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Sparkling: The Story of Champagne

Play trailer Poster for Sparkling: The Story of Champagne 2021 1h 28m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 17% Popcornmeter 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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Sparkling: The Story of Champagne

Critics Reviews

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Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times Aug 13, 2021
3/4
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. Go to Full Review John Anderson Wall Street Journal Aug 13, 2021
The film eventually falls off the track, perhaps a bit tipsy. Go to Full Review Anita Singh Daily Telegraph (UK) Jul 30, 2021
3/5
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Peter W @RT12077588 Jan 4, 2023 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. See more Sep 24, 2021 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. See more Read all reviews
Sparkling: The Story of Champagne

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Cast & Crew

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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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Sparkling: The Story of Champagne

Sparkling: The Story of Champagne (2021) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Kasiyan Knockbeg Enterprises, Swipe Films, CBS 1A1 Motion Picture Fund, Carlow Castle Films
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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