To BIAFF 2008 results | To Making Of Index
Domein Meerdael won a 4-star award at BIAFF 2008

Domein Meerdael

My son is the neighbour of Paul Vleminckx, the owner of the Meerdael vineyard.

For my birthday I received some bottles of his sparkling wine, so I could taste and learn to appreciate it.

The wine is called "Chardonnay Meerdael" because only the wine from a certain area in France can be called 'champagne'. Connoisseurs says this wine has a very fine flavour and the quality is much better then many inexpensive champagnes. [www.chardonnaymeerdael.be/nl/]

I am especially interested in making documentary films. For that reason I asked Paul for permission to makea film about his vineyard and his way of making wine. He was very enthusiastic and he promised me all the facilities and help I needed.

Paul began growing vines as hobby. After staying in the champagne area of France he became a full-time wine producer.

The planting, cultivation and care of the plants is overseen by a French nurseryman.

The Meerdael vineyard is situated nearby Louvain, atbout 90 km from Ghent where I live and I followed all the stages of production for more than a year.

At the start of each different stage,  Paul contacted me, so that I could film at the right moments: the blossom, the growth of the grapes, the harvest, the bottling and the last phase - labelling and inserting the cork.

I don't like films with sub-titles, because while you are reading you can miss some details in the pictures. But I promise that next time I will try to find a commentator who can speak English well.

I must say, I am very happy with the comments from the jury, who did understand my film and appreciated my way of film making.

Renaat Geeraert, April 2008

Page updated on 28 April 2008

Authors' views are not necessarily those of The Institute of Amateur Cinematographers

Free JavaScripts provided
by The JavaScript Source