'Drops of God' on Apple TV+: Is the show about wine-tasting based on a true story?

'Drops of God' strikes a fine balance between the source material and what Apple TV+ has in mind for the show

BY KARUNA SHARMA

PUBLISHED APR 21, 2023

Tomohisa Yamashita as Issei Tomine in 'Drops of God' (Apple TV+)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Apple TV+'s new show, 'Drops of God', is a heady mix of wealth and style, along with drama centred around fine wine and family intrigue. While people can discover many underlying themes in the show, the most notable are family trauma, unpleasant childhood experiences and being considered a failure by the family.

The show starts when protagonist Camille's father, Alexandre, dies. She has not seen him after her parents separated when she was nine. After his death, she discovers he has left behind the world's greatest wine collection. However, to claim it, Camille and Alexandre' protege, Issei, are invited to taste a red wine and have been given a month to identify it. The one who wins gets the coveted $100M inheritance.

Apple TV+ 'Drops of God' Episode 2 gives equal screen time for lead characters Issei Tomine and Camille Leger

'Drops of God' is based on a Japanese Manga

'Drops of God' strikes a balance between the source material and Apple TV+'s vision of what it wants the show to be. While the show is exciting, the Manga is inspirational. The Manga did such a fantastic job inspiring readers that it caused a wine boom for over a decade in Japan and South Korea. However, there are a lot of differences between the Manga and the Apple TV+ series.

In the series, we see Camille and Issei are knowledgeable about wine. In the Manga, however, the main character has no knowledge of wine. In the series, Alexandre has a daughter but in the manga, he has a son who works for a beer company. He starts tasting wine one by one. He describes a particular wine as an experience rather than a beverage. Although, the TV series and the Manga have stories that are different from one another, the crux of the story, which is talking and dreaming about wine, stays unchanged.

Is 'Drops of God' based on a true story?

When you watch 'Drops of God', the one question that comes to mind is if the show is based on a true story. People are capable of playing games to get their hands on such a large inheritance and what is shown on the Apple TV+ show seems to mirror reality. However, the show is completely fictional.

'Drops of God' now available to watch on Apple TV+.