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following my own confusion, and that of others on the discussion page, a clarification as to why the BBC says "5 episodes", but other places say "6".
 
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{{more citations needed|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| image = Ozjameswine1titlecard.jpg
| show_name = Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure
| runtime = 30 minutes
| image = [[Image:Ozjameswinetitlecard.jpg|250px]]
| picture_format = [[576i|720x576]], [[anamorphic]] 16:9
| presenter = [[Oz Clarke]]<br />[[James May]]
| country = United Kingdom
| runtime = 30 minutes
| language = English
| presenter = [[Oz Clarke]]<br />[[James May]]
| location = [[France]], [[California]]
| country = {{UK}}
| network = [[BBC Two]]
| network = [[BBC Two]]
| first_aired = [[2006]]
| first_aired = {{start date|2006|11|26|df=y}}
| last_aired = present
| last_aired = {{end date|2007|12|18|df=y}}
| num_series = 2
| num_episodes = 14 (at end of series two)
| producer = Nick Shearman<br />Simon Kerfoot
| num_episodes = 13
| producer = Nick Shearman<br />Simon Kerfoot
| related = ''[[Oz and James Drink to Britain]]''<br/>''[[Oz and Hugh Drink to Christmas]]''<br/>''[[Oz and Hugh Raise the Bar]]''
| website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/wineadventure_index.shtml
}}
}}
'''''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure''''' is a [[BBC]] television programme of which, thus far, there have been two series. It is presented by wine expert [[Oz Clarke]] and motoring journalist [[James May]] (of ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'' fame), the former taking it upon himself to educate the latter about [[wine]].


'''''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure''''' is a [[BBC]] television programme of which two series have been broadcast. It was presented by [[wine]] expert [[Oz Clarke]] and motoring journalist [[James May]] (at the time, a presenter of ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]''), with Clarke aiming to educate May (a committed [[Bitter (beer)|bitter]] drinker) about wine while undertaking a [[road trip]]. The first season focused on [[French wine|France]] and the second on [[California wine|California]]. The sequel series ''[[Oz and James Drink to Britain]]'', broadcast in 2009, made the change to a focus on the variety of beverages available in the United Kingdom.<ref>BBC Press Office (24 April 2008). [https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/04_april/24/oz_james.shtml BBC Two announces Oz and James's next adventure]</ref>
==First series==
The first series focuses on French wine and was first broadcast in the autumn of 2006. It is accompanied by a book. (See below.) For several weeks, Clarke and May travel around France's wine regions in an 1989 [[Jaguar XJS|Jaguar XJ-S]] [[convertible]] that has been modernized by [http://www.kwengineering.org/ Knowles-Wilkins Engineering]<ref>
{{cite news
| first = James
| last = May
| authorlink = James May
| author =
| coauthors =
| title = A postcard from France
| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/08/12/mrmay12.xml
| format =
| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]]
| publisher =
| id =
| pages =
| page =
| date = 2006-12-08
| accessdate = 2007-02-07
| language =
| quote = To that end, I bought a 17-year-old Jaguar XJ-S V12 convertible, partly in the hope that it would do the decent old-Jag thing and leave me stranded in Kent, where I could just have a nice pint instead. Sadly, no. It has so far brought us all the way to Bordeaux. This is in part the fault of Knowles-Wilkins Engineering, purveyor of subtly refettled XJ-S and Series III Jaguars, which worked continuously on the car from the day I bought it to the evening of the day before I left.
}}
</ref>


==Concept==
Although at times it gets quite technical, the programme is light in tone, much of its entertainment value deriving from the personality clashes between the refined gourmet Clarke and May, whom the former at one point describes as "an utter scruff". (This is ironic given that on ''Top Gear'' May positions himself as the gentleman of the three presenters.)
Although technical at times, the programme was light in tone, and much of its entertainment stems from the dynamic of personality clashes between the wine connoisseur, Clarke, and the more pragmatic May whom Clarke at one point described as "an utter scruff" (this was in contrast to May's position as "the [[gentleman]]" of the three presenters on ''Top Gear'').


