In 2004 Tadashi Agi created a manga series illustrated by Shu Okimoto called The Drops of God. It was serialized in Weekly Morning magazine and became a huge hit. It ran for 10 years, and was reprinted in several volumes. The series proved to be so popular that Apple TV turned the manga in a live action series that won an International Emmy for Best Drama series in 2024. Now, the manga has been adapted as an anime set to begin airing on Crunchyroll on April 10th.

The Drops of God follows the story of Shizuku Kanzaki, a junior employee of a major beverage company in Japan. The first episode begins with him learning that sales may not be his strength. The company, thus, is transferring him to the wine department of the company. The only problem is, he’s never touched a glass of wine in his life. His manager finds this shocking, after all his father is renowned wine critic Yutaka Kanzaki.

Before the transfer can happen though, Shinzuku receives a call from a lawyer who tells him his estranged father has passed away. As an only child Shinzuku believes that he sets to inherit a large fortune. However, he soon discovers that his father adopted a son, a young wine critic named Issei Tomine. He’s also set up a competition between the two, where the winner will be named the inheritor. In order to win, Shinzuku must properly identify 13 wines before Issei, something that he doesn’t think is going to be possible.

The Drops of God isn’t your usual anime. There’s no action, little humour, and plays out like a drama. The story really isn’t unique either, in fact it has played out in movies, books, and television many times before. Even this exact story has aired before thanks to Apple TV.  Wine is also very much at the forefront of the narrative, which is a topic that not everyone can relate to. That being said, the competition between Shinzuku and Issei is fun to watch.

While the story may not be for everyone, the classical opera music that is paired with bold colour and lighting. These aesthetic choices make this series a feast for the eyes. Each sip of wine becomes an artistic masterpiece. The draw the win in such a way that somehow gives you a clear indication of what the wine they are drinking tastes like. It’s very difficult to make taste and scent come to life on the screen, but the creators of this series do a pretty decent job of it. In a way it makes you want to see if wine can effect you, the way it effects the characters.

Stories based around a food or drink can be difficult to pull off, but the creators of The Drops of God do a pretty decent job of it. It may not be the best or most compelling series airing, but it does a good enough job drawing you in that you can’t wait to see the next episode. Or see how the portray the next glass of wine visually.