection — to one’s past, to the land, and to what truly matters. Max Skinner, a cold, successful banker in London, unexpectedly inherits his late uncle’s vineyard estate in Provence. Initially viewing it as just another asset to liquidate, Max slowly discovers the emotional and sensory richness of rural life, far from spreadsheets and boardrooms.
The film’s lush cinematography — golden light over stone terraces, glasses of red wine by open windows, and long lunches under fig trees — captures a mood of rediscovery. Wine is not just consumed here; it’s lived.
Memorable Scene:
Max tastes a forgotten vintage, “Le Coin Perdu,” and is transported back to boyhood memories with his uncle. This glass is more than flavor — it’s memory, mentorship, and the sound of laughter in late summer.
What movie takes place at a winery? Few films capture that setting as fully as A Good Year. The vineyard isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a central character, representing a slower, more honest life that Max must learn to embrace.
Though set in Provence, the spirit of the film speaks just as strongly to wine regions in Italy. The balance of beauty, rusticity, and emotional depth echoes what travelers find in Tuscany, Piedmont, or even Sicily.
For travelers longing for emotional reconnection, A Good Year offers a compelling case for stepping away from noise and speed. Italian destinations like Chianti, Montalcino, and the Langhe region in Piedmont mirror the film’s balance of elegance and earthiness.
Imagine long lunches in the shade of cypress trees, wine tastings with owners who know each vine by name, and the slow joy of watching sunsets over terraced hills. Like Max, you may find that what starts as a simple trip ends up reshaping your entire outlook.
Directed by Randall Miller and set in Napa Valley, California & Paris, France.
Bottle Shock is an uplifting, underdog story rooted in a real-life wine industry upheaval: the 1976 Judgment of Paris. This blind tasting, organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, saw little-known Californian wines outperform prestigious French labels — an event that redefined global wine credibility overnight.
The film centers on Jim Barrett, owner of Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley, and his son Bo. Facing financial struggles and skepticism from traditionalists, they bottle a Chardonnay that would soon change wine history. Parallel to this is Spurrier’s journey from snobbery to revelation as he organizes the fateful Paris competition.
Memorable Scene:
The moment when French judges, unaware of the origin, declare the California Chardonnay superior is both satisfying and symbolic. It’s not just a win — it’s a shift in power, proof that greatness isn’t exclusive to heritage.
What movie is about California wines beating French wines? Without doubt, Bottle Shock is the definitive dramatization of that moment. It brings to life the tension, humor, and pride that fueled Napa Valley’s rise from provincial to prestigious.
Beyond its wine history significance, the film resonated with audiences by celebrating authenticity, family conflict, and perseverance — themes that transcend borders. It also sparked renewed interest in New World wines, inspiring viewers to explore beyond Bordeaux and Burgundy.
For Italian wine lovers, the story mirrors the journey of regions like Bolgheri or Sicily, once underestimated and now celebrated. The message is universal: excellence in wine, like in life, comes from passion, not pedigree.
Though Napa is the central setting, the themes of Bottle Shock — pride in local identity, artisanal dedication, and wine as a unifying force — resonate globally. Wine travelers can find similar stories in places like:
Many wine tours now include storytelling elements inspired by this film — vineyard visits where guests hear how a local producer defied odds, restored a family label, or pioneered organic methods.
Directed by Prentice Penny and Set in Memphis, Tennessee & Paris, France
Uncorked is a modern, emotionally resonant story about passion, legacy, and breaking expectations. Elijah, a young man from Memphis, dreams of becoming a Master Sommelier — one of the most prestigious titles in the wine world. But his path is complicated by the weight of tradition: his father expects him to take over the family barbecue business.
What unfolds is a powerful dual journey. One path leads to Paris, wine theory, blind tasting, and pressure-filled exams. The other path forces Elijah to navigate identity, loyalty, and the hard truth that following a dream often means disappointing the people you love most.
Memorable Scene:
Elijah in Paris, silently sipping wine while reviewing maps of Burgundy and Bordeaux. His solitude, focus, and cultural dislocation reflect the complexity of chasing excellence.
What is the Netflix movie about wines? Uncorked answers that question with clarity and heart. It’s not just about the romance of wine; it’s about the reality — the grit behind the glamour, the studying behind the sipping.
Uncorked expands who belongs in wine — as professionals, as dreamers, as storytellers.
Beyond its emotional resonance, the film also demystifies wine education, offering viewers a taste of what it means to prepare for the Court of Master Sommeliers. It’s a reminder that wine isn’t just a lifestyle — it can be a lifelong craft.