May acts the part of a difficult student and often behaved rude and grumpily, more interested in drinking wine than in talking about it. When he determined that Clarke rambled on pompously, he blew on a whistle, which he called the "Ozillator." At the start of the series, May declared he likes to drink wine, but knows little about it. Clarke teaches him the basics about smells and texture and about grape varieties, showing him how wine is made, what wine goes with what food and exposed May to the culture surrounding wine. They visited various types of winemakers, from those who make wine in small sheds to prestigious producers. Clarke frequently quizzed May, and May gave Clarke challenges. Ultimately, May does pick up some knowledge.
May is a far from ideal student and often behaves rather rudely and grumpily, being more interested in drinking wine than in talking about it. When he thinks Oz starts rambling too much, May blows on a whistle, dubbed the "Ozillator" (a pun on [[oscillator]]).


==First series==
At the beginning of their journey, May is someone who likes to drink wine, but knows next to nothing about it. Clarke teaches him the basics about smells and texture and about grape varieties, shows him how wine is made, what wine goes with what food and also focuses on the culture surrounding wine. The two visit wine makers of all kinds, from ones in small sheds to prestigious operations like [[Champagne Krug]]. Clarke quizzes May a few times, often with embarrassing results, but ultimately May does pick up certain things and scores some particular victories, such as impressing a native wine producer with his own blend, and choosing the right wine to go with an otherwise low-class and typically British camping dinner.
The first series focused on [[French wine]] and was first broadcast in the autumn of 2006. Over several weeks, Clarke and May travelled around France's wine regions in a 1989 [[Jaguar XJS|Jaguar XJ-S]] [[convertible]] that had been modernized by Knowles-Wilkins Engineering.<ref>{{Cite news| first = James, ''The Daily Telegraph'' |last = May |title = A postcard from France|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/08/12/mrmay12.xml |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061101170917/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/08/12/mrmay12.xml |url-status = dead |archive-date = 1 November 2006 |date = 8 December 2006| accessdate = 7 February 2007<!-- |quote = To that end, I bought a 17-year-old Jaguar XJ-S V12 convertible, partly in the hope that it would do the decent old-Jag thing and leave me stranded in Kent, where I could just have a nice pint instead. Sadly, no. It has so far brought us all the way to Bordeaux. This is in part the fault of Knowles-Wilkins Engineering, purveyor of subtly refettled XJ-S and Series III Jaguars, which worked continuously on the car from the day I bought it to the evening of the day before I left. -->}}</ref>


Repeats on commercial digital channels have split the extended-length (54 minute) first episode into two parts (each focusing on one region) for ease of scheduling, making a six-episode series suitable for broadcast in a set half-hour time slot.
Original Air Dates:<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/wineadventure_about.shtml BBC - Food - TV and radio - Episode guide]</ref>
* [[November_2006#2006 November 22|22 Nov 2006]] - Episode 1 - [[Bordeaux]] and [[Languedoc-Roussillon]]
* [[November_2006#2006 November 29|29 Nov 2006]] - Episode 2 - [[Provence]]
* [[December_2006#2006 December 6 | 6 Dec 2006]] - Episode 3 - [[Rhône Valley]]
* [[December_2006#2006 December 13|13 Dec 2006]] - Episode 4 - [[Alsace]] and [[Burgundy]]
* [[December_2006#2006 December 20|20 Dec 2006]] - Episode 5 - [[Champagne (wine)|Champagne]]


In the United States, it was broadcast on [[BBC America]] as "James May's Road Trip" in 2011, running immediately after [[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]].
Repeats on commercial digital channels have split the extended-length Episode 1 (54 vs 22 minutes) into two parts for ease of scheduling, making a total of six episodes, all suitable for broadcast in a half-hour time slot.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Episode
! Subject
! Airdate<ref>BBC.co.uk [https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/wineadventure_about.shtml Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Episode guide]</ref>
|-
| 1 || [[Bordeaux wine|Bordeaux]]<!-- ([[May Eliane de Lencquesaing]] of [[Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande|Pichon Comtesse]], [[Château Smith Haut Lafitte|Smith Haut Lafitte]], Christian Seely of [[Château Pichon Longueville Baron|Pichon Baron]]) --> and [[Languedoc-Roussillon wine]]: basic [[winemaking]]. &nbsp; || 22 November 2006
|-
| 2 || [[South West France (wine region)|South West]] and [[Provence wine|Provence]]: [[wine and food matching]].<!-- (Tom Lubbe and Sam Harrop MW, of Domaine Matassa, Irene Tolleret of Mas d'Auzieres) --> &nbsp; || 29 November 2006 &nbsp;
|-
| 3 || The [[Rhône wine|Rhône Valley]], [[Châteauneuf-du-Pape]]: wine blending.<!-- Michel Chapoutier, the "cosmoculture" of Domaine Viret, Pierre Perrin [[Château de Beaucastel]] --> || 6 December 2006
|-
| 4 || [[Alsace wine|Alsace]] and [[Burgundy wine|Burgundy]]: ''[[terroir]]'', [[Cooper (profession)|barrel-making]].<!-- Catherine Faller of Domaine Weinbach, Tonnellerie François Frères, Thierry Beaumont -->|| 13 December 2006
|-
| 5 || [[Champagne wine region|Champagne]]. [[Champagne|Champagne production]]<!-- Rémy Krug of [[Champagne Krug]], Comte Audoin de Dampierre, Champagne Pierre Boever --> || 20 December 2006
|}


