Review: A Year in Burgundy

I love this documentary about 7 wine-making families in the Burgundy region of France. I’ve seen it several times because it’s like a mini-vacation through one of the premier wine-making regions of the world.

I saw it on Netflix, but Amazon also offers it as a DVD for sale and for Prime Streaming.

Directed by David Kennard, Primetime Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Informational Series, Kennard also produced and directed well-known documentaries like Cosmos with Carl Sagan, We The People with Peter Jennings, and Joseph Campbell: The Hero’s Journey.

A Year in Burgundy is richly evocative of the cultural and historical contributions of the centuries-old Burgundian wineries. It’s also a sensory experience that insists you pour a glass of good red wine–burgundy if possible–while you watch it.

What You Get

I tried to analyze why I keep coming back to this film. I think it’s because it’s such a loving tribute to the art of wine-making. These families who are born into the craft grow up surrounded by the grapes and tradition. Making superior wine requires dedication and, yes, love of what they’re doing, but the rewards go beyond creating memorable wines.

The daily rewards of working in partnership with nature, watching the seasons change in the vineyard, carrying on a centuries-old tradition that continues to enchant and enrich, and producing a product that is remarkable sustains those dedicated to the craft, through good vintages and poor.

Takeaway Truth

The documentary creates a life-affirming viewing experience. There’s just something about the film that makes you feel good so give yourself the gift of tranquility and watch this.