ST. HELENA, California (September 24, 2008) – Bret Lyman, a Napa Valley-based filmmaker and proprietor of B.Napa Studio, has turned his camera on the vineyards, wineries and principals of Wilson Daniels Ltd.’s French and Hungarian properties to create a series of compelling, short films. A trailer for the entire film series is available online now at www.wilsondanielsfilms.com. Individual films will premiere online over the next six weeks, beginning with the October 2, 2008, debut of “The Renaissance of Tokaji,” showcasing Royal Tokaji. All films will be available for download to iPods, as well as web-based viewing at Wilson Daniels Films, YouTube (Wilson Daniels channel), Facebook (Wilson Daniels page) and Vimeo. “These films were created to forge a deeper connection between wine enthusiasts worldwide and our European properties,” said Andy Fromm, president and COO of Wilson Daniels Ltd. “Our goal is to utilize them for educational purposes among our wine industry trade partners, but we also encourage our customers to use these high-quality films as in-house entertainment and provide added value to their customers.”
Each mini-documentary explores the history, setting, and distinct personality of the properties through thought-provoking images and interviews with winery principals. Lyman’s signature style-saturated colors, lush cinematography and striking music-make a breathtaking background for the three- to five-minute films, filmed exclusively in high-definition. Lyman also captures the small details of each estate, from candlelit cellars in real light to the ancient lock on a cellar door, providing viewers with a sense of intimacy with each locale. “In the world of online content, there are videos, and then there are films. As a commercial filmmaker who grew up in wine country, I really want to show wine lovers the difference,” said Lyman, winner of the Trophée Spécial for “Best Short Film” at the 2008 Oenovideo International Grape and Wine Film Festival in Gruissan, France. “It’s like opening a bottle of wine. There are everyday wine experiences, and then there are transcendent ones.” Wineries Lyman profiled in the series of Wilson Daniels films include: Royal Tokaji of Tokaj; House of Champagne Delamotte and House of Champagne Salon of Champagne; Domaine Faiveley of Burgundy; Domaine Leflaive of Burgundy; Domaine Pierre Morey of Burgundy; Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet of northern Rhône; and Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss of Alsace and southern Rhône.
For more information about the Wilson Daniels portfolio, please visit www.wilsondaniels.com. Still images from films are available upon request by contacting Lisa Mattson at (707) 967-1827 or lmattson@wilsondaniels.com. Wilson Daniels Ltd. celebrating 30 years in 2008. Film trailer for documentary series also available for viewing at www.wilsondanielsfilms.com.
I first became interested in wine while I worked in numerous liquor stores during college in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. In the years following college, I researched, tasted, traveled to vineyards in California and Europe, participated in countless tastings. I began writing about wine in 1995 with a column in Out Front Colorado.
For me, wine is more than a drink. It is food. It is a connection to the earth. It is culture. There is just something amazing, even magical, about the transformation of grapes into wine. It is also remarkable how drinking wine with food enhances the taste and enjoyment of both. Appreciation of wine has become an integral part of my approach to life, which emphasizes balance, respect for nature, physical and emotional health, and an appreciation of our nature as social beings. In 2006, I was awarded a fellowship to the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers. 
