Want to expand your wine horizons at home? Checking out the best wine movies on Netflix is one of the best ways to get into wine further. Whether you are looking for heartwarming stories about Burgundian winemaking families, seeing Tina Fey in a wine comedy or a documentary about fake wine, streaming services like Netflix have a lot to offer.
I remember seeing “Somm” when it came out and very much enjoyed it (even though I’m not as interested in blind testing). To help you choose a netflix wine documentary and other movies about wine, I’ve included ratings for each title and have embedded trailer videos where available.
Note that movies and documentaries come and go from Netflix over time. If you don’t find a specific title today, consider using another service like iTunes to find the movie. You might also look into using a VPN service like Surfshark to unlock access to wine documentary Netflix from different countries (or look at other streaming services entirely like Amazon). Fortunately, some of the best wine movies on Netflix are made by Netflix so they are unlikely to leave the platform.
1) Wine Country (2019)
- Running Time: 1h 43 min
- Genre: Comedy
- Director: Amy Poehler
- Recognition: This movie has a 56 Metascore from Metacritic
If you are planning a wine tasting trip to Napa Valley, Wine Country is a good pick. The story centers around a group of friends traveling to Napa Valley to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday. In a way, this wine movie Netflix me a bit of “Sideways“ but focused on female characters, including Tina Fey, and without the anti-Merlot negativity. Invite a few casual wine drinkers over for a wine night and enjoy a laugh with this comedy!
2) Sour Grapes (2016)
- Running Time: 1h 25 min
- Genre: Documentary
- Director: Reuben Atlas and Jerry Rothwell
- Recognition: The film did win two awards (i.e., Devour! The Food Film Fest and the Key West Film Festival).
For as long as people have loved and collected wine, there have been wine frauds. This documentary focuses on a highly successful wine counterfeiter who sold wine to top auction houses. It’s a memorable tale in the history of wine. If you love true crime stories or podcasts, you’ll love this exploration of the rise and fall of a famous wine fraudster.
I especially liked this wine documentary because it looked at the wine auction world where people spend incredible sums on high-end wine. The Netflix wine documentary is also a cautionary tale to remind us that the wine industry has its share of frauds and con artists just like any other industry.
3) SOMM (2012)
- Running Time: 1h 34 min
- Genre: Documentary
- Director: Jason Wise
- Recognition: The wine film did the audience award at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival
This wine movie probably takes the title for “THE wine documentary” because it combines a few themes. On one level, the documentary explores the familiar challenge of learning a challenging subject and passing exams like the Master Sommelier test.
I love this kind of “insider view” of how a career works in practice. Dramatically, I also enjoyed how “SOMM” brings the viewer into the world of wine professionals without making you feel dumb or talking down to you. So open a few bottles of wine with a fellow wine nerd and enjoy this documentary!
4) SOMM: Into The Bottle (2015)
- Running Time: 1 h 30 min
- Genre: Documentary
- Director: Jason Wise
- Recognition: this wine movie was reviewed in the Miami Herald and Hollywood Reporter,
Despite the shared title, “SOMM: Into the bottle” is a very different wine movie from the original “SOMM.” Think of it as a series of “wine short stories” instead. Rather than following a group of wine professionals as they study, “Into the Bottle” brings the viewer to the world of wine by highlighting ten wines.
I would recommend “SOMM: Into The Bottle” as a Netflix wine documentary intermediate option. If you’ve enjoyed lighter wine movies on Netflix like “Sideways” and “Wine country” already, then take a look at “SOMM” and “SOMM: Into The Bottle.”
5) A Year in Burgundy (2013)
- Running Time: 1 h 31 min
- Genre: Documentary
- Director: David Kennard
- Recognition: “A Year in Burgundy” was reviewed by Decanter, Drinks Business, and Modern Farmer.
Burgundy is frequently mentioned alongside Bordeaux as one of the best French wine regions. What makes this wine movie unique is the chronological approach. You will follow seven winemaking families in Burgundy over a year as they make their wines. Through “A Year in Burgundy,” you will meet Domaine Leroy, Domaine Perrot-Minot, and more. If France is on your wine travel list, make sure you watch “A Year in Burgundy” first!
