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The FilmThe exploding cork. Endless tiny bubbles floating up and up in the glass. An indulgence. A celebration. A seduction. A triumph. This is the essence of Champagne, isn’t it?
But it’s not just bubbles in a glass that makes the wine, or the mystique. Only sparkling wine produced within the boundaries of the Champagne region is truly “Champagne.” At first glance, the region is not an obvious source of romance. Champagne’s history is grim and bloody, swept by war and destruction from Attila the Hun to the filthy trenches of WWI and the Nazi depredations of WWII. The environment for winemaking is desperately hard — northerly latitude, chalky soil, copious rain, frost, rot. Yet it’s these difficulties that help make the wine unique.
With renowned wine importer Martine Saunier as our guide, we get a rare glimpse behind the scenes into the real Champagne through six houses, from small independent makers like Champagne Saint-Chamant, where each and every bottle is still turned by hand in the cellars, to the illustrious houses of Gosset and Bollinger which have been instrumental in shaping the image of Champagne around the world. In Champagne, they don’t sell Appellations, they sell Brands, many of which have been famous for 200 years.
In the vineyard, 2012 threatened to be “the year of all our fears,” as one eminent Champagne wine-master put it. Cold. Rain. Insects. Wind. More rain. The sun had gone away and looked like it might stay away forever. What happened at the last minute, to help chase the nightmares away? What saved Champagne from ruin?
Happily, unlike other great wines, non-vintage Champagne is not the product of a specific year and its weather. Style is the driver, and a signature house style is as much a creation as a movie star. Natural assets are just the starting place, and as the French say: “il faut souffrir pour etre belle,” one must suffer to be beautiful. The magical transformation happens behind closed doors and in miles of cellars, cities beneath cities, which hold literally hundreds of millions of bottles.
The blender of the wine works like an alchemist, mingling the brightness of one year’s summer with the difficulties of another year’s spring to create a better vision, and a taste experience that is true to the house’s style; then creating the bubbles in just the right amount, so the bottle won’t explode. After all, as customers we don’t even consider the fears of the winemakers. We crave the fantasy: the special zing of our favorite bubbly, when we push out the cork, the first tingle of bubbles on the nose, the taste explosion in the mouth, the thrill of the moment when you swallow pure gold…
A Year in Champagne is the second in a series of three 90-minute wine films for General Release, created by InCA Productions and Executive Produced by RTR International, Inc. The first was A Year in Burgundy, pre-miered in 2013, and the third will be A Year in Port, which was filmed in 2013 and will be edited for release in winter 2014/5.
FilmmakersDavid Kennard: Senior Producer, Director, Writer
David Kennard has more than 40 years of international experience as a Producer, Writer, Director and Communications Consultant. He has played a leading role in the production of more than 100 non-fiction television specials, books, multimedia products and media campaigns, and has produced fifteen major international documentary series. His work as a producer and director includes:
Keeping Score with Michael Tilson Thomas Cosmos with Carl Sagan Connections with James Burke The Ascent of Man with Jacob Bronowsli We The People with Peter Jennings Joseph Campbell: The Hero’s Journey The Heart of Healing with Jane Seymour Global Warming with Alanis Morrisette The Final Hours: Amelia Earhart’s Last Flight The Promise of Play with Jane Goodall 2001:HAL’s Legacy with Arthur C. Clarke
His work has won the 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.
Kennard is the co-founder and President of InCA (Independent Communications Associates Inc), a worldwide non-fiction production company with offices in San Francisco, Toulouse (France) and Nairobi (Kenya), with a 30-year track record of documentary excellence.
David was senior Producer, Director and Writer of the 2013 documentary film A Year in Burgundy.
CONTACT David KennardInCA ProductionsOffice [email protected]
Martine Saunier: Senior Producer, Consultant
Martine Saunier was born in Paris. Although she lived and attended school there, she spent every summer vacation at her Aunt’s home in Prissé, near Mâcon. Her aunt owned a winery with approximately 10 acres of vineyards planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winemaker lived on the farm next door with his wife and children. The pinnacle of the summer vacation was the harvest in mid-September. At the age of ten, Martine was fascinated with the preparation of the cellar, the winepress, the fermenting vats and, of course, being part of the harvesting team. The crushing of the grapes, malolactic fermentation, chaptalisation, bottling, etc. were all part of her childhood life.
When Martine moved to California in 1964, she was dismayed by the absence of many of her favorite wines and started making buying trips to France. In 1965, she drove to Beaulieu Vineyards, knocked on the door, and was lucky enough to meet the great André Tchelistcheff. He told her in his good French that if she wanted good Pinot Noir, she had to go to Burgundy to get it! The seed was planted in her mind...
