Under-Study provided bites accompanying Saturday's screening of "Ali Eats America" at the Cameo Cinema in downtown St. Helena.

A historic wine tasting, the unique flavors of Baja California, and a teenage cancer survivor's inspiring culinary odyssey were among the stories told during the Cameo Cinema's annual FORK2FILM Festival in St. Helena.

Over five days, festivalgoers were treated to 14 movies on themes of food, wine and agriculture, plus a program of short films. Highlights included the world premiere of "The Swirled Cup" -- about the 1976 tasting known as the Judgment of Paris -- and guest appearances by documentary filmmakers and their subjects.

The festival began March 18 with a screening of the 1988 Tom Cruise film "Cocktail" followed by a party at the Native Sons Hall featuring food by Jamerikan Jerk, music by the Irie Rockerz and cocktails by mixologist Jeremy Buck. It concluded Sunday night with a showing of the 1996 foodie classic "Big Night."

'The Swirled Cup'

Director and Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson's "The Swirled Cup" surveys the historical repercussions of the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, where Napa Valley wines from Chateau Montelena and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars outperformed the best of Burgundy and Bordeaux in blind tastings. The results leveled the playing field in the global wine industry and proved that terroir wasn't confined to France.

Andrea Robinson the Swirled

The wine world "really did explode in a generation," Robinson said during a post-screening panel with executive producer Noel Resnick and director of photography/editor Tim Clott, moderated by sommelier Amanda McCrossin.

In addition to the usual heroes of the story like the British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, the film honors lesser-known figures like Patricia Gallagher, who helped Spurrier organize the tasting and was the only American among the 11 judges. It also dispels some myths about the tasting, including the false notion that it was intended as a France-vs.-California competition.

"It was just a California tasting with French wines thrown in at the last minute as a reference point," Robinson said.

The tasting influence extended into the world of food, Robinson said. Newly trained chefs realized that instead of moving to established culinary capitals, they could go back home and start world-class restaurants in their own communities.

'Ali Eats America'

"Ali Eats America" is about 17-year-old Ali Allouche, who while fighting cancer decided to take a culinary road trip inspired by his hero Anthony Bourdain. After undergoing grueling chemotherapy and having part of his right shoulder removed, Allouche set out with his mom to dine at restaurants and meet chefs across the U.S.

Anthony Bourdain After

Nine years later, Allouche is cancer-free. After Saturday's screening, he and co-directors Greg Morris and Roush Niaghi took the Cameo stage to a standing ovation.

Allouche said losing his sense of taste during chemotherapy helped inspire the idea. After months of everything tasting like metal or steamed broccoli, he was eager to experience every flavor the world had to offer.

However, as he encountered people in the culinary world who were inspired by his story -- including José Andrés, Wolfgang Puck and Bourdain himself -- "it became more of a heart-to-heart people experience for me, more than the food itself," Allouche said.

During the FORK2FILM Festival, Allouche stayed the St. Helena home of Jim and Tracy Sweeney and made the most of his time in the Napa Valley, dining at Farmstead and Brasswood and enjoying local wine so much that he joked about filming a sequel called "Ali Drinks America."

'Surgencia'

Morris and Roush Niaghi

Director Alejandro Montalvo's "Surgencia" follows winemaker Hugo D'Acosta and chef Benito Molina on a road trip through Baja California, home to the acclaimed wines and restaurants of the Guadalupe Valley.

While the food, wine, climate and language are different, the Guadalupe Valley is grappling with some of the same concerns as the Napa Valley - protecting farmland from development, preserving a unique viticultural character, managing limited water resources, accommodating tourism without destroying the region's rural economy and lifestyle, and dealing with decreased demand among young people who avoid alcohol.

"In a way it's going to be fantastic for quality because whatever you grow is going to have to be so perfect," said Molina, who was on hand for Friday's screening. "So the wines are going to get better."

'A Sip of Irish'

Director Frank Mannion's "A Sip of Irish" explores the beer, wine and spirits produced in Ireland and around the world by the Irish diaspora.

Guadalupe Valley

Mannion interviewed representatives of Guinness and Hennessy, met the "Baileys Ladies" cows that produce milk for Baileys Irish Cream, and chatted with whiskey connoisseur Prince Albert II of Monaco, grandson of the Irish-American movie star Grace Kelly.

The movie also traces the history of the Irish "Wine Geese" who established wineries in Bordeaux such as Château Lynch-Bages and Château Phélan Ségur. An interview with Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena in Calistoga came together just as filming was wrapping up, Mannion said.

This was Mannion's second film to screen at the Cameo, after "Sparkling: The Story of Champagne."

"You are so lucky to have this amazing cinema with incredible programming and events," said Mannion.

followed by a party at the Native Sons Hall featuring food by Jamerikan Jerk, music by the Irie Rockerz and cocktails by mixologist Jeremy Buck. It concluded Sunday night with a showing of the 1996 foodie classic

Why this lands now

For diners, the question that matters is rarely whether somewhere is new, but whether it will still be worth the trip a year from now.

Key takeaways

  • Over five days, festivalgoers were treated to 14 movies on themes of food, wine and agriculture, plus a program of short films
  • In addition to the usual heroes of the story like the British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, the film honors lesser-known figures like Patricia Gallagher, who helped Spurrier organize the tasting and was the only American among the 11 judges
  • "It was just a California tasting with French wines thrown in at the last minute as a reference point," Robinson said
  • "Ali Eats America" is about 17-year-old Ali Allouche, who while fighting cancer decided to take a culinary road trip inspired by his hero Anthony Bourdain
  • "In a way it's going to be fantastic for quality because whatever you grow is going to have to be so perfect," said Molina, who was on hand for Friday's screening

The numbers worth knowing

  • Highlights included the world premiere of "The Swirled Cup" -- about the 1976 tasting known as the Judgment of Paris -- and guest appearances by documentary filmmakers and their subjects
  • It concluded Sunday night with a showing of the 1996 foodie classic "Big Night."

The bottom line

As always in the dining room, the gap between what gets announced and what actually reaches people is where the real story will be decided.