I love wine. And I love documentaries. So, any day I can watch documentaries about wine on Netflix is a good day in my book.
I recently decided to check out Netflix, and compile a list of my favorite wine-related documentaries. Each film captures a different aspect of the wine industry, from tasting “notes” to exploring some of the most exclusive wine in the world. Without further ado, here are my five-favorite wine-related documentaries!
If you like your wine bubbly, you’ll definitely appreciate what this documentary has to offer. Filmmakers take you through the Champagne region of France, and clue you in to the growing, harvesting, and production of champagne. A Year in Champagne displays the dedication and precision that the French have toward the craft of winemaking, and tells the story of these rituals through the lens of French history, too. Fair warning: watching the winemakers pop the bottles will make you want a glass of bubbly for yourself!
Hop back over to North America as Decanted producers take you to another exclusive wine region, Napa Valley. This documentary sets itself apart by introducing you to families who have invested their lives in the Napa Valley soil. You can even follow one family’s story as they venture into opening a Napa winery of their own. The viewer learns that the process is not for the faint of heart, but the payoff of growing vines on such valuable land can be huge. If the business of wine is something you’re interested in, this documentary is for you.
This Netflix production features four sommeliers as they prepare for and complete the prestigious Master Sommelier exam. With the Master Sommelier exam having one of the lowest pass rates of any examination in the world, you can almost feel the pressure that these candidates are under as their story is told on screen. Learning about this challenging feat will give you an entirely new appreciation for the wine list at your favorite restaurant. Practice examining flavor profiles and tasting techniques with a glass of wine in hand as you watch the pros master the task in Somm.
When the whole “sommelier” thing begins to sound too intimidating, put on Somm: Into the Bottle for a refreshing, more relatable look at wine. You’ll recognize some of the same characters from Somm, but this time around they are focusing on the wine experience from the average person’s point of view. This documentary will teach you about everything from production and marketing to blending and consumption. Personally, I think this production is even better than the original Somm!
Easily the most captivating documentary of the bunch, Sour Grapes depicts the wine industry through an entirely different lens. You may be surprised to learn about the art of “wine-fraud” in this film, a niche of the industry that few ever see. The plot thickens as the producers help you uncover a mystery, exposing the deception, lies, and skill that kept many of the world’s leading wine enthusiasts in the dark as they were tricked before their eyes. Pour yourself a glass of your favorite wine and watch this mystery unfold for yourself!
I recommend making this list your next binge-watch on Netflix, and sipping some of your favorite wine along the way!
Seen any of these documentaries yourself? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!
Love it!