Un Point C’est Tout – That’s All!

A new Documentary in which French Nursery Owner Lilian Bérillon and Eminent Winemakers sound the Alarm.

Runtime: 52 mins
Release; 2024

Synopsis:
Anselme Selosse, Jean Louis Chave, Peter Sisseck and Lalou Bize Leroy… Leading figures from the wine world have joined forces with nursery owner Lilian Bérillon to sound the alarm in a new documentary titled UN POINT C’EST TOUT ! (That’s All!).

The facts are alarming: many of the greatest wines in the world, with their unique taste, are facing a slow death due to a phenomenon that is still largely misunderstood – vineyard decline. It is not only global warming that is the culprit, but the reliance on a plant that is sorely lacking in diversity, produced industrially and incapable of ageing, and one that is still not held in high enough esteem by many winegrowers.

Lilian Bérillon explained: “With this documentary, I wanted to open up the discussion, and shed light on the opacity of the system and the operating methods of the entire viticultural nursery profession, which needs to seriously re-evaluate its approach. Based on my experience, I wanted to make a stand by giving a platform to the wine estates and champagne houses with whom our nursery has worked over many years. Those who are convinced, as we are, that we have made the right choice in launching a new type of plant onto the market.”

For more than 20 years, Lilian Bérillon has travelled the world in search of solutions to vineyard decline, a growing problem facing ever greater numbers of winegrowers. United in this documentary in their fight against this phenomenon, they all agree that the viticultural world has taken a wrong turn and that urgent changes are needed if the unique taste of the great wines is not to disappear forever. Whilst there is “still hope” according to Jean Louis Chave (the Jean Louis Chave estate, Rhone Valley), time is fast running out, with more and more young vines dying prematurely each year. A real catastrophe given that it is from old vines, “at least 40 years old”, that the great wines are made, Lalou Bize Leroy (the Leroy estate, Burgundy) reminds us.

His passion for wine and his strong convictions have led Lilian Bérillon to bring together a panel made up of winemakers, a sommelier, a restaurant owner and a scientist to rally to the cause. All have agreed to support this initiative in the face of reduced life-expectancy of the vines that puts the notion of great terroir wines in serious jeopardy. Their testimonies are clear, detailed, and often moving. They can be upsetting and throw certain beliefs into question. But the main message is one of hope. They discuss the future, massal selection, and contemporary wines, concluding with the major topic of transmission to future generations.

More than a simple documentary, UN POINT C’EST TOUT! is an account of the real-life experiences of winegrowers confronted with recurrent problems in their vineyards. It is about the solutions they have found and the inspiring perspectives they offer future generations. They explore the notion of time in relation to decision-making, the need for balance and diversity, and the long-term outlook for wine estates. It is a true source of inspiration and hope for all those who wish to follow in the footsteps of the greatest names in the field, those who have marked history with their iconic wines.

Watch the film:

Filmmaker: Pierre-Paul Guidicelli

Learn more about sustainable viticulture.