Sparkling: The Story of Champagne

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Sparkling: The Story of Champagne

Released Aug 13, 2021

1h 28m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

80%

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5 Reviews

17%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

The film is a love letter to the joys and pleasures of champagne. Major champagne houses featured include Pol Roger (Winston Churchill famously drank over 40,000 bottles in his lifetime), Bollinger (appearing in 15 James Bond movies), as well as Piper-Heidsieck (Marilyn Monroe's favorite), Taittinger, JAY-Z's Armand de Brignac, Cristal, Veuve Clicquot and Queen Elizabeth II's vineyard at Windsor. It explores the legend of the French monk, Dom Perignon, who famously declared "I can taste the stars" when he discovered champagne, and examines the theory that the English actually invented champagne decades before Dom Perignon. It also looks at the impact of climate change. The champagne region is gradually becoming too hot leading to the likes of Pommery and Taittinger acquiring vineyards in southern England where the chalk soil is the same as the champagne region.

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Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

As you might expect, this is not exactly a hard-hitting expose, but it's a most welcome change of gear from all the documentaries out there tackling deadly serious subjects.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 13, 2021

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John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

The film eventually falls off the track, perhaps a bit tipsy.

Aug 13, 2021

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Anita Singh

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Director Frank Mannion had given himself a cushy commission, asking gentle questions while clinking glasses. Bruno Paillard seemed a particularly generous host, opening a bottle outside his chateau.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 30, 2021

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Audience Member

Overall, lovers of Champagne will certainly take joy in this documentary. While the documentary is informative, the pacing is sadly questionable. The film can sometimes feel like a mixture of various clips and interviews, especially during the third act. It can also occasionally feel like an educational lesson, giving audiences a deep dive into the universe of Champagne and how it's changed the world. Nevertheless, those who enjoy a bubbly drink shall have blissful enjoyment watching this documentary.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/11/23

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Audience Member

Sparkling starts off fine, giving a history of champagne and profiling the main producers in the Champagne region of France. However, 45 minutes in it becomes a marketing piece promoting English sparkling wine! Literally, the last half of the movie is propaganda for UK winemakers. Barely a mention of Cava (Spain), Prosecco (Italy), or any other region. It's so blatant I suspect this film was funded by the winemakers in England. Watch the first half for a nice historical overview and then bounce.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Frank Mannion

Director

Stephen Fry

Self

Vitalie Taittinger

Self

Bruno Paillard

Self

Oz Clarke

Self

Nicholas Soames

Self

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Synopsis

The film is a love letter to the joys and pleasures of champagne. Major champagne houses featured include Pol Roger (Winston Churchill famously drank over 40,000 bottles in his lifetime), Bollinger (appearing in 15 James Bond movies), as well as Piper-Heidsieck (Marilyn Monroe's favorite), Taittinger, JAY-Z's Armand de Brignac, Cristal, Veuve Clicquot and Queen Elizabeth II's vineyard at Windsor. It explores the legend of the French monk, Dom Perignon, who famously declared "I can taste the stars" when he discovered champagne, and examines the theory that the English actually invented champagne decades before Dom Perignon. It also looks at the impact of climate change. The champagne region is gradually becoming too hot leading to the likes of Pommery and Taittinger acquiring vineyards in southern England where the chalk soil is the same as the champagne region.

Director: Frank Mannion
Producer: Frank Mannion, Oxana Popkova
Screenwriter: Frank Mannion
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Production Co: Swipe Films, Kasiyan Knockbeg Enterprises, Carlow Castle Films, CBS 1A1 Motion Picture Fund
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 13, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 13, 2021
Runtime: 1h 28m

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