Napa Wine-Merlove (The Movie) Premieres in Napa

“Merlove is a documentary I wanted to make in response to the movie Sideways,” explains McClain. Filmed in the California and Bordeaux, Merlove interweaves documentary style filmmaking with animation. The animation subplot centers on a bottle of Merlot wine named “Merlove” which must find a way to fill itself with love when aimlessly tossed into the ocean of mediocre Merlot wine.

McClain has been filming winemakers in France and the Napa Valley beginning in December 2006. In Bordeaux he filmed Jean-Claude Berrouet (Winemaker, Chateau Petrus), Michel Rolland (international wine consultant), Alain Vauthier (Proprietor, Chateau Ausone), Olivier Berrouet (Enologist, Cheval Blanc), Jean-Luc Thunevin (Owner/Winemaker, Valandraud), Murielle Andraud (Owner, Valandraud), Michel Gracia (Owner/Winemaker, Gracia), Michel Puzio (Owner/Winemaker, Chateau Croix de Labrie), and others.

In America Merlove visited with Chris Phelps (Winemaker, Swanson Vineyards), Tom Rinaldi (Winemaker, Provenance Vineyards), Tom Mackey (Winemaker, St. Francis Winery), Larry Stone (General Manager, Rubicon Estate), Andy Beckstoffer (Owner, Beckstoffer Vineyards), Peter Mondavi Jr. (Owner, Charles Krug), Hamilton Nicholson (Winemaker, Kelham Vineyards), Ronald Nicholson (Winemaker, Kelham Vineyards), Kirk Venge (Winemaker, Venge Vineyards), and others.

“Miles got it right and wrong. In the 80’s and 90’s Merlot Mania caused many to jump into the wine business flooding the market with an ocean of mediocre Merlot. Sideways simply pulled the cork. The Sideways effect on Merlot exposed half truths and complex emotions of fear and desire surrounding wine. Merlove will give the people what they want, an insider’s knowledge of wine. We’re blending humor, fun and education with the finest Merlots in the world. Merlove dissolves insecurity about Merlot wine, but educating yourself is a personal journey and the only way to keep other varietals (e.g. Pinot, etc….) from the chopping block.”

An additional element of McClain’s program for building more enthusiasm for Merlot is a series of specialized Merlot tours: at www.merlove.com, there is more detail on Merlot-specific Napa Valley itineraries which McClain conducts. Soon to come will be a parallel effort for Bordeaux.

Rudy McClain grew up in the Napa Valley; his mother’s family has lived in Napa Valley for more than 100 years. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with degrees in Psychology and Black Studies, and has worked as a filmmaker and website designer in the Napa Valley since 2001. McClain served as The Noble Grand (president) of St. Helena Lodge 167 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (2006-2007), a fraternal organization designed to support the local community.