SOMM (2012)

Review of the wine tasting documentary SOMM

What makes a good documentary, what does it need to be appreciated? To me it does not need to be about a subject I am interested in. No, a good documentary will manage to make you care about its subject, no matter how boring or crazy it might initially seem. SOMM is about the world of the sommelier. Now I had no idea what the word meant before watching this, but after seeing SOMM you won’t forget it. This movie is about people trying to pass the exam to become Master Sommelier.

Review of the documentary SOMM

First of all, a sommelier is someone who knows everything there is to know about wine. Where it comes from, what it should taste like and which wine to drink with specific food. The title of Master Sommelier is prestigious and in the last 40 years only 170 people have managed to get the title. The exam consists of three parts service (being able to handle any type of customer), theory and blind tasting. Especially the last two parts are hard and the men and women who want to pass it have to dedicate all their time studying. They have to know each and every wine region and know all the details about the wines that come from there. The blind tasting is especially amazing as the candidates will get 5 glasses and they have to tell which exact wine they are tasting and from which year it is. They are able to describe each and every detail of those wines, if it tastes earthy, if it smells like a freshly opened set of tennis balls, if there are flowers in there. As you are watching it you cannot help but be impressed in what the men in this documentary can do. It is a big challenge, not only for them, but also for their girlfriends who know that they are not the most important thing until their men have passed on of the most challenging exams there is.

Review of the documentary SOMM

SOMM follows these men during their preparation and exam and you are watching it you start to root for them. Each man has his own distinct personality and drive, but they all support each other to reach their goal. A lot of time is spent with them studying, which some might find repetitive, but I was enthralled. Since not many people pass the exam you know that not everyone (or maybe not even anyone) will become Master Sommelier. I am someone who does not drink, so the idea of a documentary about wine did nothing for me. I’m glad though that I decided to give SOMM a chance though as it successfully takes a look into I world I knew nothing about and make it captivating.

9 thoughts on “SOMM (2012)

  1. It is a hard job because not everyone’s olfactory nerves are up to par. You have to be really sensitive and basically have had to have studied all your life to be anywhere near competent. Can you imagine storing away a smell so distinct and minuscule in your memory and have to remember it at the drop of a dime? Like recognizing a face. I just feel like it’s like recognizing the difference between twins.

    That guy from “The Perfume” would have been kick ass at this.

    • Yeah it is a hard job and like they say, you have to keep smelling things to train your brain to remember them. It’s amazing they are able to do this.

  2. I’m a bit into wine tasting. Or rather: I’m trying, but I’m not any good at it. After more than ten years of systematic efforts, I can’t still distinguish different grapes from each other. I admire people who can though, and I’d definitely like to see this one.

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