Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure: Difference between revisions
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'''''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure''''' is a television series broadcast by the [[BBC]] in the autumn of 2006. It is accompanied by a book. (See below.) |
'''''Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure''''' is a television series broadcast by the [[BBC]] in the autumn of 2006. It is accompanied by a book. (See below.) |
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The programme is presented by wine expert [[Oz Clarke]] and motoring journalist [[James May]] (of ''[[Top Gear]]'' fame), the former taking it upon himself to educate the latter about [[wine]], in particularly French wine. For several weeks, they travel around France's wine regions in an 1989 [[Jaguar XJS]] [[convertible]] that has been modernized by [http://www.kwengineering.org/ Knowles-Wilkins Engineering]<ref> |
The programme is presented by wine expert [[Oz Clarke]] and motoring journalist [[James May]] (of ''[[Top Gear]]'' fame), the former taking it upon himself to educate the latter about [[wine]], in particularly French wine. For several weeks, they 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> |
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Revision as of 11:13, 7 February 2007
Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure is a television series broadcast by the BBC in the autumn of 2006. It is accompanied by a book. (See below.)
The programme is presented by wine expert Oz Clarke and motoring journalist James May (of Top Gear fame), the former taking it upon himself to educate the latter about wine, in particularly French wine. For several weeks, they travel around France's wine regions in an 1989 Jaguar XJ-S convertible that has been modernized by Knowles-Wilkins Engineering[1]
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 has a habit of positioning himself as the gentleman and intellectual of the three presenters.)
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. (Some of this is probably staged or exaggerated to make good television.) For instance, when he thinks Oz starts rambling too much, May blows on a whistle, dubbed the "Ozillator" (a pun on oscillator).
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 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.
References
- ^
May, James (2006-12-08). "A postcard from France". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
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.
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Book
- Clarke, Oz and James May. Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure. London: BBC, 2006. ISBN 978-0563539001