This time, we would like to introduce the 2020 Netflix series "Wine is a Taste of Expectations and Reality."
Source: Wine is the taste of expectation and reality | Netflix official website
It's a piece with a stylish atmosphere!
-
Natchan
I'm 29 years old and work for a web company. I'm studying wine in the hopes of being able to enjoy it more.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
"Wine is the Taste of Expectation and Reality" Detailed Information
| Movie genre | Human drama |
| theme | Work, family and the Master Sommelier exam |
| Production year/country | 2020/USA |
| time | 104 minutes |
| director | Prentiss Penny |
| Cast | Mamadou Athieh, Courtney B. Vance, Niecy Nash, etc. |
| Distribution site | Netflix |
The word "Uncorked" can be translated as "wine that has been uncorked." I think it means that the protagonist's life, which had been smoldering, begins to move forward, like wine that has been awakened from its slumber.
This film is distributed by Netflix, so it is not available on Blu-ray or other media. You will need to sign up for Netflix to watch it.
▶︎Watch "Wine: The Art of Drinking" (Netflix)
Highlights of "Wine: The Taste of Expectation and Reality"
Memphis, Tennessee, the setting of this movie, is famous as the birthplace of Elvis Presley , known as the "King of Rock and Roll." It is also said to be the birthplace of rock, blues, and soul, three of America's most representative music styles. 
The cityscape of Memphis, with its iconic pyramid-shaped buildings and numerous bridges crossing the river.
The local dish of Memphis is " barbecue ," a spicy, smoky dish of chunks of meat slowly grilled.
This site sometimes recommends pairing wine with barbecue, but the drinks to enjoy with barbecue in Memphis are beer and whiskey. Tennessee whiskey "Jack Daniel's" is also popular in Japan.
The protagonist, Elijah, grew up in such a town as the son of a barbecue restaurant owner. He is naturally expected to take over the restaurant. However, his dream is to become a sommelier .
The environment of Memphis and the family are completely unfamiliar with wine. Even when he tells them his dream, they don't understand: "Sommelier? What's that?"
In particular, his father, who inherited the store from his grandfather, strongly opposed the idea.
It seems like the sommelier profession itself is not well known, so I guess this reaction is inevitable...
As a parent, I'm sure you feel that there's no time to lose yourself in wine, and that you need to make sure your son takes over the restaurant properly!
The highlight of this work is that the protagonist is a young man taking the Master Sommelier exam, but the setting is not in the home of wine, but in a place where wine is rather a minor part of it . As the protagonist is African-American, the background music makes extensive use of high-quality hip-hop, which adds to the atmosphere.
As such, the film has many unique features for a film that centers around wine, and it also depicts the hard work of young men chasing their dreams and the love of their family, so there is plenty to see.
I would especially recommend this to people who like teen movies and hip-hop. Of course, wine lovers will also find it a refreshing read.
What is a Master Sommelier?
"Master Sommelier" is the highest level of sommelier certification in the world. The pass rate is only 3-8% . It shows how difficult the exam is.
Many people take the regular sommelier exam by self-study, but it is difficult to pass the Master Sommelier exam by self-study, so it is essential to create an environment surrounded by wine. For example, some people go to vocational schools like the main character in this movie, or study abroad in France. Also, friends who practice tasting together are very important.
The Master Sommelier certification is a difficult one to pass, but if you pass it, the scope of work available to sommeliers will expand dramatically. It can lead to employment in top restaurants, or jobs as a wine instructor or consultant, so this is what motivates test takers.
I have written in detail about Master Sommeliers in other articles, so please take a look at those as well.
▶︎A close look at the world's most difficult wine test! Synopsis and review of the movie "SOMM"
My thoughts on "Wine: The Taste of Expectation and Reality"
I started watching it thinking it was a movie about wine, but what impressed me most after watching it was the presence of the mother always standing by her son.
She was always cheerful, and even when she was struggling personally, she always put her son and family first, enveloping them in great love.
Although Elijah's father was initially unsupportive of his dream, it wasn't because he didn't love his son; he simply believed that taking over the store would make him happiest.
His girlfriend, who supported his fickle young heart, and the friends he met at vocational school were both important people to Elijah.
In the end, it seems that not only did he have a love of wine that was greater than the difficulty of the exam, but he was also blessed with great people above all else.
It is clear that the Master Sommelier qualification is a difficult one to obtain without the support of others.
The most exciting scene was a wine tasting contest between students at a vocational school. The flow of analyzing each other's wines was tense and looked like that of athletes.
I have no idea how he does that kind of analysis (laughs), but it's pretty cool that he can show off such deep knowledge.
The conversations are light-hearted and full of everyday jokes, creating an excellent contrast with the tense scenes.
The pace is good, so you won't get bored, and by the end I was left feeling positive and full of hope for the future.
summary
"Wine is the Taste of Expectation and Reality" is a human drama that depicts the hard work of a young man aiming to become a master sommelier and the love of his family who watches over him.
With its stylish background music and witty dialogue, this is a work that can be enjoyed even by those who are not interested in wine.
The theme is family love, so you can enjoy it alone, with your partner, or with your family. I recommend watching it while enjoying a glass of delicious wine.