==Second series==
==Second series==
This time, Clarke and May travel through [[California]] sampling [[New World wine|new world wines]], going from [[Venice, Los Angeles, California|Venice Beach]] all the way north to the [[Napa Valley AVA|Napa Valley]]. The mode of transport this time was a [[Monaco Coach Corporation|Monaco]] [[recreational vehicle|motorhome]] and in some episodes, a [[Ford Mustang]].
Clarke and May travelled through [[California]] sampling [[California wine|local wines]] and meeting winemakers, travelling north from [[Venice, Los Angeles|Venice Beach]] to the [[Napa Valley AVA|Napa Valley]]. The chosen vehicle of this series was a [[Monaco Coach Corporation|Monaco]] [[recreational vehicle|motorhome]], and in some episodes, a [[Ford Mustang]] and a [[Mini]].


{| class="wikitable"
Highlights include Clarke tasting wines whilst swimming in a lake and whilst driving dodgem cars, May hitting various objects with the motorhome, and a recurring need for hangover cures. May's search for a good bottle of typically Californian wine available in the UK for under £10 ends with a bottle of Ravenswood Zinfandel in episode 5.
|-
! Episode
! Subject
! Airdate<ref>BBC.co.uk [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007tvz9/episodes/2007 Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure – Episodes in 2007]</ref>
|-
| 1 || [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara County]]: [[Pinot noir]].<!-- [[Jim Clendenen]] of [[Au Bon Climat]], [[Fess Parker]] --> || 16 October 2007
|-
| 2 || [[Paso Robles AVA]]: ''[[terroir]]''. <!--Stephan Asseo of [[L'Aventure]], Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery, John Alban of [[Alban Vineyards]], Justin Smith of Saxum Vineyards --> || 23 October 2007
|-
| 3 || [[Monterey AVA]]: [[Chardonnay]].<!-- and the world's largest vineyard, Delicato Vineyards, Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company, Gary Pisoni of Pisoni Vineyards & Winery.--> &nbsp; || 30 October 2007
|-
| 4 || [[Santa Cruz Mountains AVA]]: artisan wineries, corporate wineries. <!-- [[T. J. Rodgers]] of Clos de la Tech, [[Paul Draper (wine)|Paul Draper]] of [[Ridge Vineyards]], Randall Grahm of [[Bonny Doon Vineyard]], Fred Franzia of [[Bronco Wine Company|Bronco Wine Company's]] [[Charles Shaw wine|"Two Buck Chuck"]]. -->&nbsp; || 20 November 2007 &nbsp;
|-
| 5 || [[San Francisco Bay AVA]]: [[Zinfandel]].<!-- Kent Rosenblum of Rosenblum Cellars, Fred Cline of Cline Vineyards, Joel Peterson of Ravenswood Winery --> || 27 November 2007
|-
| 6 || [[Los Carneros AVA]]: [[sparkling wine]].<!-- Hugh Davies of [[Schramsberg Vineyards]], Dr. Su Hua Newton of [[Newton Vineyard]], Kent Rasmussen of Kent Rasmussen Winery, Eileen Crane of [[Domaine Carneros]]. --> || 4 December 2007
|-
| 7 || [[Sonoma Valley AVA]].<!-- Mike Benziger of Benziger Family Winery, Gina Gallo of [[E & J Gallo Winery]], Sean Thackrey --> || 11 December 2007
|-
| 8 || [[Napa Valley AVA]]: [[cult wine]]s.<!-- Darioush Khaledi of Darioush Winery, John Williams Frog's Leap Winery, Bill Harlan of [[Harlan Estate]] --> blends.&nbsp; || 18 December 2007
|}


