Napa Valley Film Festival

SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE Premier at the 2015 Napa Valley Film Festival.

Jason Wise’s Widely Anticipated Follow-Up to His 2013 Hit Film SOMM Kicked-Off the Festival’s 5th Edition on November 11

NAPA, CA- The Napa Valley Film Festival. Samuel Goldwyn Films’ SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE held its world premiere as the Opening Night Film on November 11, 2015. SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE is writer/director Jason Wise’s highly anticipated follow-up to his 2013 acclaimed film SOMM, which provided viewers with an illuminating look into the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers and the massively intimidating Master Sommelier Exam. SOMM also world premiered as the Opening Night Film at the Napa Valley Film Festival, at the festival’s second edition in 2012.

Through the eyes of the world’s greatest somms and winemakers, SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE raises the curtain on the seldom-seen world that surrounds the wine we drink by allowing viewers intimate access to the most accomplished sommeliers in the world, as well as to some of the most prestigious winemakers working today. By opening some of the world’s most rare bottles of wine, the viewer will understand how a wine ages, what happens in a cellar and exactly what oak in wine means. The film takes a look at how history has impacted wine, from the Romans, to Prohibition, to the World Wars and even current events such as the Napa Earthquake.

“We were honored in 2012 to host the world premiere of SOMM, so it makes it doubly sweet to be hosting the world premiere of the sequel, SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE,” said NVFF Executive & Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “If you know and love wine, you know that when you plant a new vineyard, it takes five years until the grapes are good enough to go 'into the bottle,' so we're thrilled to open our fifth annual Napa Valley Film Festival with such a prestigious film.”

Filmmaker Jason Wise, a 2015 Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker, added: “The Napa Valley Film Festival provided an excellent launching pad for SOMM, and I’m very excited to be returning to where it all started with SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE. I could not imagine premiering the film anywhere else, and I am proud to share it with the Napa community.”

The Napa Valley Film Festival’s Opening Night, Wednesday, November 11, featured a pair of screenings of SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE. The premiere itself screened at 5:00 p.m. at the Uptown Theater (1350 3rd St.) in downtown Napa, a historic art deco movie palace serving as the headquarter theater for the festival. Filmmaker Jason Wise was in attendance, as were renowned sommeliers: Brian McClintic, Ian Cauble, Fred Dame, DLynn Proctor and Geoff Kruth, who are featured in the film and were also featured in SOMM. Admission will be granted to members of NVFF’s Patron Circle (memberships available) and other invited VIP guests. 

A Forgotten Man Films production, SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE is directed by Jason Wise, written by Jason Wise and Christina Wise and produced by Jason Wise, Christina Wise and Jackson Myers. Executive produced by Diane Carpenter and William Fowler. Co-produced by Geoff Kruth. Original SOMM cast members: Brian McClintic, DLynn Proctor, Dustin Wilson, Ian Cauble, Fred Dame, Geoff Kruth, Rajat Parr, Sabato Sagaria, plus sommeliers: Aldo Sohm, Paul Grieco, Madeline Puckette and famed winemakers: Jean Louis Chave, Peter Gago, Steve Matthiasson, Carole Meredith, Frédéric Panaïotis, Jean Trimbach, Silvia Altare and Aubert de Villaine share their insight and intimate knowledge of the industry in this captivating behind-the-scenes look at one of the most elusive businesses in the world.

Goldwyn plans an early 2016 release for the film. For more information, please visit: 

https://www.facebook.com/sommdocfilm

ABOUT THE NAPA VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL: The Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Napa, California. The mission of the Napa Valley Film Festival is to celebrate the cinematic arts and enrich the community by presenting an annual world-class festival and year-round education and outreach programs. The ultimate celebration of film, food and wine, NVFF lights up the picturesque towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga at the most colorful time of year. NVFF features over 100 new independent films and red carpet sneak previews screening in14 beautiful venues throughout the four walkable villages, as 400 visiting filmmakers interact with audiences at screenings and intimate events. Attendees enjoy film panels & culinary demonstrations, wine tasting pavilions, the spectacular Festival Gala, Celebrity Tributes, Awards Ceremony, an array of parties, VIP receptions, winemaker dinners and more. Visit www.nvff.orgfor more information or call 707.226.7500.

ABOUT SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS: Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company that develops, produces and distributes innovative feature films and documentaries. The company is dedicated to working with both world-renowned and emerging writers/filmmakers and committed to filmed entertainment that offers original voices in uniquely told stories. This is best exemplified by the Academy Award® nominated THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and SUPER SIZE ME, AMAZING GRACE and Julie Delpy's hit comedy 2 DAYS IN PARIS. Past Goldwyn titles include: HARRY BROWN starring Michael Caine, the box office smash FIREPROOF and the 2010 independent hit MAO'S LAST DANCER. Samuel Goldwyn Films also released THE WHISTLEBLOWER, a powerful, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller starring Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz, and the 2012 critics' darling ROBOT & FRANK, starring Academy Award® nominee Frank Langella and Academy Award® winner Susan Sarandon. Additional Samuel Goldwyn Films releases include: DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL; Gilles Bourdos' RENOIR, the lush film about the famous painter's later years and France's official submission for the 2014 Academy Awards®; Jason Wise’s cult-hit film SOMM; 2015 Academy Foreign Language Film Award® nominee TANGERINES; the Israeli dark comedy THE FAREWELL PARTY; Sacha Jenkins’ FRESH DRESSED; the Sundance cult-hit LILA AND EVE starring Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez; and Damon Gameau’s eye-opening THAT SUGAR FILM which takes on the sugar industry. Upcoming Samuel Goldwyn Films releases include: Morgan Matthews compelling drama A BRILLIANT YOUNG MIND; Rock Baijnauth’s surreal look at the world of coffee competitions BARISTA; Chris Bell’s expose PRESCRIPTION THUGS; Andrew Renzi’s Tribeca Film Festival favorite THE BENEFACTOR starring Richard Gere; and the widely anticipated Jason Wise follow-up SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE.

-Official Press Release-