Best commentary on global politics: the riveting documentary Mondovino, in the tradition of several recently published books that scrutinize civilization by looking at the history of such things as salt and Camembert cheese. The film begins with an investigation of the wine-making giant Mondavi, an amiable wine consultant and the tiny French village that thwarted their plans for a bold new venture in Burgundy. Jonathan Nossiter, a sommelier and filmmaker, then travels the globe, investigating the blend of tradition and innovation that create one of the world’s favourite beverages. Among other things, he finds that a few influential players in the wine industry have homogenized techniques and flavours to such a degree that many traditional wines may disappear forever.