Oz Clarke and James May are a bit like Britain's odd couple. I don't know any of their back story, but I stumbled across a show (and, subsequently, a youtube series) which follows these two blokes as they travel California's wine country in search of a keener understanding of "New World" wine. Hilarity ensues in Oz and James' Big Wine Adventure.
Oz Clarke is a well-respected wine writer in Britain. James May is a mop-headed motorhead and host of several musle-car shows both here and across the pond. James is hell-bent on finding inexpensive, accessible, decent wine (which he claims is difficult to do in Britain - sound familiar?), and Oz is on an equally relentless quest to expose James to the nuances of winemaking, and instill in him an appreciation for the people, places, and time that combine to create great wine (which is often posh and expensive according to James).
The result is a hoot. The two Brits rent an RV, drink loads of wine (and document some of their more hammered moments), rub elbows with some of the greatest California winemakers, and cook up ridiculous challenges to test each others' wine acumen. Check it out:
Now, besides the pure entertainment this series provides, I believe it is also educational and there are more than a few parallels between (especially) James' pursuits and those of the casual Southern wine drinker. Apparently, there is an earlier series where the couple tackles France, and also a book further detailing their exploits. I will be perusing both. Enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment