Top 4 best lines about wine in cinema

Wine in Cinema: Classic French Comedy Quotes to Savor

1) "Un Singe en Hiver" (1962): “You have small wine and petty drunk, in the end, you don’t deserve to drink!”

We start with a quote from Henri Verneuil's film Un Singe en Hiver. This is a true ode to drunkenness and the sense of escape and freedom it provides to Albert Quentin (Jean Gabin) and Gabriel Fouquet (Jean-Paul Belmondo), who are far from having "small wine and petty drunk"!

2) "Les Visiteurs 2" (1998): “Oh, some goblets! Goblets of swill!”

With the famous "day-night" quote, "goblets of swill" is one of the iconic lines from Jean-Marie Poiré's wildly medieval trilogy. This cult line is spoken by Jacquouille (Christian Clavier) when he and his master, Count Godefroy de Montmirail (Jean Reno), make a dramatic entrance into a wine cellar and burst open the wine bottles one by one, drinking them in large gulps… hilarious!

3) "Le Grand Restaurant" (1966): “I prefer a semi-dry”

We never tire of the scene from Le Grand Restaurant, featuring the great Louis de Funès as Mr. Septime, a snobbish Parisian with ridiculous pretensions who asks for a "semi-dry" wine from the waiter, only to dismiss him moments later… A scene to be enjoyed without moderation!

4) "Le Dîner de Cons" (1998): “I put vinegar in my Château Lafite. It’s a trick to turn a great wine into plonk!”

We saved the best for last: this famous scene from Le Dîner de Cons, where Pierre Brochant, played by Thierry Lhermitte, fears a visit from a tax inspector and François Pignon (Jacques Villeret) and Juste Leblanc (Francis Huster) suggest serving “a cheap wine.” But Pierre Brochant only has a bottle of Château Lafite to offer…

And you, what is your favorite quote? Feel free to suggest other iconic French cinema scenes related to wine!

FAQ - Wine movie quotes

Which films make up the top 4 wine lines in cinema?

Our pick brings together Un Singe en Hiver (1962), Les Visiteurs 2 (1998), Le Grand Restaurant (1966) and Le Dîner de Cons (1998), four French comedies where wine appears in memorable scenes.

What is the famous wine line in Le Dîner de Cons?

Pierre Brochant, played by Thierry Lhermitte, is advised to pour vinegar into his Château Lafite to turn a great wine into plonk and fool a tax inspector visiting his home.

Who says the line about goblets of swill?

It is Jacquouille, played by Christian Clavier, in Les Visiteurs 2, as he bursts open the bottles of a wine cellar alongside Count Godefroy de Montmirail, played by Jean Reno.

What does Louis de Funès ask for in the wine scene of Le Grand Restaurant?

Playing Mr. Septime, Louis de Funès asks the waiter for a semi-dry wine, a snobbish order he mainly uses to send the waiter away moments later.

Where does the line you have small wine and petty drunk come from?

It comes from Henri Verneuil's Un Singe en Hiver (1962), starring Jean Gabin and Jean-Paul Belmondo, a true ode to drunkenness and the feeling of freedom it brings.