Yes, we all love French and Italian wines, but have you ever thought about the processes and politics behind the wine you drink? If you are at all interested in viniculture, wine marketing, ratings systems, or simply how wine circulates around the globe, I highly suggest the film, Mondovino.

Mondovino is a 2004 documentary on the impact of globalization on international wine markets. The title literally means “world of wine” in Italian, but is conveniently similar to the brand name Mondavi, a company the film critiques throughout. Mondovino was both written and directed by American filmmaker Jonathan Nossiter (who is also a trained sommelier). The film was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or and a César Award in 2004.

In addition to examining the effects of the rapid growth of large commercial wine brands on the global wine economy, Mondovino also explores the international influence of high-profile critics and consultants such as Robert Parker  (American) and Michel Rolland (French). Through conversations with small vineyard owners in France and Italy (who maintain a soulful connection to their land), the aforementioned critics and consultants (among others), wine industry middlemen in California and New York, and millionaire American winemakers in Napa, Nossiter’s film gets to the core of some of the major issues in today’s global wine industry.

Though the scenery and global scope of the film are impressive, the real richness of this documentary lies in the interviews with long-time wine-making families, such as the De Montilles, the Mondavis, the Antinori and the Frescobaldi. From the Bordelaise widow who admittedly pours the love she once had for her husband into the vines that produce her excellent wines to the elderly Provençal gentleman who refused to sell part of his vineyard to the Mondavis for a tidy sum, Nossiter introduces us to people who truly live for their wine. For them, it’s about something much deeper than sales or ratings. There is a centuries old sense of pride in European winemaking that, in the film, is contrasted sharply with the ratings and profit-driven wine market in the U.S.

A major theme in the film is that of “terroir.” “Terroir” loosely translates as “of the earth,” and, generally speaking, has to do with the minerals and natural properties in the soil that influence the taste of the grape. However, throughout the film, Nossiter shows us that “terroir” is a complex concept, that has as much to do with families, tradition and culture as it has to do with soil- all of these elements shape the wine that ends up in your glass.

Whether you’re an European traveler, oenophile, an international documentary lover, or a curious consumer, this film is sure to be quite thought provoking and may just change your wine purchasing habits for good.

Mondovino is available on Netflix and Amazon.com.