The film balances two worlds: gritty, soulful Memphis and elegant, wine-soaked Paris. For viewers dreaming of immersive wine education, Paris becomes the symbolic destination — a place where the culture of wine is both historic and accessible.
For travelers, this inspires interest in taking a wine certification and wine tasting tours all over the world, experiences that go beyond sipping to explore terroir, varietals, and structure.
Directed by: Antonio Padovan and set in Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, Veneto – the heartland of Prosecco DOCG
Finché c’è prosecco c’è speranza (translated as As Long As There’s Prosecco, There’s Hope) is a uniquely Italian film that blends noir-style mystery with ecological and cultural commentary — all set against the rolling vineyards of the Veneto region.
The story follows Inspector Stucky, a half-Persian, half-Venetian detective investigating a string of suspicious deaths tied to Count Ancillotto, a recently deceased, eccentric wine producer. As the mystery unfolds, so does a deep exploration of tradition, terroir, and the battle between industrial greed and artisanal heritage.
This film uses Prosecco not just as a product, but as a cultural force. It’s both the motive and the metaphor behind the story: a sparkling symbol of joy, local pride, and fragile environmental balance.
Memorable Scene:
The camera glides over terraced vineyards in the golden light of sunset, while the Count’s voice narrates his manifesto — defending wine as the voice of the land, threatened by chemical abuse and profit-driven agriculture.
Throughout the film, wine is closely linked to legacy and the stewardship of the earth. Unlike films that romanticize wine, Finché c’è prosecco c’è speranza grounds it in local politics, ethics, and identity.
Set in Conegliano and Valdobbiadene — home to the prestigious Prosecco Superiore DOCG — the film showcases landscapes now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It subtly critiques the environmental cost of large-scale production while celebrating the slow, responsible practices of traditional winemakers.
For viewers looking for movies about wine inheritance, this film offers a literal and moral take on the concept: who inherits the land, and how they choose to use it, becomes the story’s central question.
The film has also inspired more international curiosity around Prosecco’s origins — leading to increased tourism, wine trekking routes, and agritourism experiences in the region.
This is the perfect film to watch before visiting Veneto’s wine country. Beyond sparkling wine tastings, the region offers:
You’ll also discover trattorie, medieval towns, and historic villas that echo the film’s atmosphere — authentic, passionate, and deeply rooted in place.
Directed by Viblu Studio and set in Tuscan countryside — between Siena and the Val d’Orcia
Love, Wine & Salt is a romantic indie film that captures the essence of Tuscany: its rolling hills, golden light, rich food traditions, and — of course — its iconic wines. Unlike more structured narratives, this film takes on a relaxed, almost poetic rhythm, following three friends who take a spontaneous vacation to rural Tuscany and find themselves entangled in an unexpected trio of love stories.
At the heart of the plot is a family-run bed & breakfast surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The guests — two men and a woman — fall in love with three Italian sisters who run the property, their winery, and a rustic farm kitchen. The relationships develop slowly, shaped by shared meals, harvest work, and local rituals.
The film makes subtle yet evocative use of wine as both a setting and emotional element. From vineyard walks to late-night toasts, wine is portrayed not just as a drink, but as the rhythm of rural life and intimacy.
Memorable Scene:
The couples share dinner in a candlelit courtyard, passing bottles of Sangiovese and Pecorino cheese. The mood is light but emotionally charged, with conversation flowing as freely as the wine.
Wine here is about sensuality, tradition, and trust — very much in the spirit of Under the Tuscan Sun, but from a group perspective. There’s a strong focus on terroir and the authenticity of handcrafted food and drink.
The addition of “salt” in the title isn’t just poetic. It refers to the essence of Tuscan cuisine — where saltless bread, salt-preserved meats, and hand-harvested sea salt from the coast remind us of life’s foundational elements. Just like wine, salt becomes a metaphor: simple, essential, deeply rooted in place.
The film’s sensual attention to food, kitchen scenes, and rustic dining makes it as much a culinary film as a romantic one.
Tuscany is the real star here — not just visually, but emotionally. Viewers inspired by Love, Wine & Salt can recreate the film’s atmosphere with:
This is a movie that doesn’t just make you want to drink wine — it makes you want to live differently: slower, deeper, and more connected.
A Perfect Pairing (2022)
In this Netflix romantic comedy, Lola, an ambitious LA-based wine executive, travels to Australia to secure a potential client. To prove her dedication, she volunteers to work on a sheep farm, where she meets Max, a rugged local with a secret. Their evolving relationship unfolds amidst picturesque vineyards, showcasing the transformative power of stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
Romance at the Vineyard (2023)
Allee is determined to save her family’s struggling vineyard. She partners with Ethan, unaware that he’s a sales rep sent to acquire the property. As they collaborate to create a new wine blend, their professional relationship blossoms into something more, highlighting the challenges and rewards of preserving family legacies.
