If you’re already a fan of manga (Japanese comic books) I don’t need to tell you how much fun they can be. If you are not yet familiar with manga, and especially if you love wine, Drops of God offers an entertaining way to learn more about both wine and a madcap new literary 
genre.
The basic plot of this series is wacky enough: young Shizuku Kanzaki, son of a renowned wine critic, must compete against his adoptive brother (a rising wine critic himself) for their late fathers’ estate. As his will specifies, the two young men must identify and describe a certain twelve bottles of wine, including some of the world’s most treasured labels from France, California and Italy. As the competition between the rivals heats up we too learn about such things as how Burgundian vineyards are ranked, and how its wines are produced.
The plotline is sprinkled with helpful details about reading labels, terroir, and much more, including decanting: At the beginning of the book Kanzaki doesn’t yet know much about wine but he is already a master at decanting, having been taught the basics at a young age by his father. For example, after a 1990 Domaine de la Romanée Conti is uncorked, “His almost divine decanting released that stiff chained-up Richbourg and turned it into a field of flowers blowing in full glory.” (It’s a good reminder for us all to decant more often, for even when it’s not DRC don’t we want the full glory of our wine to unfold?)
As the literary romp proceeds there are heady descriptions of certain wines. One of the characters says that Miani is “a monster wine from Friuli in Northern Italy,” and rhapsodizes about its “demonic darkness…as full and sticky as blood…it’s as dense as biting into fruit.” Hard to read this kind of stuff without racing to the wine cabinet and grabbing the first bottle that comes to hand.
But don’t imagine for a minute that Drops of God is simply titillating wine porn. Readers are taking it seriously enough for wine sales in Japan to have risen astronomically during the first year of publication (2004). According to CNN, wine shops all over Asia regularly advertise the fact that a wine has appeared in one of the comic’s 24 issues. “The phenomenon quickly spread to Taiwan, China and Korea, where the comic sparked a wine boom that increased sales by 150 percent.”
Reuters chimes in, declaring that The Drops of God “has taken Japan by storm, is conquering Korea and China and has boosted European wine sales along the way.” “Once staid Bordeaux,” says Bloomberg, “is embracing the wildly popular wine manga series.” The Guardian U.K. elaborates on this, revealing that some of the vintners whose wines were depicted have seen their Asian exports double or even triple. The authors did not expect this phenomenon. They were quite surprised that they were able to influence the French market like this, as the choices are based on their personal tastes.” (Who are these authors? Tadashi Agi is the pen name of brother and sister writing team Shin and Yuko Kabayashi. The sibling’s mystery/thriller comics have long been award-winning bestsellers in Japan.)
Drops of God is fun and funky, but its characters also offer plenty of serious ideas to think about. Here’s a sampling of some of my favorite quotes:
-“I’d compare this young wine [Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2000] to infanticide,” says one character. “No, at this level it’s almost abortion,” another interjects. “The moment you drank it, you’d have realized what a cruel thing we’ve done. It makes me want to cry.”
“This [Haut Medoc de Giscours 2000] is a fantastic wine. It makes you eager for the next glass. Just like wanting to ride the merry-go-round one more time.”
“There’s a burst of fresh orange, just picked, followed by a soothing almond aroma that lingers for a moment and then vanishes.”
“For a restaurant, wine is the profit point. There’s no reason to let a top grade wine with no turnover rest in the cellar.”
“Your tongue has been violated by that haughty French stuff. You’ll never appreciate the profundity of Italian wine.”
“A blood-scented sensuality born of decadence. Indeed–this wine is sensuality itself.”
“Wa ha ha ha ha ha!”
7