The Faith

Synopsis

Documentary series about the wine industry charts the creation of the 2008 vintage at Margaux, one of the world's greatest wine estates.

Corinne Mentzelopoulos, daughter of a Greek supermarket tycoon, introduces us to the chateau her family has owned for the past 30 years, as everyone from vineyard worker to chief winemaker looks anxiously at a sky which appears hellbent on making the year a wretched one. One bottle of this cult wine can cost up to 1,000 pounds if the vintage is good, but the quality of the vintage is always in the lap of the weather gods.

Blessed by sunshine and a soaring economy in previous years, Margaux has turned itself into the world's luxury wine. From the inside, we track the meticulous cultivation of a top-notch brand, with Margaux's urbane director Paul Pontallier playing the role of chief evangelist as we follow him all the way to China where he is almost mobbed by devotees of Margaux.

Broadcasts

1. Mon 23 Feb 2009
   21:00
   BBC Four
2. Tue 24 Feb 2009
   03:10
   BBC Four
3. Sun 1 Mar 2009
   19:00
   BBC Four
4. Mon 2 Mar 2009
   01:15
   BBC Four
5. Fri 14 Aug 2009
   00:20
   BBC Two (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland only)