Who cares what De Sica said?

Or better, what a character he was playing said with disgust about a wine from Abruzzo that tasted “like crap”.  Abruzzo produces some wonderful wines and an unfortunate quip will certainly not make us change our minds.

The world of Abruzzo wine, and beyond, is in a huff over an unfortunate remark that actor Christian De Sica, or better yet what the writers of the film Natale a tutti costi (Christmas at all costs) had him recite, about wine from that region. It was highlighted in the trailer for the film, which comes out on Netflix in time for Christmas, and I doubt they will have time to cut it out before the film is broadcast.

The scene in question has the character’s son give him a bottle of Abruzzo wine, explaining how it was deemed the best wine of that region. He tastes it and remarks that it “tastes like crap” or something more vulgar to that effect. It is clear that it is the character, and not De Sica himself, who makes the remark otherwise, for example, they would have to arrest Clint Eastwood for murder. Nevertheless, it is understandable why many people from Abruzzo are upset and with more than good reason. This especially considering how Abruzzo was selected by the American magazine Wine Enthusiast as this year’s Winemaking Region of the Year. We at DoctorWine have given excellent ratings to many Abruzzese wines and so we, too, as critics are somehow implicated in the evaluation of the wine and the unfortunate remark made in that film.

Personally, I could care less what the character of a Christmas exploitation film, interpreted by De Sica, could say about the quality of any wine. It was pointed out to me at a conference that films can have a great impact on public opinion, however, in my humble opinion, one must take into consideration just how much real influence and importance such a quip, unfortunate and vulgar as it may be, can have in changing one’s opinion of a wine.

This being the case, I do not think there is anyone who will take this particular quip seriously, who will change their view on the wines from Abruzzo or on anything else. We are dealing with a farce and nothing else and people are more intelligent than one may think. If anything, who comes out looking like an a-hole is Christian De Sica who, just to get a laugh (even if it was anything but funny) should have thought twice before saying something as stupid as that. So don’t worry, my Abruzzese friends, there’s nothing to get hung about. Your region has been making great wines for decades and nothing someone like Christian De Sica can say can change that.