Significant Other
In a character-driven documentary the viewer is guided by an independent winemaker in the South of France deeply rooted in the traditions of the past yet extending forward to meet the challenges of the future. Terridor follows Etienne Rouanet, a vintner from Saint-Chinian in the Occitanie region of France, who has tended the vineyards inherited from his grandfather for over 30 years. Etienne's passion, determination and unique philosophy flows through every drop of his wine. The film explores how the character of the earth (the terroir) seeps, not only into the wine produced from it, but also into the veins of the people who work it. The narrative, delivered in a non-linear fashion, is linked by themes, rather than chronological order, showing the intertwined nature of every aspect of the wine-making process and its importance in creating the finished product. This harmony and inter-connectivity mirrors the interdependent nature of the ecosystem within which the wine is grown. This theme of biodiversity and the importance of ecology is explored as Etienne begins the process of converting his vineyards to organic. This switch to organic coincides with an extremely bad summer, an increasingly common event with global warming. It shows the long-term implications of decisions made in an increasingly unpredictable and unstable natural and economic environment. Etienne's environmental convictions come at a cost as yields are threatened by a multitude of problems from a mildew epidemic to floods which are compounded by global financial pressures. In the competitive world of wine, Etienne relies on his passion, grit and determination. Wine holds an important place in French culture and is steeped in tradition. With his wife Marie, who left the world of corporate sales at age 50 to help brand and sell Etienne's wine, he has undergone the process of reinventing his range of wines and his job. Etienne and Marie take arduous steps to move away from selling more traditional varietals in bulk. Together they reinvent traditions with a modern approach to focus on quality as to produce Protected Designation of Origin Saint-Chinian wines, which require blending varieties of grapes to bring out desired characteristics. As a team, husband and wife, must work in unison to take risks and dare to be different. They remain true to their convictions to respect nature, to push the quality of their wines, and establish their winery's identity in a highly saturated market. Emphasis is placed on simplicity and authenticity to have a consistently recognizable brand. The process itself is far from simple and is full of unexpected issues to overcome. The film looks at what it is that drives Etienne forward despite the challenges that arise and what has informed his aims to return to a more natural, sustainable, and environmentally friendly way of making wine.
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