THE MAGIC OF BRUNELLO
The Magic of Brunello is about the history of one of Italy’s best and most coveted wines, and the region it comes from. The town of Montalcino is a small medieval village located in the province of Siena. The wine district has one of the warmest and driest climates in Tuscany with the grapes in the area ripening up to a week earlier than in nearby Montepulciano. Brunello is a red wine that was first made in the Montalcino area in the early 14th century. The name Brunello evolved into the designation of the wine produced with 100 percent sangiovese grapes.
The documentary features interviews with six leading winemakers who are dedicated to making Brunello di Montalcino one of the great red wines of the world. Each tells a story that illustrates the diversity, passion and dedication to the wine world of the region. And it points to the changes in generations of winemakers and the future of the great wine of Brunello di Montalcino.
Featuring Tancredi Biondi Santi from Biondi Santi, Giacomo Neri from Casanova di Neri, Lamberto Frescobaldi from CastelGiocondo, Daniel Fabbro from San Polino, Vincenzo Abbruzzese from Valdicava and Enrico Viglierchio from Castello Banfi
With James Suckling, internationally acclaimed wine critic and CEO of global wine media company JamesSuckling.com
Produced and directed by James Orr, acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker
THE MIRACLE OF ALTO ADIGE
“The Miracle of Alto Adige” first debuted at the Sonoma International Film Festival on March 22, 2018. It is a documentary dedicated to the passionate, persistent wine producers in Alto Adige, one of the most challenging places to grow grapes in the world. It is a very special yet lesser-known wine region in the northern part of Italy, which is surrounded by the Alps and the Dolomites on three sides.
“Alto Adige is a picturesque place, dotted with castles, small towns, and apple orchards as far as the eye can see. But it’s on the steep mountainsides, where most of the grapes are grown, and some of those vineyards are as high as a thousand meters, making them extremely difficult to farm,” James Suckling describes in the introduction of the documentary. “If you believe that greatness is never easy, then the producers in Alto Adige are making great wine because it certainly isn’t easy.”
Featuring wine producers such as Klaus Gasser from Terlano, Andi Punter from Franz Haas, Gottfried Poillinger from Nals Margreid, Willi Sturz from Tramin, and more.
With James Suckling, internationally acclaimed wine critic and CEO of global wine media company JamesSuckling.com
Produced and directed by James Orr, acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker
LEGENDS OF CHILE
In 2018, Hollywood director James Orr produced, filmed and edited a short documentary about one of the most exciting and most improved wine regions in the world: Chile. It focused on three icon wine producers: Almaviva, Clos Apalta and Seña. James scored nine wines from these producers a perfect 100 points over the last five years.
These three wineries tell the story of the “Legends of Chile.” They demonstrate a tireless dedication to pushing the limits of quality and continue to take the wines of Chile to new heights with each vintage.
Featuring Eduardo Chadwick, president of Seña
Featuring Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle, CEO of Marnier Lapostolle – Clos Apalta
Featuring Felipe Larrain, CEO of Viña Almaviva, winner of the JamesSuckling Wine of the Year 2017
With James Suckling, internationally acclaimed wine critic and CEO of global wine media company JamesSuckling.com
Produced and directed by James Orr, acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker
CANNUBI: A VINEYARD KISSED BY GOD
Spanning a mere 15 hectares (37 acres) in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, Cannubi is considered to be one of the greatest vineyards anywhere in the world. The highly sought-after plot of land grows the Nebbiolo grape, producing Barolo – one of the best red wines of Italy.
Determining Cannubi’s precise boundaries is a very complicated and emotionally-charged issue. Conflict between producers over the vineyard’s true designation continues as wineries seek to have the coveted “Cannubi” wording on their labels. To see exactly why this 250-year-old vineyard is so special, James Suckling, one of the world’s top wine critics, visited Cannubi to talk with the winemakers involved. This film chronicles their thoughts, feelings and passion toward their craft – and the vineyard that fuels it all.
CIGARS: THE HEART AND SOUL OF CUBA
Cuba is the Holy Grail for cigar smokers. “Cigars: The Heart and Soul of Cuba” will take you on a journey across the island with acclaimed cigar expert James Suckling to discover why Cuban cigars are the best in the world. Suckling has been traveling to Cuba regularly since the early 1990s, first as European Editor of Cigar Aficionado magazine, and now with his own website, JamesSuckling.com.
He has visited the tobacco plantations, sorting houses, factories, and cigar shops hundreds of times. But on this trip, he is determined to find out once and for all exactly what makes Cuban cigars so very special.
Written & Directed by James Orr
Starring James Suckling
A JamesSuckling.com & InCloud9.com Production
Run Time: 51 Minutes
Sonoma International Film Festival 2012 Official Selection