Importer Wilson Daniels offers Web-based wine films
Dave DeSimone, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
December 30, 2008
With wine podcasts popping up online like so many New Year's Eve corks, wide-ranging video styles and content have emerged. But from the loud, high-energy wine-merchant videos at one extreme, to the laidback "pour, swirl and sniff" wine expert at the other end, most online wine content shamelessly promotes the host as much as the wine itself.

This widespread commercial "brand building" can leave wine-drinking viewers searching for authentic insights to the personalities, passions and stories behind the wines. Meanwhile, wine consumers' demand and desire for meaningful context continue to grow as uncertain economic conditions make travel to wine regions impractical.

In a savvy strategy launched late in 2007, Lisa Mattson, director of communications at the Napa Valley-based wine importer Wilson Daniels, Ltd., says the firm recognized this emerging need for high quality online wine content.

"We wanted to figure out a way to bring our great producers and their estates directly into restaurant kitchens, retail wine shops and consumer homes," Mattson says.

Coincidentally, when the opportunity arose to move her family to Europe for a year, Mattson readily agreed to help award-winning filmmaker Bret Lyman shoot on location at Wilson Daniels' suppliers in France and Hungary. As a result, www.wilsondanielsfilms.com offers excellent Web-based wine films.

Like other Internet-based wine content, the films fundamentally promote the basic commercial agenda of increasing awareness of the producers' wines. But superb production quality and unique presentation style set these films apart.

From the sweeping scene of Domaine Faiveley's vineyards sprawling before Burgundy's famous Clos de Vougeot, to the dramatic shots of the sheer slopes of the Grand Cru vineyards surrounding Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss' medieval house in Andlau, Alsace, the films faithfully transport the viewer into each terroir's feel and atmosphere. Vivid colors, telling details and evocative music work an artistic magic as the viewer experiences each producer's distinctive "place."

Setting the stage in such an authentic manner reflects the founding philosophy of Jack Daniels and the late Win Wilson, Mattson says. From the beginning in 1978, they shared a passion for assisting top-quality, relatively small firms in promoting special wines and the distinctive terroir that makes such wines possible.

"Focusing on lasting relationships with real people in real places has enabled Wilson Daniels to succeed in bringing in great wines for over 30 years," Mattson says. The same spirit pervades each film's content -- the wines and their producers' personalities, philosophies and passions enjoy the spotlight.

Domaine Pierre Morey's film, for instance, features the brilliant, yet humble, white Burgundy producer at his Meursault home and cellar. Cutting away to rolling vineyards of timeless beauty with the village's distinctive houses and spires as background, Morey shares his philosophy of "producing" rather than "making" great wines. This vigneron's abiding passion for continually learning about the winemaking process shines through.

Domaine Faiveley's film set in the town of Nuits-Saint-Georges features the urbane Erwan Faiveley relishing the opportunities and challenges of being a seventh-generation domaine director at the tender age of 30. He embraces Faiveley's legacy of creating wines of terroir with "good back bone and structure" while also seeking "more elegance."

In the Champagne Delamotte film, wine director Didier Depond eloquently describes his duty of interpreting Champagne foremost as a distinctive place and set of vineyards. Meanwhile, the Kreydenweiss family film shows the teamwork and passion behind biodynamic farming, which includes using loamy composts to nourish struggling vines in infertile terroir.

Enjoy Wilson Daniels' informative and uplifting films as a memorable introduction for tasting the following:

2004 Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss Wiebelsberg Riesling "La Dame," Alsace Grand Cru, France (Specialty 21490; on sale: $19.99): The wine's deep golden color leads to aromas and flavors of pineapple, citrus and honey with mouthwatering mineral notes and vibrant acidity balancing a lush, yet dry finish. Highly recommended.

2005 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey 1er Cru, "Clos des Myglands" (Monopole), France (Specialty 18962, $39.99): Made from pinot noir grapes grown in the superb 2005 vintage in a top vineyard in Burgundy's Côte Chalonnaise subregion, this age-worthy wine's deep-garnet color offers bewitching black-cherry fruit with smoky, earthy notes opening to lush, pure fruit, bright acidity and velvety tannins. Highly recommended.

Dave DeSimone is a member of the American Wine Society. He can be heard daily on KQV Radio with the Wine Cellar reports. He can be reached at ddesimone@tribweb.com.
12/30/2008