A few years later, Martine was offered the job of selecting wines for an importer/distributor in San Francisco and in the spring of 1969, she flew to France, bought a small VW bug and started her tour and career! The first woman to establish a wine importing company in the United States, she founded Martine’s Wines in 1979.
Martine is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier and was formerly on the national board of AIWF. She is also a Chevalier du Tastevin. In addition, she has been decorated twice by the French Government with the title of Officier du Mérite Agricole.
Martine was Senior Producer, Consultant and star of the 2013 documentary film A Year in Burgundy.
“The inimitable Martine Saunier knows her onions. She takes us well off the beaten track with great charm.”
— Jancis Robinson
CONTACT Martine [email protected]
Todd Ruppert: Executive Producer
R. Todd Ruppert is the Founder and CEO of RTR International, Inc. a firm with diversified interests globally in the arts, film, distribution, merchandizing, and private equity.
In 2012, after a 27 year career, he retired from T. Rowe Price, a global investment management firm with over $600 billion under management. He was board member, CEO and president of T. Rowe Price Global Investment Services, board member and president, investment services, of T. Rowe Price International, and a member of the operating steering committee of the T. Rowe Price group.
Todd is a venture partner with Greenspring Associates, a US based venture capital firm with $2.4 billion under management. He is a founding board member of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the US and a global ambassador and benefactor of the International Award. Todd is also president of the board of London’s Royal Parks Foundation (USA).
Todd’s other board and advisory roles are for the following organizations. UK: 1966 Entertainment, Halcyon Group, Pall Mall Art Advisors, Moni, Nutmeg, Gold Mercury International, Osmosis Investment Management, Investments and Pensions Europe, and Funds Europe. Ireland: Iconic Images. Switzerland: Millennium Associates. France/Singapore/UAE: INSEAD business school. US: Duke University, Kenyon College, Furman University, KonciergeMD, LearnVest, Trov, Cognilytics, Monitise Group, ArtStar, Little Collector, Silicon Valley Gateway Partners, the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, and the Maryland Academy of Sciences. Cayman Islands: Bruce Nelson Cayman Ltd., SPQ Capital Limited. China: PG Pharma, Halcyon International. South Africa: Athena Capital.
Todd is also executive producer of three documentary films – A Year in Burgundy, A Year in Champagne and A Year in Port. He is co-producer of Happy Days-The Musical, which will premier in the UK in January 2014.
Jamie LeJeune: Producer, Camera, Editor
Jamie LeJeune joined InCA four years ago with a background in anthropology and community development. Since then he has shot, edited and produced works that range from television documentary series to viral activist video and promotional pieces for local non-profits.
His credits with InCA include:
“A Year in Burgundy” (2013)Producer/ Camera / Editor
“ReCreating America: Creativity in Education” (2010) Associate Producer
“Keeping Score: Gustav Mahler” (2011) Associate Producer/Assistant Editor
“Reinventing Yourself ” (2012) Story Producer/Editor/Camera
James Kennard: Second Unit Director, Camera, Editor
James Kennard has worked with InCA in various capacities for over a decade before joining full-time in 2012. After studying history at Oxford University he has worked producing illustration, concept-art, animation, graphic design and film.
His other credits include:
"A Year in Burgundy" (2013), Graphics
"Land of Songs" (release 2014), Camera
A YEAR IN CHAMPAGNEThe Story Behind the World’s Most Famous Wine www.ayearinchampagne.com
PRESS ENQUIRIES: Contact Alisha Lumea
CONTACT Alisha LumeaPolished Brands Cell [email protected]
Polly Legendre and Alisha Lumea: Publicity and Promotions
Alisha Lumea and Polly Legendre are Polished, a branding firm that specializes in marketing, communications, strategy, photography and design for artisan and premium food, beverage and lifestyle companies and organizations. They have over 35 years of combined foodservice, production, wholesale and retail experience.
Polished has been fortunate to work with a range of clients from all aspects of food, drink and lifestyle — including food producers, government trade commissions, NGO initiatives and documentary films.
Polished Brands handled Publicity and Promotions of the 2013 documentary film A Year in Burgundy.
Polly Legendre (L) and Alisha Lumea
Polly LegendrePolished Brands Cell [email protected]
Winemakers Champagne Saint-Chamant
Christian Coquillette has run his family’s house of Champagne Saint-Chamant since 1950. The house was originally established in 1930 by his mother and father, but was not automatically passed down to Christian. In the Coquillette family, each generation of winemakers must prove themselves independently. Christian worked hands-on in his parents’ operations, and eventually took his family’s bottles to Paris to be judged in a competition. After they won the gold medal, it was time for him to move on to his own house. He returned years later to take the helm for the family.
From the outside, the Champagne Saint-Chamant operation looks unassuming, but underneath it is an extensive labyrinth of cellars, over a mile long and packed to the brim with Champagne bottles, that date back to the early 16th century. An ardent believer in aging Champagne and in completing every part of the process by hand, it is in these cellars that Christian Coquillette keeps watch over hundreds of thousands of bottles.
