Product Description

Wine is confusing…overwhelming even. So where do you start if you want to learn more about it? Join John Cleese on an entertaining and personal look at the world of winemaking and discover: how to find wines that taste good to you, how to make sure you get the best value and how to keep and serve wine at home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9642 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-08-09
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Content/Copy-Protected CD, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 92 minutes

Amazon.com
Monty Python alums have made good second careers hosting documentary programs, such as Terry Jones's Crusades. Now John Cleese turns his attention to the subject of wine in Wine for the Confused, originally broadcast as a special on Food Network.

Listen to our interview with John Cleese.

"Don't let anyone ever try to tell you what wine you like, because people have different tastes and we shall honor that," he heralds at the start. The point of the program is clear and simple: to help you find and describe wines you like; to show how to buy wines at a good value; and to provide tips on how to get the most enjoyment from the wines you do buy. With this attitude, his considerable charm, and his gentle wit, Cleese is the perfect host for this material, and right off the bat he strikes just the right tone--instructive, but light-hearted. The result is delightful.

First covered are the six major varieties of wine-producing grapes (first the whites, then the reds, just as at a tasting), the fermentation process, and tasting notes to help you learn what you like and how to describe it ("Quality should be judged by your own taste."). Next is "Buying Wine." Now that you know what you like, learn how to find it at a good value for the money. Finally there is "Storing and Serving Wine," with simple tips for savoring your purchase.

Novice wine lovers will find Wine for the Confused helpful and reassuring as well as inspirational; don't be surprised if you find yourself turning off the DVD and heading straight to the wine shop with newfound confidence... and that's just what Cleese would want for you. --Dan Vancini

Raise a Glass with John Cleese

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Customer Reviews

cleese rules
John Cleese gives a no-nonsense look at enjoying all kinds of wine. You don't have to get involved in all the potential descriptors and aspects of wine. Experimentation is the key, like most everything. Moderation is the mode of the day. You enjoy what you enjoy ... plain and simple. John shows you don't have to buy the expensive wines to find something that agrees with your palate.

paintlady
fun to watch--more fun than informative, although I did learn some things about wine culture.
One CAN have fun and learn at the same time.

Very enjoyable!
I really enjoyed this...John Cleese is warm and funny, but actually interested in this subject and conveys it well. This is NOT some sort of "sommelier course" in wine, it is directed toward those with basic knowledge who want to learn a little more. People expecting some sort of advanced info be warned. Cleese picks a few common types of wine and visits local (to him) California vineyards to learn about the production process, and a little more about each type of wine. Some basic info about serving wine, ordering wine in restaurants, etc., is included...along with John's mantra, "Drink what you like!"

It's altogether un-snobby and enjoyable. My only complaint is that it's too brief. I would like to see Cleese host some sort of ongoing wine series on the Food channel. I really love his style.

Regarding the preview of the movie at the beginning...I don't know what the other reviewer was referring to when mentioning a preview with "lots of nudity"...that certainly wasn't on the dvd I watched. What was there was a preview for a foreign film which had some sexual innuendo. Nothing too offensive, and certainly not worth giving this dvd a bad review!