Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure
Encyclopedia
Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure is a BBC
television programme of which two series have been broadcast. It is presented by wine
expert Oz Clarke
and motoring journalist James May
(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 UK
.
". (This is 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 behaves rude and grumpily, more interested in drinking wine than in talking about it. When he determines that Clarke rambles on pompously, he blows on a whistle, which he calls the "Ozillator." At the start of the series, May declares he likes to drink wine, but knows little 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 exposes May to the culture surrounding wine. They visit various types of winemakers, from those who make wine in small sheds to prestigious producers. Clarke frequently quizzes May, and May gives Clarke challenges. Ultimately May does pick up some knowledge.
convertible
that had been modernized by Knowles-Wilkins Engineering.
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.
sampling local wines
and meet winemakers, travelling north from Venice Beach to the Napa Valley
. The chosen vehicle of this series is a Monaco
motorhome
, and in some episodes, a Ford Mustang
.
in a 1982 Rolls-Royce
Corniche, in an effort to discover the wide variety of drinks on offer to Britons. For this series, the beverages are no longer limited to wine, with the very first drink consumed a pint of Yorkshire
bitter
.
These titles are all distributed by Acorn Media UK
.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television programme of which two series have been broadcast. It is presented by wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
expert Oz Clarke
Oz Clarke
Robert "Oz" Clarke is a British wine writer, television presenter and broadcaster.-Biography:Clarke’s parents were a chest physician and a nursing sister. He was brought up near Canterbury with a brother and a sister. Clarke became a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral and subsequently won a choral...
and motoring journalist James May
James May
James Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....
(of Top Gear), with Clarke aiming to educate May (a committed bitter
Bitter (beer)
Bitter is an English term for pale ale. Bitters vary in colour from gold to dark amber and in strength from 3% to 7% alcohol by volume.-Brief history:...
drinker) about wine while undertaking a road trip
Road trip
A road trip is any journey taken on roads, regardless of stops en route. Typically, road trips are long distances traveled by automobile.-Pre-automobile road trips:...
. The first season focused on France
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
and the second on California
California wine
California wine has a long and continuing history, and in the late twentieth century became recognized as producing some of the world's finest wine. While wine is made in all fifty U.S. states, up to 90% of American wine is produced in the state...
. The sequel series Oz and James Drink to Britain
Oz and James Drink to Britain
Oz and James Drink to Britain is a BBC television series in which wine writer Oz Clarke and motor journalist James May travel through Britain and Ireland to discover the array of available alcoholic drinks...
, broadcast in 2009, made the change to a focus on the variety of beverages available in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Concept
Although technical at times, the programme is 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 describes as "an utter scruffScruff
Scruff may refer to:* Mr. Scruff , British DJ and artist* Scruff , a loose, non-sensitive area of skin by which a mother can carry her young* Scruff Connors , Canadian radio broadcaster...
". (This is in contrast to May's position as "the gentleman
Gentleman
The term gentleman , in its original and strict signification, denoted a well-educated man of good family and distinction, analogous to the Latin generosus...
" of the three presenters on Top Gear.)
May acts the part of a difficult student and often behaves rude and grumpily, more interested in drinking wine than in talking about it. When he determines that Clarke rambles on pompously, he blows on a whistle, which he calls the "Ozillator." At the start of the series, May declares he likes to drink wine, but knows little 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 exposes May to the culture surrounding wine. They visit various types of winemakers, from those who make wine in small sheds to prestigious producers. Clarke frequently quizzes May, and May gives Clarke challenges. Ultimately May does pick up some knowledge.
First series
The first series focuses on French wine and was first broadcast in the autumn of 2006. Over several weeks, Clarke and May travel around France's wine regions in an 1989 Jaguar XJ-SJaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJ-S is a luxury grand tourer produced by the British manufacturer Jaguar from 1975 to 1996. The XJ-S replaced the E-Type in September 1975, and was based on the XJ saloon. It had been developed as the XK-F, though it was very different in character from its predecessor...
convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
that had been modernized by Knowles-Wilkins Engineering.
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it was broadcast on BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
as "James May's Road Trip" in 2011, running immediately after Top Gear.
