A Year in Champagne The History of the Champagne Region in France
The 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.
"A Year in Champagne entertainingly guides viewers through the winemaking process and behind the scenes to hear from the vintners who put the magic in the bottle. Quality production values, engaging scripting and fascinating characters." - The Hollywood Reporter
"90 minutes of pure happiness." - Terre de Vins
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Comments (4)
Nice. I will find a reason to celebrate, and then order some magic in a glass. Good look at the process
Great side trip through the Champagne regions history and geography. Wonderful family vignettes from the small houses and great views of the corporate world of the bubbly!
Very insightful documentary offering some fascinating details about the Champagne region. I found the challenges associated with wine production in Champagne particularly interesting, as well as the marketing 'spin' the vintage created.
Great documentary!
The casual tone made it very easy to sit back and relax, while learning new things about Champagne! I realize now that I didn't know much about the process of making Champagne. Lots of rules and steps required, but it's all worth it to get a nice chilled bottle of ...Read more
Great documentary!
Read lessThe casual tone made it very easy to sit back and relax, while learning new things about Champagne! I realize now that I didn't know much about the process of making Champagne. Lots of rules and steps required, but it's all worth it to get a nice chilled bottle of bubbly goodness!