==Third series==
Original Air Dates:<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007tvz9/episodes/2007 BBC - BBC One Programmes - Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure - Episodes in 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
{{Main|Oz and James Drink to Britain}}
* [[October_2007#2007 October 16|16 Oct 2007]] (20:00-20:30) [[BBC Two]] - Episode 1 - [[Santa Barbara County]] and [[pinot noir]].
The following series, retitled ''Oz and James Drink to Britain'', aired on BBC Two on 6 January 2009. This series featured the duo driving around the United Kingdom in a 1982 [[Rolls-Royce (car)|Rolls-Royce]] Corniche, in an effort to discover the wide variety of drinks on offer to Britons. For this series, they visited Camel Valley vineyard in Cornwall, but the beverages were no longer limited to wine, with the very first drink consumed a pint of [[Yorkshire]] [[Bitter (beer)|bitter]].
* [[October_2007#2007 October 23|23 Oct 2007]] (20:00-20:30) [[BBC Two]] - Episode 2 - [[Paso Robles]] and ''[[terroir]]''.
* [[October_2007#2007 October 30|30 Oct 2007]] (20:00-20:30) [[BBC Two]] - Episode 3 - [[Monterey County]], [[chardonnay]] and the world's largest vineyard owned by Delicato Family Vineyards.
* [[November_2007#2007 November 20|20 Nov 2007]] (20:00-20:30) [[BBC Two]] - Episode 4 - [[Santa Cruz County, California|Santa Cruz County]], artisan vs. corporate wineries ([[Bronco Wine Company|Bronco Wine Company's]] ''[[Charles Shaw wine|Two Buck Chuck]]'').
* [[November_2007#2007 November 27|27 Nov 2007]] (20:00-20:30) [[BBC Two]] - Episode 5 - [[San Francisco Bay Area]] and [[zinfandel]]
* [[December_2007#2007 December 4 | 4 Dec 2007]] (20:00-20:30) [[BBC Two]] - Episode 6 - [[Napa Valley AVA|Napa Valley]] and [[sparkling wine]].
* [[December_2007#2007 December 11|11 Dec 2007]] (20:00-20:30) [[BBC Two]] - Episode 7 - [[Sonoma Valley AVA|Sonoma Valley]]
* [[December_2007#2007 December 18|18 Dec 2007]] (20:00-20:30) [[BBC Two]] - Episode 8 - [[Napa Valley AVA|Napa Valley]] - [[cabernet sauvignon]], [[merlot]] and [[meritage]] blends.


== DVD release ==
==Tie-in products==
* The first and second series of ''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure'' are now available on DVD in the UK.


==Book==
=== DVDs===
* Clarke, Oz and James May. ''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure''. London: [[BBC Books|BBC]], 2006. ISBN 978-0563539001
* ''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Complete BBC Series One'' (2006)
* ''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Complete BBC Series Two – California'' (2007)
* ''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Complete BBC Series One & Two Box Set'' (2008)
* ''Oz and James Drink to Britain: Complete Series Three'' (2009)

These titles are all distributed by [[Acorn Media UK]].

===Books===
* ''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure'', Clarke, Oz; May, James (2006). London: [[BBC Books]]. {{ISBN|978-0-563-53900-1}}
* ''Oz and James Drink to Britain'', Clarke, Oz; May, James (2009). Pavilion Books. {{ISBN|978-1-86205-846-0}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references />

==External links==
* {{BBC programme}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/wineadventure_index.shtml ''Big Wine Adventure'' official site]
*{{IMDb title|id=0907614|title=Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure}}

{{James May}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Oz And James's Big Wine Adventure}}
[[Category:Works by James May|Big Wine Adventure]]
[[Category:2007 British television series endings]]
[[Category:2006 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:BBC television documentaries]]
[[Category:BBC television documentaries]]
[[Category:Wine-related media]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television series about wine]]

Latest revision as of 13:01, 25 April 2024

Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure
Presented byOz Clarke
James May
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes13
Production
ProducersNick Shearman
Simon Kerfoot
Production locationsFrance, California
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC Two
Release26 November 2006 (2006-11-26) –
18 December 2007 (2007-12-18)
Related
Oz and James Drink to Britain
Oz and Hugh Drink to Christmas
Oz and Hugh Raise the Bar

Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure is a BBC television programme of which two series have been broadcast. It was presented by wine expert Oz Clarke and motoring journalist James May (at the time, a presenter of Top Gear), with Clarke aiming to educate May (a committed bitter drinker) about wine while undertaking a road trip. The first season focused on France and the second on California. The sequel series Oz and James Drink to Britain, broadcast in 2009, made the change to a focus on the variety of beverages available in the United Kingdom.[1]

Concept

[edit]

Although technical at times, the programme was light in tone, and much of its entertainment stems from the dynamic of personality clashes between the wine connoisseur, Clarke, and the more pragmatic May whom Clarke at one point described as "an utter scruff" (this was in contrast to May's position as "the gentleman" of the three presenters on Top Gear).