Sweeter Than Wine (1988)
Christiane, a spoiled young Frenchwoman, inherits a chateau and extensive vineyards. After her grandfather’s death, she finds she must share her inheritance with an American guardian, leading to unexpected challenges and personal growth.
Love in the Vineyard (2016)
Molly, a real estate rising star, breaks up with her boyfriend Jackson due to trust issues. After moving to New Mexico for a promotion, a proposed business deal for a trendy winery brings her face-to-face with Jackson again, reigniting old feelings amidst vineyard settings.
With Wine and Lovers (2007)
This film interweaves three stories exploring different facets of relationships, pregnancy, and infidelity, all centered around the kitchen and the shared experience of food and wine. It’s a testament to how culinary spaces can be the heart of personal narratives.
Love Wine (2005)
Bridget Love inherits her family’s wine business after the untimely death of her aunt and uncle. As she navigates the challenges of running the winery, she uncovers family secrets and traditions, emphasizing the deep roots and histories often entwined with vineyards.
A Vineyard Christmas (2023)
Heather, host of ‘Read Between the Vines,’ aims to create the perfect Christmas episode by featuring a unique winery from her hometown. Her plans are complicated by Rudy, the attractive and stubborn owner of the winery, leading to festive romantic entanglements.
What are some good movies about wine on Netflix?
Netflix features a rotating selection of wine-themed content. Uncorked is a standout drama about pursuing wine education, while A Perfect Pairing offers a lighthearted rom-com set in the vineyards of Australia. Don’t miss Wine Country, a comedy about friendship and midlife rediscovery over wine in Napa.
Are there any romantic movies about wine?
Absolutely! A Good Year, Paris, Wine & Romance, and Romance at the Vineyard are perfect for those who love love — especially when it’s poured with a glass of red under the sunset.
Which films focus on vineyards and winemaking life?
Titles like Sweeter Than Wine, Love Wine, and With Wine and Lovers explore life on vineyards, touching on themes of inheritance, family bonds, and the balance between tradition and innovation.
Is there a movie about wine inheritance?
Yes — several. Drops of God turns wine inheritance into an international sommelier challenge, while Finché c’è prosecco c’è speranza ties it to cultural heritage and environmental activism in Italy’s Prosecco hills.
Which Netflix movie features California wine culture?
While not always available on Netflix, Bottle Shock is the definitive film about California wines challenging French supremacy. For lighter fare, Wine Country and A Vineyard Romance offer California settings with humor and heart.
What are the best wine movies on Netflix right now?
Currently, Uncorked, A Perfect Pairing, and Wine Country are among the most popular. They vary in genre but all center around wine as a catalyst for change, connection, or comedy.
What are the best films about wine in general?
Top recommendations include Sideways, Bottle Shock, Drops of God, A Good Year, and Under the Tuscan Sun. These movies span genres and regions, but all elevate wine into something personal and meaningful.
Are there any films about the actual winemaking process?
Yes — documentaries like Mondovino and Somm dive into the industry’s inner workings. Fictional takes like Finché c’è prosecco c’è speranza also highlight the human stories behind the bottle.
What is the new Netflix series about wine?
As of recent years, Drops of God (2023) has captivated wine lovers. Though not a Netflix original in all regions, it’s available on various platforms and tells the story of a legendary wine critic’s inheritance — one that sparks a cross-continental tasting competition. With its blend of emotional drama and sophisticated wine knowledge, it’s a must-watch for anyone intrigued by the art of tasting.
What place is known as wine country?
Globally, regions like Napa Valley in California, Bordeaux in France, and of course, Tuscany in Italy, are considered iconic “wine country.” These areas are revered not just for the quality of their wines, but for their scenic beauty, historic estates, and deep cultural ties to viticulture. Films like Under the Tuscan Sun, A Vineyard Christmas, and Love, Wine & Salt capture the essence of these destinations.
Conclusion
From picturesque vineyards in Tuscany to competitions in Paris and heartfelt journeys through Napa, cinema has a unique way of turning wine into something more than a drink — a story, a memory, a destination. These films inspire us to explore, taste, and connect.
Sometimes, all it takes is a film to spark the desire — and a glass of wine to turn it into a journey.
If Tuscany is calling you the way it called Frances, Max, or Camille, why not follow the scent of Sangiovese to the real heart of Italian wine country?
Join one of our curated wine tours in Tuscany — and let the story continue, this time with you in the scene.
