Sonoma International Film Festival

"Oh, some are fond of Spanish wine, and some are fond of French." John Masefield (1878-1967), Captain Stratton's Fancy.

“Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved.” Medieval German saying.

A film festival in wine country Sonoma would not be complete without films about wine. ‘A Year in Burgundy’ (2012) continues its festival circuit at the 16th edition of the Sonoma International Film Festival.

This richly informative documentary takes the viewer on a cinematic wine tour of the region sharing its sacred secrets of centuries of wine making. Praised as a wine producing mecca, Burgundy is situated in the Northeast of France in the Côte-d'Or where the best Burgundy grapes are grown. 'A Year in Burgundy' is a must see for every wine lover and connoisseur to understand the roots of this rich, beloved and canonical epicenter of red (Burgundy) wine.

In the region of Burgundy, France seven traditional French vintner families discuss their greatest passion- Burgundy (aka Bourgogne) wines. The word ‘Bourgogne’ comes from the word ‘Burgundians’, who were a Germanic tribe from the same province during the Middle Ages. The making of wines in this region spans since before the inhabitants of the Burgundians in this territory. Cistercian monks have been producing wine in this region since the Dark Ages (500-1000) and one of the world’s oldest wine houses - HQ, Clos de Vougeot- still exists, and is the location for one of the scenes of the film. Despite modern technology used in most of the commercial mass-producing wine regions of the world, strict tradition still applies in Burgundy’s ‘terroirs’. The most popular grapes in this region are the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay.

Director/Producer David Kennard, featuring legendary wine importer Martine Saunier. The film held its world premier at the 28th Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Written by Vanessa McMahon

visit the film's official website here: http://www.ayearinburgundy.com/