Gone with the Wine

Gone With the Wine is a comedial lifestyle series produced by Vertigo Production in 2006. Gone With The Wine is dedicated to all that is compelling in the world of wine. TV host, stand-up comedian and actor Jaakko Saariluoma visits some of the most famous wine regions and wine producers in France, Italy and Spain. The series is a kind of road movie whose story line centers on Jaakko, a man in his forties who has drunk only cheap wines and eaten mediocre food all his life. He goes on a long trip to southern Europe in search of great wines, good food and unforgettable experiences before it is too late. The language of the TV series is Finnish, English and Spanish.

In addition, there is a book Gone With The Wine based on this series and the DVD box set published in 2006. The book was elected the Travel book of the year 2007 by Mondo Magazine.

Episodes

Episode 1: Tuscany

In the first episode, Jaakko visits the super popular region of Tuscany in Italy, where he wants to find good Chianti red wine. Jaakko meets the daughters of the Antinori noble family, Albiera and Alessia, who guide the man into the secrets of good wine and food. Jaakko also decides to attend a cookery course.

Episode 2: Piedmont

Jaakko tries to find out why the aristocratic Piedmont has become the jet set joint of Italian wines. Did the international media raise the area into a legendary fame, or is it simply the case that the wines made in Piedmont are just so good? Jaakko meets a wine guru Angelo Gaja and Finnish Riikka Sukula who, together with her husband Jyrki Sukula, has acquired a winery in Piedmont. Jaakko also goes hunting for truffles.

Episode 3: Veneto

Jaakko visits the native region of the Soave white wine, Veneto in Northern Italy, situated in the middle of Lake Garda, Verona, Venice and the Alps. Jaakko wants to find out how wines that suit his pocket and are reasonably priced yet good quality are made. He meets two of the new generation wine makers, Alberto Zenato and Carlotta Pasqua and learns how to prepare a delicious asparagus risotto.

Episode 4: Champagne and Sparkling Wines

Jaakko visits the wine region of Champagne in Northern France. He wants to know what is so special about the bubbles of Champagne that only sparkling wine made there is allowed to be called champagne. Jaakko also samples sparkling wine in Spain and Italy.

Episode 5: Alsace

Jaakko visits Northern France and the idyllic wine region of Alsace, which is famous for its good white wines. He rents a bike and meanders in Alsace from one village to another and one winery to another, sampling excellent white wines.

Episode 6: Languedoc-Roussillon and Rhône

Jaakko visits Southern France and the wine region of Languedoc-Roussillon, which is the world’s largest wine region and where many innovative wine makers from all over the world have arrived, such as Jacques and Francois Lurton. From Languedoc, Jaakko travels to Rhône to find out how winegrowing is done on stony fields.

Episode 7: Barcelona and Catalania

Jaakko visits Barcelona in Spain, the destination of food and wine fanatics’ pilgrimages. Jaakko visits the Torres winery in the home region of Spain’s most famous wine, Sangre de Toro, in the wine region of Penedes.

Episode 8: Rioja and Basque country

Jaakko visits San Sebastian and Rioja in Northern Spain. Whereas the national sport of the rest of Spain is football, in San Sebastian it is cooking. Jaakko gets to know the tempting tapas bars of San Sebastian and the wines of Rioja.

Book

There is a book based on the series in Finnish, written by Master of Wine Tuomas Meriluoto, Jaakko Saariluoma and Mikko Takala. The book is published by Teos Publishing.