May acts the part of a difficult student and often behaved rude and grumpily, more interested in drinking wine than in talking about it. When he determined that Clarke rambled on pompously, he blew on a whistle, which he called the "Ozillator." At the start of the series, May declared he likes to drink wine, but knows little about it. Clarke teaches him the basics about smells and texture and about grape varieties, showing him how wine is made, what wine goes with what food and exposed May to the culture surrounding wine. They visited various types of winemakers, from those who make wine in small sheds to prestigious producers. Clarke frequently quizzed May, and May gave Clarke challenges. Ultimately, May does pick up some knowledge.

First series

[edit]

The first series focused on French wine and was first broadcast in the autumn of 2006. Over several weeks, Clarke and May travelled around France's wine regions in a 1989 Jaguar XJ-S convertible that had been modernized by Knowles-Wilkins Engineering.[2]

Repeats on commercial digital channels have split the extended-length (54 minute) first episode into two parts (each focusing on one region) for ease of scheduling, making a six-episode series suitable for broadcast in a set half-hour time slot.

In the United States, it was broadcast on BBC America as "James May's Road Trip" in 2011, running immediately after Top Gear.

Episode Subject Airdate[3]
1 Bordeaux and Languedoc-Roussillon wine: basic winemaking.   22 November 2006
2 South West and Provence: wine and food matching.   29 November 2006  
3 The Rhône Valley, Châteauneuf-du-Pape: wine blending. 6 December 2006
4 Alsace and Burgundy: terroir, barrel-making. 13 December 2006
5 Champagne. Champagne production 20 December 2006

Second series

[edit]

Clarke and May travelled through California sampling local wines and meeting winemakers, travelling north from Venice Beach to the Napa Valley. The chosen vehicle of this series was a Monaco motorhome, and in some episodes, a Ford Mustang and a Mini.

Episode Subject Airdate[4]
1 Santa Barbara County: Pinot noir. 16 October 2007
2 Paso Robles AVA: terroir. 23 October 2007
3 Monterey AVA: Chardonnay.   30 October 2007
4 Santa Cruz Mountains AVA: artisan wineries, corporate wineries.   20 November 2007  
5 San Francisco Bay AVA: Zinfandel. 27 November 2007
6 Los Carneros AVA: sparkling wine. 4 December 2007
7 Sonoma Valley AVA. 11 December 2007
8 Napa Valley AVA: cult wines. blends.  18 December 2007

Third series

[edit]
Main article: Oz and James Drink to Britain

The following series, retitled Oz and James Drink to Britain, aired on BBC Two on 6 January 2009. This series featured the duo driving around the United Kingdom in a 1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche, in an effort to discover the wide variety of drinks on offer to Britons. For this series, they visited Camel Valley vineyard in Cornwall, but the beverages were no longer limited to wine, with the very first drink consumed a pint of Yorkshire bitter.

Tie-in products

[edit]

DVDs

[edit]
  • Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Complete BBC Series One (2006)
  • Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Complete BBC Series Two – California (2007)
  • Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Complete BBC Series One & Two Box Set (2008)
  • Oz and James Drink to Britain: Complete Series Three (2009)

These titles are all distributed by Acorn Media UK.

Books

[edit]
  • Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure, Clarke, Oz; May, James (2006). London: BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-53900-1
  • Oz and James Drink to Britain, Clarke, Oz; May, James (2009). Pavilion Books. ISBN 978-1-86205-846-0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ BBC Press Office (24 April 2008). BBC Two announces Oz and James's next adventure
  2. ^ May, James, The Daily Telegraph (8 December 2006). "A postcard from France". Archived from the original on 1 November 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2007.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ BBC.co.uk Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Episode guide
  4. ^ BBC.co.uk Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure – Episodes in 2007
[edit]
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