I watched these films and documentaries about wine with my mouth open. There's nothing like Netflix on a Sunday afternoon. And if it's about wine, my afternoon is made. Below you'll find some super-duper documentaries about wine, sommeliers, champagne, and more!
Update 2024: Drops of God
Drops of God is a fantastic Japanese manga series about wine, recently adapted into a movie. Look no further; start this series now.
#1 SOMM
The first documentary I saw and the first time I heard about Master Sommelier. In this 90-minute documentary, you follow four people as they prepare for the prestigious Master Sommelier exam. The most difficult wine exam in the world. They effortlessly (well, not always) know grape, country, region, and vintage by heart when tasting a wine. They have to know the world of wine inside and out. It's no wonder only a few hundred people (in the world) have passed this exam.
For sale in iTunes Store for $3.99
#2 SOMM: Into the bottle
The same sommeliers as in SOMM explain how wine is actually made, its history, and what makes it so special. For example, we get a glimpse into the cellar of the legendary winery: Domaine de la Romanée Conti. Here, the best Pinot Noir in the world is made. It does come with a hefty price tag, though. Expect to pay a few thousand euros per bottle. The estate's best man emphasizes that people shouldn't forget that wine, in the end, is... It's a food. That it's made to be drunk. That's perhaps too often seen as a cultural or status object these days. Good story, but yeah, it doesn't change anything. Besides, it's one of my life goals to taste it again someday.
Downloadable via iTunes Store for $3.99
#3 Uncorked
A six-part series about six (different) sommeliers studying for the Master Sommelier exam. This series clarifies even more what the exam is all about: tasting, theory, and service. Adequate knowledge. Only the very best is good enough. Guests at the table ask the most complex questions about wine, which you must be able to answer without hesitation and with the utmost friendliness. Uncorking an old bottle, decanting—you must be able to do everything with complete conviction.
To be seen on Youtube .
Seen enough? Time for a good book? Then check out the Le Club's favorite wine books .
#4 A year in Burgundy
No more sommeliers, but winemakers. This film shows the lives of seven families in Burgundy. Burgundy is complicated. Not when it comes to grapes, because there's Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but where do those grapes come from? Which plot of land is used? What makes it different from ten meters away? Simply enjoyable to watch on a Sunday afternoon.
Available on iTunes for $1.99
#5 A year in Champagne
When Champagne takes center stage, something quickly becomes beautiful. The viewer visits six different Champagne houses, from small independents to major brands. Just like A Year in Burgundy, this is the one to watch if you want to learn more about the region, not if you're looking for a critical documentary about the wineries.
View it in its entirety on YouTube .
#6 Sour Grapes
A documentary about master con artist Rudy Kurniawan, who turned the wine world upside down. He spent years counterfeiting the most famous wines. One of the discoveries, for example, was a magnum-sized Pétrus 1921. That was supposedly unthinkable, and I quote Maureen Downey – the Sherlock Holmes of the wine world: 'The fact is that the wines Chateau Petrus were not highly regarded as anything but lovely village wines until the 1955 vintage was 'discovered' in London in 1957. Back in 1921, they would have had no reason to make magnums. So, imagine my surprise when just a few weeks later, I walked into a cellar and found a 6L bottle of 1921 Petrus. I laughed so hard I almost cried.' Well, me too. Special documentary.
To be seen on Netflix .
#7 A Year in Port
This one's still on my list to check out. It's from the makers of A Year in Burgundy and A Year in Champagne. Interesting choice to go with Port instead of the obvious choice: Bordeaux. Don't get me wrong, I love the city. Porto , the surrounding area, and the wines are fantastic. The region around the Douro River, where all the vineyards are located, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It must be beautiful, and I hope I can go there this summer.
Available for download on iTunes for $9.99
#8 Wine Masters TV
Well, do you have a minute? Wine Masters TV has five documentaries about winemakers in France. They're not the least impressive: Trimbach (Alsace), Guigal (Rhone), Bourgeois (Loire), Château Angélus (Bordeaux), and Drouhin (Burgundy). Now that I've seen this, I know I want to take a tour of France. A full-blown Tour de France. It's so beautiful, and there's so much to see here. I became a member for a year because I think it's just so cool that this was made. I fully support that. After one video, you'll definitely want to see the rest. Spain and Italy have now been added to the selection.
More on Wine Masters TV ($59.99 per year for full access)
Rotten – Reign of Terroir
The new series "Rotten" focuses on certain consumer habits and how unhealthy (read: rotten) they can be. Let's please stop eating avocados. Eat an apple. Anyway, this is a wine blog, and there's also an episode about it. terroir . Remember last year when it was discovered that liters of Spanish rosé as French Was it sold? Supermarkets want the lowest price – no matter what. Where is this going? What does the future of wine look like? In China, they know. They're transforming entire deserts into vineyards. It's truly bizarre. Just go and see.
To be seen on Netflix .
#10 Bottle Shock
A film adaptation with some Hollywood flair here and there The Judgment of Paris – the blind tasting that changed the world.
Not available online, but often available via VPRO.
#11 Return to Burgundy
The film tells the characteristic story of a Burgundy family whose children inherit the estate, but not all have the same expectations or plans. There's a touch of love in it too. Add a bowl of popcorn and a glass of Chardonnay, and your Saturday night is complete.
Available via Pathé Home for €2.99
#12 Uncorked
A young man dreams of becoming a master sommelier, but his father wants him to take over the family BBQ restaurant.
Great film, until he cracks open the old Barolo he bought for his dad and takes a sip WITHOUT SMELLING. Ugh... this doesn't exist. I short-circuited.
Like what you read?
Spend your weekend well. Watch a few wine documentaries. Seen a wine documentary that's not on this list yet? Let me know in the comments. I'm curious! 🙂
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