Europe-based filmmaker Rudi Goldman aims to shed some light on questions like these with the recent release of his award-winning film, Burgundy: People with a Passion for Wine.  Rudi and his team filmed throughout the Cóte d’Or over the course of 100 days – shooting between the annual Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction in November of 2012 until that last filming in November of 2015.   

Awards

After watching the film, it comes as no surprise that it has already earned itself a number of awards –  including

“Best Documentary” from the Los Angeles Film Awards, “Winner” of the Hollywood Independent Documentary Awards, and “Gold Winner” of the International Independent Film Awards.  

“When we first began shooting in Burgundy, my wife and I never had the intention to make a feature-length documentary film.  Our original motivation to shoot in Burgundy was that we had the most famous and oldest wine region in the world just an 8-hour drive from our home in The Netherlands.  We kept going back because we just fell in love with the place.” – Rudi Goldman 

Burgundy Synopsis

Focusing on both Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, the film follows a set of renowned industry leaders such as Véronique Drouhin-Boss of Maison Joseph Drouhin, grower– négociants Olivier Leflaive and Maison Louis Jadot, and several others.

Throughout the film, narrators present a broad scope of the region – explaining its unique terroir, varietal characteristics, French wine terms, cooperage, and the unstable conditions that its vineyards endure year after year.

In addition to the winemaking itself, the film also dives into the traditional Burgundian culture. Among the interviewed are local Michelin-starred chefs, a truffle forager and her adorable truffle hunting dogs, runners from the semi-marathon in Côte de Beaune and others.

The film also features footage from the annual Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction – the region’s most highly anticipated event and first presentation of the newest vintage where upwards of 5 million euros worth of wine is auctioned.

What I loved

There is a genuine honesty to the film’s narrative that gives viewers a chance to feel the emotional rollercoaster that is Burgundy – at one point in the film, being a Burgundian winemaker is even referred to as a “masochist lifestyle.”

For wine lovers who find themselves ultimately perplexed by the region, this film is a perfect gateway into the world of Burgundy. It leaves out much of the dogmatism associated with the wines and instead offers first-hand accounts on some of the true pillars of Burgundy’s wine industry. It is informative, insightful, and even a little comedic at times. So whether you are brand new to wine or a veteran of the industry, you will be inspired by these incredible folks who continue to battle difficult conditions in order to produce some of the world’s finest wines.

Final Thoughts

My only critique – if this can even be considered that – is that the film only scratches the complex surface of what truly goes into each bottle of Burgundy. Its focus on négociants and traditional domaines illustrates only one side of the story. Don’t get me wrong, the négociants have everything to do with region’s commercial success in the international marketplace. But the film overlooks the new generation of winegrowers who are transforming the Burgundy wine industry as we speak. But hey, perhaps that just leaves room for a sequel?

Find It

Burgundy: People with a Passion for Wine will be released in the US & Canada on January 3rd, 2017 – available on Amazon, iTunes, and has been licensed by InDemand as a new release. Subtitles available in English and Spanish.