Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Documentary > TV Series > Wine > Dining > History > MondoVindo: The Series (2004, 2012/KimStim DVD Set)

MondoVindo: The Series (2004, 2012/KimStim DVD Set)


Picture: C Sound: C- Extras: D Episodes: C+



Wine, over the centuries has existed in many cultures, made from the Californian fields of Napa Valley to French fields of Florentine it has become global commodity. From from farmers to billionaires, there are schools of thought on how to make wine to how to enjoy and appreciate it's subtle flavors. Over the years it has become an art, a tourist attraction, a hobby for both poor and rich.


MondoVindo: The Series was shot over many years, many countries, many languages and many different wine makers by Jonathan Nossiter. It can be noted on how different it can be between the small traditional wine makers and the modern mega wine makers, in particular Mondavi wine. While traditionalist argue that large modern wine companies have turned wine into money making, modern wine makers say they have improved on it, but really it seemed more like French wine makers were just jealous of their American rivals. There is a great deal of difference between the rich and poor wine makers, the wealthy wine makers' farm/factory looks like museums filled with priceless art (even imported castles) with huge underground vaults with wines, and the more traditional wine makers their farm/factory look like ordinary farms. But in the end, the wine makers all seem like to be asking "How good was my wine?"


This was a look into modern wine making and wine cultures around the world. How traditional wine making has now evolve into mass production and into international wine companies. While wine is not food (arguably), it has certainly become a luxury item, a recreational beverage, a symbol of status/wealth, there are people who build their whole life and culture around wine. I cannot tell if $200 wine is really 10 times better than a $20 wine, nor I am a wine drinker or taster ...it's history, it's culture, it's people, how they value and they treat it ...has at least taught me to respect it. Some accuse the show of having an anti-USA wine bias, but the show is not for everyone in the first place, so you can judge for yourself by seeing it if really interested.


The 1.33 X 1 (in a 1.78 X 1 frame) can be rough going throughout along with the lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, but that sound is even poorer with location audio issues and the combination was very wearing. There are no extras.



- Ricky Chiang


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com