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"Sideways" (2004)
Director: Alexander Payne. Cast: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen.
 There really is no rival for the title of Best Wine Movie Ever.
All of the other films on the list have interesting scenes about wine, but only in "This Earth Is Mine" does wine play such an important role. And of those two, this is simply the better movie.
"Sideways" gets everything right. Through the character of Jack (Church), a washed-up actor with an unquenchable libido, it teaches wine novices how to taste wine. The arrogant oenophile Miles (Giamatti) explains the elusive appeal of Pinot Noir.
Maya (Madsen), Miles' love interest, shows us why stuffy snobs like Miles don't really get it; that wine is meant to be shared with friends. And Stephanie (Sandra Oh), Jack's fling, shows us that you don't need to be wealthy to have a few good bottles lying around. She also shows us that it's not a good idea to lie to a lover.
The movie's characters are richly developed, and the depth of detail extends to the wines chosen. Miles hates Merlot and Cabernet Franc, yet his most precious wine is a blend of the two. But the script doesn't shove that point down our throats; it's there if you know it's there.
By the way, thanks a lot, Miles, you twit, for superheating the market for Pinot Noir. At least good Merlots are more available than ever. This is called the "Sideways effect" in the wine industry; the fact that there is such a term two years after the film's release shows how important this movie is.
Moreover, like a good Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, the movie's acidic dialogue and well-balanced characters mean it will still seem fresh 30 years from now.
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