Wine Fundamentals DVD

Wine Fundamentals is supposed to be a DVD that gives you a full introduction to the world of wine. Unfortunately its low production values make it hard to use.

The speakers have the basics down, but just are not used to doing their instruction in front of a video audience. They spent a lot of time pointing off-screen, as if we can see what they're pointing at. There are fake trees and scenery in the background, very obviously looking like a high school set. The instructors randomly use hand gestures which are distracting and meaningless.

The script wasn't done very well for any level of audience. The French Paradox is covered, but in a manner so convoluted that even I (who knew what they were trying to say) was having trouble following their explanation.

The speaker tried to explain how red wine has antioxidants, and how men could drink more than women.

The "J curve" was drawn in the air with a finger, which wasn't exactly very clear.

In a classic example, viewers were told to "go for well known American wines" without any sort of guidance at all as to what they were. Should the viewer just go to their local liquor store and say "Gimme a well known American wine"? I know of *several* well known American wines that are not good wine nor a bargain. Then they tell you to go for unknown wines. The two recommendations seem to be rather opposite each other.

The DVD comes with a wine glossary that has "two screens" but only one of them is functional. When you go to each word, the DVD was poorly arranged so that the first part of each definition's script is cut off - you can only hear the second half of it. Then when you return to the main glossary menu (which you have to do to hear another word) you have to sit through Christina's introduction all over again.

Certainly, DVD instruction is a good idea for wine - you can watch and drink along, and learn something. This particular DVD is just not the DVD to do that with.

Wine DVD and Software Reviews