| Episode | Subject | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bordeaux Bordeaux wine A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world... and Languedoc-Roussillon wine: basic winemaking Winemaking Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material... . |
22 November 2006 |
| 2 | South West South West France (wine region) South West France or in French Sud-Ouest, is a wine region in France covering several wine-producing areas situated respectively inland from, and south of, the wine region of Bordeaux... and Provence Provence wine Provence wine comes from the French wine-producing region of Provence in southeast France. The Romans called the area nostra provincia , giving the region its name... : wine and food matching Wine and food matching Wine and food matching is the process of pairing food dishes with wine to enhance the dining experience. In many cultures, wine has had a long history of being a staple at the dinner table and in some ways both the winemaking and culinary traditions of a region will have evolved together over the... . |
29 November 2006 |
| 3 | The Rhône Valley, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Châteauneuf-du-Pape Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-History:Châteauneuf-du-Pape is firmly entwined with papal history. In 1308, Pope Clement V, former Archbishop of Bordeaux, relocated the papacy to the city of Avignon... : wine blending. |
6 December 2006 |
| 4 | Alsace Alsace wine Alsace wine or Alsatian wine is produced in the Alsace region in France and is primarily white. These wines, which for historical reasons have a strong Germanic influence, are produced under three different Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées : Alsace AOC for white, rosé and red wines, Alsace Grand... and Burgundy Burgundy wine Burgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from... : terroir Terroir Terroir comes from the word terre "land". It was originally a French term in wine, coffee and tea used to denote the special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place bestowed upon particular varieties... , barrel-making Cooper (profession) Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads... . |
13 December 2006 |
| 5 | Champagne. Champagne production | 20 December 2006 |
Second series
Clarke and May travel through CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
sampling local wines
California wine
California wine has a long and continuing history, and in the late twentieth century became recognized as producing some of the world's finest wine. While wine is made in all fifty U.S. states, up to 90% of American wine is produced in the state...
and meet winemakers, travelling north from Venice Beach to the Napa Valley
Napa Valley AVA
Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States. Napa Valley is considered one of the top wine regions in the United States...
. The chosen vehicle of this series is a Monaco
Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation was an American corporation which primarily manufactured recreational vehicles and RV chassis. The company was headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, and maintained significant manufacturing operations in various locations in Indiana....
motorhome
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
, and in some episodes, a Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
.
| Episode | Subject | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara County, California Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:... : Pinot noir Pinot Noir Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes... . |
16 October 2007 |
| 2 | Paso Robles AVA Paso Robles AVA Paso Robles Wine Country is an American Viticultural Area located in the San Luis Obispo County, California. It has approximately 26,000 vineyard acres planted with wine grapes, and is well known for its hertiage varietal Zinfandel, Rhône-style wines, and "Crazy Blends," blends and styles that are... : terroir Terroir Terroir comes from the word terre "land". It was originally a French term in wine, coffee and tea used to denote the special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place bestowed upon particular varieties... . |
23 October 2007 |
| 3 | Monterey AVA Monterey AVA The Monterey AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in eastern Monterey County, California. It was established in 1984. It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA. It runs roughly from its northern point, north of Monterey Bay to its southern point, abutting Paso Robles, California... : Chardonnay Chardonnay Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand... . |
30 October 2007 |
| 4 | Santa Cruz Mountains AVA Santa Cruz Mountains AVA The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is an American Viticultural Area centered around the Santa Cruz Mountains. It includes three counties in California: Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo. Recognized as an AVA in 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation was among the first to be defined by its... : artisan wineries, corporate wineries. |
20 November 2007 |
| 5 | San Francisco Bay AVA San Francisco Bay AVA The San Francisco Bay AVA is a large American Viticultural Area centered around the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. The AVA includes the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Francisco and San Mateo as well as parts of Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. The AVA was... : Zinfandel Zinfandel Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century... . |
27 November 2007 |
| 6 | Napa Valley AVA Napa Valley AVA Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States. Napa Valley is considered one of the top wine regions in the United States... : sparkling wine Sparkling wine Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide... . |
4 December 2007 |
| 7 | Sonoma Valley AVA Sonoma Valley AVA The Sonoma Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area in Sonoma County, California, USA which centers on the Sonoma Valley in the southern portion of the county... . |
11 December 2007 |
| 8 | Napa Valley AVA Napa Valley AVA Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States. Napa Valley is considered one of the top wine regions in the United States... : cult wines. blends. |
18 December 2007 |
Third series
The following series, retitled Oz and James Drink to Britain, aired on BBC Two on 6 January 2009. This series features the duo driving around the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in a 1982 Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
Corniche, in an effort to discover the wide variety of drinks on offer to Britons. For this series, the beverages are no longer limited to wine, with the very first drink consumed a pint of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
bitter
Bitter (beer)
Bitter is an English term for pale ale. Bitters vary in colour from gold to dark amber and in strength from 3% to 7% alcohol by volume.-Brief history:...
.
DVDs
- 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
Acorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK is a DVD publisher which distributes and sells home video products with a particular focus on British television.- Company history :The company was founded in 1997 when Lesley Fromant set up a branch of parent company Acorn Media in the UK....
.
Books
- Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure, Clarke, Oz; May, James (2006). London: BBC BooksBBC BooksBBC Books is an imprint majority owned and managed by Random House. The minority shareholder is BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation...
. ISBN 9780563539001 - Oz and James Drink to Britain, Clarke, Oz; May, James (2009). Pavilion Books. ISBN 9781862058460