Documentary, 80 min.

by Jacqueline Veuve

Switzerland / France, May 1999

How does one make wine from grapes? Following the rhythm of the four seasons of the winegrower’s year, the film shows us the labours, the worries and also the joys of a family of winegrowers and producers, the Potterat of Lavaux. Three generations that live and work together, keeping up the old traditions. The techniques may have changed and the know-how may have improved, but the Lavaux region has seen relatively little mechanisation due to the small size of its holdings. The love of a job well done is what sets these “gardeners of the vine” apart, with their delight in healthy grapes and the need to see and touch what they produce. Through the eyes of ethnologist Jacqueline Veuve we come to a better understanding of the vineyard, winemaking and village life, as experienced by the Potterat family.