Despite the advent of streaming services, this documentary can be tough to find on a streaming service. I bought it on iTunes, and that is the digital option I recommend. It’s a must-see documentary especially if you are traveling to France and have plans to visit Burgundy.
Note: Some reviewers have pointed out that “A Year in Burgundy” is more “atmospheric than informative.” That’s a fair point. The wine documentary will give you a visual sense of the region and its wines. If you are looking for a deeper look at French wines, I recommend picking up a Great Course, an audio program that walks you through French wines. Find out more in my review: The Everyday Guide to Wines of France.
6) A Year in Champagne (2014)
- Running Time: 1 h 22 min
- Genre: Documentary
- Director: David Kennard
- Recognition: the wine documentary was nominated for an award at the Hawaii International Film Festival.
This wine documentary is a sequel to 2013’s A Year in Burgundy but focused on a different region of France. I’ve written about the Champagne wine region before, and this Netflix wine documentary is an excellent way to inspire your wine travel plans further. In “A Year in Champagne,” you will meet six different champagne wine producers and discover more about the production of the world’s most famous sparkling wine.
7) A Year In Port (2016)
- Running Time: 1 h 26 min
- Genre: Documentary
- Director: David Kennard
- Recognition: I haven’t found reviewers
“A Year in Port” is the final installment in a three wine documentary series created by David Kennard. Unlike the first two movies, this documentary will take you to Portugal, home of the world’s best-known fortified wines. Wine importer Martine Saunier acts as the guide in this movie. If you’ve ever wondered about the port wine you enjoy over the holidays, this wine documentary will serve as a great visual introduction to the region.
One reviewer has pointed out that “A Year In Port” doesn’t explain or introduce Port wine fundamentals (e.g., it is a popular dessert wine).
8) Bottle Shock (2008)
- Running Time: 1 h 50 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Director: Randall Miller
- Recognition: This movie has 56 Metascore from Metacritic. That puts it on par with “Wine Country” from a Metascore perspective.
The best wine movies on Netflix go beyond documentaries. This “inspired by true events” movie starring Chris Pine and Alan Rickman brings the famous 1976 wine competition between French and California wines to life. I have mixed feelings about the movie because it is focused on the idea of a blind-tasting competition. Still, the movie does illustrate one perspective on how American wines rose to fame after they suffered a significant setback due to Prohibition. This wine movie Netflix is a fun introduction to American wine industry.
Tip: Curious to find out more about the 1976 wine competition? In that case, take a look at the book that inspired the wine movie: Judgment of Paris by George M. Taber.
9) Uncorked (2020)
- Running Time: 1 h 44 min
- Genre: Drama
- Director: Prentice Penny
- Recognition: This Wine move has a 62 Metascore from Metacritic.com
Enjoyed SOMM and want more about the life and challenges of a sommelier? This 2020 Netflix movie tells the story of an aspiring master sommelier who faces demands to run the family restaurant. The story is a refreshing look at the wine profession through the eyes of African-American characters. This movie is not a wine documentary netflix but it does offer a refreshing take on the wine world.
10) Decanted (2016)
- Running Time: 1 h 22 min
- Genre: Documentary
- Director: Nick Kovacic
- Recognition: “Decanted” was nominated for several Golden Reel Awards.
Like “Wine Country,” this wine film takes the viewer to California, especially Napa Valley. In contrast to the long-established wineries of France, Decanted is about a new winery, Italics Winegrowers. For those among us who have wondered idly about starting a winery, this wine documentary netflix gives you a glimpse of that experience. The documentary is a good reminder about the business decisions and people behind every glass of wine we enjoy.
Taking Your Wine Interest On The Road
Finding a wine movie on Netflix a few wine movies will probably leave you wanting more. Watching a wine documentary netflix will only help you learn so much. You’ll want the experience of touching the grapevine, seeing wine barrels, and exploring the grounds of a winery yourself. To help you explore those interests, find out how to plan your wine tasting trip in 5 steps.
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