The Drops of God – the classic manga that inspired a hit internationally co-produced TV series on Apple TV – finally returns to print. When famed wine critic Kanzaki passes away, his will reveals that his fortune of a wine collection won’t simply be bequeathed to his only son, who in a snub to his father went to work sales at a beer company. To earn his inheritance, Shizuku must identify – in competition with a stellar young critic – twelve heaven-sent wines whose impressions the will describes in flowing terms…
Whilst not covering a subject that is commonplace in the manga genre, The Drops of God has nevertheless won acclaim in the past for its sophisticated style and shockingly deep understanding of the subject of wine. The series has seen somewhat of a resurgence in the past year thanks to its live action adaptation on Apple TV that boasts an international cast and managing to carry a story with three different languages involved (French, Japanese and English). The show won an International Emmy and was renewed for a second season set for release in January 2026. To cap it all off, the series will be getting an anime adaptation that will premier in 2026.
With all this buzz, now is a perfect time for fans to discover the original manga in these new editions. Beyond having an unconventional setting, the series boasts a very stylish approach to both the storytelling and the artwork. Tadashi Agi (the brother and sister writing team of Shin and Yuko Kibayashi) have made it their business to thoroughly explore the wine industry in all aspects. This has led them to achieving high recognition as wine experts – even being voted one of Decanter magazine’s 50 most influential people in the wine industry in 2009. As you’d expect, they deftly meld the subject of wine with classic manga rival tropes. Shizuku’s fierce rivalry with his father’s protégé Issei drives the main action of the series whilst the writers explore the variety of flavours associated with wine, the art of being a sommelier and how the drinking implement greatly impacts the flavour experience.
On the art side, Shu Okimoto has a sophisticated and detailed style that tends to avoid the comic exaggeration you see often in manga. She also – like the writing team – delves heavily into the facets of wine drinking to the point where readers will find themselves being educated whether they intended to be or not. Even simple actions like the art of decanting becomes an event.
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or not, there has never been a better time to check out this classic manga.
The Drops of God 1 is out 28 October from Vertical (9781647294755, p/b, £17.99)
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