A Seat at the Table (2019)

For nearly a century France has reigned supreme over the world of fine wine. What if one country famous for punching above its weight took on the aristocracy, breaking the rules of the Old World and were "beating the French at their own game". This is the story of New Zealand's warp speed assent to the top of the wine world. We ask France's best winemakers, the world's greatest critics and most influential merchants one question. Has New Zealand earned a seat at the table? A Seat at the Table takes stock of New Zealand's brief and at times entertaining short history of making fine wine. The film documents the pioneers, their French influences and ambitions for making "The best New Zealand wine in the world". Travelling from France to the United Kingdom to New Zealand the film covers all the key stories that now link both the new and old world. We hear both sides of each story from grape vines illegally smuggled in gumboots to climate change and the screw-cap vs. cork debate. A Seat at the Table culminates with some of France's most well-respected winemakers tasting New Zealand wine for the first time. Their responses are astounding to watch.—David Nash