"A Year in Burgundy"
Film Premiere
By
FBWorld Team
The
amazing film premiere "A Year in Burgundy"
at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival offered attendees
an amazing introduction to the world of wine making; a journey
through the winemaking traditions and methods of vintners in Burgundy,
France today. Film viewers experienced four season-sections of
a year in Burgundy with spring showers, drought, heat waves, hail
and storms, harvest moons and damp cold winter changes, demonstrating
that each vintage is a time capsule, a bottled piece of history
of a very specific year, with its particular weather patterns,
crises and triumphs. Since Roman times Burgundy has been considered
a highly valuable agricultural land where tiny vineyards no bigger
than most people's backyards produce the finest of Burgundy wine
that may sell for thousands of dollars per bottle.
|
click
on image to enlarge & get caption |
WA
superb and versatile collection of multigenerational wine-makers
are at the center of this film journey through Burgundy, sharing
the joy, fear, anxiety, triumph and laughter of their wine producing
experiences. Film introductions include visits with Domaine Leroy,
Domaine Perrot-Minot, Domaine Morey-Coffinet, Domaine Bruno Clavlier,
Domaine Mortet, Domaine Michel Gay & Fils, and Dominique Cornin.
At
Morey-Coffinets, we meet Michael Morey and Fabiene Coffinet. They
have uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents all in the wine
business, including three generations of wine-makers, and little
two-year-old Celeste, the first of the fourth generation. They
are farming 7-hectares of vines given to them as a wedding present.
Their cellars date back to the 16th century.
The
icon of Burgundy wine making, now in her 80s, Lalou Bize-Leroy
of Domaine Leroy, is known as the uncrowned Queen of Burgundy,
whose wine is described as magnificent and profound. "Vines
are not well understood. You have to put yourself in their place...You
have to be part of the life of the wine, and the life of the soil
too. That's all you've got to do," says Lalou Bize-Leroy.
Christophe
Perrot-Minot has guided his family's Domaine Perrot-Minot into
the twentieth century using state-of-the-art technology including
his own "filter-by-gravity" system and is considered
a rising star in the renowned wine producing region. He uses no
chemical fertilizers on his 45 year old vines. He picks and sorts
his grapes by hand.
Bruno
Clavelier, DomaineBruno Clavelier, is a trained oenologue and
amateur geologist as well as a former professional rugby player.
His wines reflect his interest in insuring that each wine displays
its own individual characteristics in an honest and grounded way.
Domaine
Mortet began in 1956 with a single hectare of vines, and it is
a family business. DenisMortet and his wife Laurence, along with
his father Charles fell "The profession of winegrower involves
lots of thoroughness but also lots of imaginations! Wine is what
dreams are made of. The end result should be allowed to express
all of its senses," said Denis Mortet. Arnaud, Denis and
Laurence's son took the helm after his father's death in 2005,
and carries with him his forefathers' approach to farming and
respect of the vines.
Domaine
Michel Gay & Fils is a fourth and fifth generation operation
started in 1992 with 6.5 hectares. It is an organic vineyard,
and the family believes great wines are made in the vineyard as
opposed to the winery. By respecting the vines Michel Gay and
son Sebastian know the next generation is poised to carry the
torch for producing wine that is intimate, alluring and passionate-but
not aggressive.
Dominique
Cornin is still harvesting fruit from the vines planted by his
grandfather back in 1938; officially certified as organic in 2009.
Dominique is committed to biodynamic practices, which for him
means allowing the lands to express their own voice. "Our
wines are like you, like me-sometimes reserved or shy, sometimes
flirtatious, high-spirited or laughing. Over vintages and time,
they unveil their multiple facets. Love them simply for who they
are and they will give back tenfold," says Cornin.
The
film includes the revered talent of 30 year veteran producer,
writer, director David Kennard, who has produced
fifteen major documentary series, and has received awards from
National Emmy, International Emmy, Dupont Columbia, American Historical
Association, National Education Film Festival, International Science
Film Festival, Houston Worldfest, Alexander Hamilton, Cine Golden
Eagle, BAFTA & Peabody Awards.
Martine
Saunier, Senior Producer, Consultant, and California-based
importer (the first woman to establish a wine importing company
in the US) is also the co-star of this heart warming film, along
with Lalou Bize-Leroy. Saunier takes the viewers on a magical
journey, providing personal introductions to the life of winemakers
and their families, insights into their challenging and joyful
life in Burgundy, and a playful look at a 500-seat Tastevinage
dinner at Clos de Vougeot, hosted by the Confrerie Chevalier du
Tastevin (a wine club devoted to Burgundy), as well as fantastic
aerial shots of Cotes du Nuit, brilliantly done by Kennard and
chief cameraman Jamie LeJeune.
Saunier
has been given high praise for arranging Lalou Bize-Leroy's participation
in "A Year in Burgundy." According to David Kennard
"getting five minutes with Lalou is like being allowed to
watch the Pope brush his teeth." Co-producer Saunier is a
member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, former national board member
of AIWF and Chevalier du Tastevin. In addition, she has been decorated
twice by the French Government with the title of Officier du Merite
Agricole.
Todd
Rupert, Executive Producer of "A Year in
Burgundy" is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer
of RTR International Ltd, a holding company with diversified interests
globally in the arts, film, clothing, luxury services, real estate
and private equity. He is also the US President of the Board of
the Royal Parks Foundation of London and a founding Board member
of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the US and various other prestigious
organizations.
I
feel privileged to have spent some time getting to know the creators
and producers of this warm and wonderful film at a private party
and tasting hosted by Wine Cask Restaurant owner Mitchell Swervin
in Santa Barbara, where guests enjoyed samples of Dominique Cornin
2009 Pouilly-fuisse "Clos Reyssie", Domaine Morey-Coffinet
2011 Chassagne-Montrachet "Les Houilleries", Domaine
Michel Gay et Fils 2008 Chorey-Les-Beaune Vieilles Vignes and
Domaine Perrot-Minot 2007 Chambolle-Musigny "Les Echanges"
1 er Cru. During a conversation with Matine Saunier she explained
"We have plans for production of three films, this one on
Burgundy, and two more to be completed, one on Champagne and another
on Port to be filmed in Spain."
I
congratulate the makers of this insightful film and welcome all
to share in the pleasures to be savored in viewing this one-of-a-kind
film. "A Year in Burgundy" is a wine lover's masterpiece
that skillfully captures the agony and ecstasy of the art of fine
winemaking in Burgundy, France. For additional information please
visit www.ayearinburgundy.com.
To watch trailer(s) click
here:
http://www.ayearinburgundy.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnF-LmQTeCc
Ajanta
Indian Restaurant
1888 Solano Ave
Berkeley, CA. 94707
510-526-4373
www.AjantaRestaurant.com