5 Documentaries About Wine

This weekend, we’re waiting out the surprise showers of springtime with some of our favorite indoor activities. Pop some popcorn or grab your other favorite snacks, pour a glass of wine, and immerse yourself in a documentary about delicious vino!

The documentaries are perfect for any wine lover who wants to increase their knowledge and be entertained at the same time. Enjoy a peek behind the curtain into a few areas of the wine world that deserve some attention. From the soil to your glass, so much art, science, history, and more goes into every wine you know and love. Below is a short list of some of our favorite wine documentaries—and a suggested wine pairing, of course. These are not only informational about wine and wine regions, but they are also incredibly entertaining, and we promise you will feel like more of a wine expert after you have watched them. 

Wine Documentaries to Add to Your Watchlist

MONDOVINO - This documentary follows well-known players in the wine world. You will hear about everything from winemaking to marketing and travel to five different continents as they uncover the complexities of the industry. Since the story of wine reaches all over the globe, this film includes a variety of languages, so be sure you are up for reading subtitles. Complete this watching experience with our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This series will take you on an emotional rollercoaster; you will want something steady, reliable, and delicious to come along for the ride.

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A YEAR IN BURGUNDY - The Burgundy region of France is known worldwide for making some of the most expensive wines in the world. In this film, you will follow importer Martine Saunier and seven families as they work through the 2011 vintage. After watching this, you’ll get an even greater sense of how winemaking is far more than what lands in your glass. You will also see precisely why Burgundian wines command their prices. It's not a Burgundy (in fact, it’s a Bordeaux varietal) but we still love the 2021 Jewel Petit Verdot for this viewing. 

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DECANTED -  "What does it take to make it in Napa Valley?" Nearly every wine lover knows Napa Valley for its reputation of making outstanding wines, and this film follows some of the most elite winemakers that represent the region, discussing what it takes to craft wines of distinction. Napa Valley may sit in the spotlight, but critically-acclaimed, high-quality wines are also made right here in the Livermore Valley. We are pairing this documentary with 2020 Cuvée Dray, our Bordeaux-inspired red blend that won Best of Class in the San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition. 

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IT STARTS WITH WINE - The team at Wine Enthusiast created this multi-part series. In season 1, you will visit Uruguay, Argentina, and a neighbor to the east, Bonterra Vineyards. What makes this series interesting is how much they also incorporate each region's unique food and culinary culture as a part of what makes their section of the wine world so unique. Here at Ruby Hill Winery, we value sustainability in all our vineyard practices. Our Peacock Patch Zinfandel is one representation of the way we celebrate the natural beauty of our vineyard and our intentions to preserve it. Sip on this one while you watch!

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Do you have a favorite wine-centric documentary film or series that you haven't seen listed here? Send us an email at info@rubyhillwinery.net or tag us on Instagram @rubyhillwines and let us know what we should add to our list!

 

2024 Case Sale Blitz

This Weekend Only - March 9th & 10th ​

Our 2024 Case Sale Blitz is almost here! In this blog, you’ll find the juicy details on wines that we will feature in this year’s sale. Additional wines may make a surprise appearance, available in very limited supply, so don't miss out! More information about the event can be found at the bottom of this post. 

2017 Petite Sirah - Reserve Collection, Ruby Hill Winery

This excellent Reserve Petite Sirah comes highly recommended, scoring 92 points by Wine Enthusiast. Jim Gordon, critic for Wine Enthusiast, summarized this bold beauty as such: “Big and opulent, this full-bodied wine is jam-packed with indulgent, ripe blackberry and blueberry flavors and braced with tons of fine-grained tannins for a mouthfilling and smooth texture.” You can expect tannin-endowed wines like these to only improve with age, so it’s the perfect time to open that 2017 and get lost in the luxury of each sip. 
Case Blitz Price: $150 | Member’s Price: $125

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon - Reserve Collection, Ruby Hill Winery

Also awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast, this wine continues our reputation for phenomenal Cabernet. Multi-layered flavors include the dark fruit notes you can expect, including blackberry, black plum, black cherry, and cassis. Astute wine lovers can also search the aroma and flavors for accents of star anise, earthy forest floor, meaty umami, cedar, and a touch of sweet tobacco. Unctuous and smooth, this wine is perfect with a wide range of foods, and can be enjoyed now or for many years to come. 
Case Blitz Price: $210 | Member’s Price: $185

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon - Riserva Collection, Rubino Estates Winery

This wine was awarded Double Gold in the 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and offers richly plush notes of black cherry, blackberry, and dark chocolate. The quintessential wine for a delicious steak dinner. We selected this vintage of Riserva Cabernet from the library and fell in love with the maturity and full-bodied nature of the tannin, with integrated roundness and just the right amount of ripeness. 
Case Blitz Price: $210 | Member’s Price: $185

2018 Trebbiano - Rubino Estates Winery

This light and crisp varietal is a traditional Italian white wine. It is exceptionally prevalent in the old world, but a rare find here in California. A graceful yet subtle profile features notes of tart apple, white peach, orange blossom, and stone. On the palate, it is dry and delicate with pleasant food-friendly acidity, smooth sippable mouthfeel, and mild minerality. Pair with raw oysters with lemon or vinegar, fine white fish in lemon and butter sauce, summery pasta dishes, or uramaki sushi.
Case Blitz Price: $100 | Member’s Price: $75

2019 Ferrario - Famiglia Collection, Rubino Estates Winery

Velvety and elegant, each sip dances with jammy fruit and playful baking spice, all on a rich backdrop of floral accents. This wine is a club-exclusive blend, named in honor of Ernest Ferrario. Ferrario was an Italian immigrant and the proprietor of the Estate Vineyard from 1921-1975. By the mid-twentieth century, the Ferrario family was well-known for their quality wines, especially their Zinfandel. This blend honors the Ferrarios by combining Barbera—an Italian varietal, and Zinfandel—Ferrario’s specialty. The 2019 vintage components are 43% Zinfandel, 29% Barbera, 14% Merlot, and 14% Petit Verdot. 
Case Blitz Price: $225 | Member’s Price: $200

Our Case Sale Blitz is our annual warehouse clear-out event, offering delicious wines at unbeatable prices so we can make room for the wines of the future! This event is hosted at Rubino Estates Winery in the covered production area around the back of the tasting room. All are welcome to attend this event at no cost, whether they are a first-time visitor or a long-time member of Ruby Hill or Rubino. No reservations are needed, just drop by, say hello, and try these featured wines! 

The Case Sale Blitz will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 9th and 10th only. Sales are valid only while supplies last, and all wines are in limited quantity!

Event Terms and Conditions: Wines are available for purchase in full cases only. All sales are final and wines must be picked up at time of sale. No online, shipping, or phone orders will be accepted. Limit of one case per varietal, per party. Cannot be combined with loyalty points, discounts, or other promotions.