Inspired by actual events on Oct 24-25, 2021 and Oct 24-25, 79AD. Tormented wine critic DINO DIONYSIOU’S life, unlike a fine wine, is not getting better with age. Born to follow in his late father’s footsteps to make great wines, he’s stuck critiquing bad ones. Worse, he’s sure his editor, exotic Winemaster JULIA GRECO, doesn’t love him like he loves her. But she does. She dreams of their shared destiny making wine together. Neither one dares make the first move.
During a Napa wine tasting of Cult Wines from 2,000-year old grape DNA from Pompeii, Dino is confronted by his estranged jealous brother VICTOR DIONYSIOU who crashes the party. Secrets explode in the open about their father’s death and Château of the Gods, the family winery stolen by Victor who harbours the darkest of secrets.
The Oct 24, 2021 California earthquake hits. Dino is knocked unconscious. Teetering between life and death in an out-of-body experience, he goes back in time to Pompeii on Oct 24, 79AD as BACCHUS, Ancient Rome’s rock star God of Wine, Theatre & Ecstasy. As Bacchus, Dino’s darkness lifts. He finds life’s beauty, passion and humor in the art of wine. With Bacchus’ legendary Bacchantes – people of all genders, ages, nations & stations – and comic wingman Pan, Dino experiences a world where dreams triumph over disaster and love is the name of the game.
When Pompeii’s villain vintner VICTOR VETTII proclaims himself the new God of Wine, he lures Bacchus/Dino into Rome’s dangerous wine underworld. Worlds collide across time and Bacchus/Dino must right the wrongs before VULCAN, the God of Fire, erupts Mt. Vesuvius and destroys Pompeii, the grand cru of Bacchus’ existence. On the brink of extinction, Bacchus/Dino ingeniously rewrites his destiny back to life, love and joy. Dino awakens in Napa a changed man, newly empowered. He gets the girl, gets the winery, gets his revenge … his heart and life forever UNCORK’D!