Stephane Coquillette
Stephane is a fourth generation winemaker tucked into the small village of Chouilly. Just like his father before him, when he was ready to become a winemaker, Stephane was sent out to create his own estate instead of being brought into the family house. Stephane makes Champagne under his own label, S. Coquillette.
Stephane takes incredible pride in doing most everything by hand, with a commitment to quality at every step in his cultivation and winemaking process. From working the vines partly by plough, to using bark as a groundcover to keep weeds at bay, Stephane is deeply committed to responsible farming.
Gonet-Médeville
The Gonet-Médeville estate is a wine love story. Two well-known winemaking families came together in the marriage of Xavier Gonet, a young champenois oenologist with well-regarded and established Champagne vines, and Julie Médeville, a superb Sauterne winemaker at Chateau Gilette. Together, this husband and wife team founded the Gonet-Médeville label in 2000 when Xavier inherited his share of the family’s estate. The Gonet-Médeville union is unique in that their winemaking portfolio stretches across three prime wine regions of France.
The couple has spent a tremendous amount of time in the vineyards, which are planted with both pinot noir and chardonnay, working with the soil with sustainable farming techniques and controlling their yields in order to produce exquisite grapes for the best still or base wines. They are raising their young children surrounded by the family business, and are always accompanied by their faithful and scene stealing Jack Russell terrier named Bouchon (that’s cork in French).
Diebolt-Vallois
The Diebolt-Vallois house is steeped in family tradition and continues to be a family operation. Jacques Diebolt, who took over the family estate at the young age of 17, learned the trade at his grandfather’s side. He now proudly claims to be making Champagne “the way my grandfather did.” Jacques made his first bottle of Champagne in 1959. The next year, Jacques married Nadia Vallois, who brought along her own small plot of chardonnay. Now, Isabel and Arnaud, their son and daughter, work along side their father producing the Champagne Diebolt-Vallois label.
Together they safeguard the family tradition with responsible farming and meticulous winemaking standards. On any given day, you will see Isabel climbing into a tank to personally inspect it’s cleanliness, or the brother and sister team diligently walking the vines together. It’s a family effort no matter what task is at hand.
Gosset
Gosset is both one of the smallest Grande Marque Champagne producers as well as the oldest wine-making house in Champagne, founded in 1584. In the 16th century two wines vied for the place of honor on the king’s table – the wines from Ay in Champagne and the wines from Beaune, located further South in Burgundy. When technological breakthroughs brought bubbles to the wines, the Gosset family too evolved and became known for consistently superb Brut Excellence. Under the current guidance of winemaker Jean-Pierre Mareigner, the Gosset label focuses first and foremost on creating consistent and high quality wines.
Today the Gosset label is keeping its long history alive through not only robust sales and exports, but also by bringing back a bottle shape that was first used by the house in the 18th century. This bottle, or habillage, is a signature style that underscores the long dedication to bringing a high quality and unique Champagne to the marketplace.
Bollinger
Founded in 1829, Bollinger has grown through six generations of leadership into one of the most emblematic houses in Champagne and a global brand. Bollinger’s production methods are rooted in tradition. They continue to ferment their wines in wooden barrels, all kept in shape by the house tonnelier. In the Bollinger cellars, you will find 650,000 magnums which age for 5 to 15 years or more before being used in a blend.
In addition to vinification and quality, Bollinger is recognized for its marketing prowess, especially that of Madame Lily Bollinger who took over the house in the 1940s and traveled the world promoting Champagne. Bollinger is much beloved and known as “Bolly” by the English. It holds the Royal Warrant as one of the official Champagne of HM the Queen, as well as the distinction of being James Bond’s on-screen brand of choice sine the 1960’s.
"The film lovingly describes the creation of the 2011 vintage: a poignant vision of the heritage of family winemaking."
“The film’s triumph is to humanize everything it touches”
“A luxurious and quite beautifully shot chronicle of a single vintage”
“It’s tender and real. It shows the hard work, the travails and tribulations of working the soil for a living.”
Jancis Robinson gives 5 Stars
“It’s a beautiful film. In fact, it may be the best wine movie I’ve ever seen”
www.ayearinburgundy.com
Praise for a year in burgundy
Since its World Premiere at the 2013 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, A Year in Burgundy has delighted viewers and critics all over the world, winning media coverage in over 20 countries.
A Year in Champagne is the second in a series of three 90-minute wine films for General Release, created by InCA Productions and Executive Produced by RTR International, Inc. The first was A Year in Burgundy, premiered in 2013, and the third will be A Year in Port, which was filmed in 2013 and will be edited for release in winter 2014/5.
Praise for ‘a year in burgundy’
