Sparkling: the Story of Champagne

A glamorous love letter to the joys and pleasures of champagne that explores the theory that the English actually invented champagne decades before the French monk Dom Perignon and how climate change is affecting the champagne region.

Runtime: 88 mins
Released: 2021

Film Synopsis:
It explores the legend of 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.

Described as a love letter to the joys and pleasures of Champagne, this sparkling documentary shares inside perspectives from the A-list Champagne houses and features some very familiar faces. Exploring the Briton’s connections to bubbly, from Churchill’s love of Pol Roger to the Bond franchise and the Queen’s vineyard – this light-hearted documentary returns some much needed celebration to our lives and provides a modern twist on Anglo-French relations.

Along the way, viewers can expect to hear tales of Sir Winston Churchill’s love affair with Champagne, and Pol Roger specifically; so prolific was his reported consumption that Pol Roger subsequently named a prestige cuvée after the British prime minister and wartime leader – as some readers may be aware. Chris Mercer, Decanter.

The Filmmaker: Frank Mannion

Watch the trailer: 

Featuring :
Don & Petie Kladstrup
Tony Laithwaite
Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon
Bruno Paillard
Sir Nicholas Soames
Vitalie Taittinger
Stephen Fry
Etienne Bizot
Oz Clarke
Vincent Chaperon