From grain to image

From Corsica to Alsace, from the Loire to Italy, Marie Houlonne travels the roads of France, from estate to vineyard. This filmmaker specializing in the world of wine tells the story of vintages and terroirs, capturing the gestures of the trade and the soul of the wines.
Equipped with several cameras, she wanders through sun-drenched vineyards and dives into dark cellars. From vine to barrel, Marie Houlonne is on the lookout for the visual identity of wine estates. Her job? Wine director. "I make videos presenting the wineries, which are then used to promote them on their websites or social networks," she explains.
Before entering the world of images, Marie Houlonne worked in the world of economics. Was it a conversion? "More like an evolution. But all of them share the same passion: wine. "I discovered this world when I was a student at the Faculty of Economics in Montpellier, doing an internship at Château de Flaugergues", she recalls. The young woman fell under the spell of this environment, which she wanted to learn more about.
She then decided to study for a Master's degree in Wine Trade, which enabled her to familiarize herself with oenology and winemaking, and led to a position as export manager in a winery that was just beginning to expand internationally. She developed exports to Northern Europe and Asia. "This experience in sales led me to think about marketing and communication in the wine industry, and I asked myself what new things I could bring to this field".

In the intimacy of the cellars

With a husband who was a photographer, the idea was obvious: images. But an animated one. "I trained in video to create my own business". It's an unusual profession, and one practiced by only a handful of people. And Marie Houlonne has a winning advantage: she knows this environment like the back of her hand. "When I meet a winegrower to prepare a video presentation of his estate, I know his business, his world, his consumers, his market", explains the director.
This knowledge enables her to better understand the expectations of her customers and to build special relationships with them. "I'm genuinely interested in what they do. You get into the family, into their intimacy, and these are real encounters". And these encounters are multiplying: in 2 years of activity, Marie Houlonne has already shot over 40 reports, making her the most sought-after director in this sector. A success that extends beyond our borders, and has led her to take her camera to the vineyards of Tuscany, Italy. Having successfully exported wine, Marie Houlonne now exports with pleasure, "travel and discovery are part of my life".
Photo credit: Alain Reynaud