Fueled by his love for wine, Elijah enrolls in a course to become a master sommelier, an elite designation given only to a handful who are able to pass its notoriously difficult exam. It's a dream that upends the expectations of his father, Louis (Courtney B. Vance), who insists Elijah take over the popular Memphis barbeque joint that's been passed down from father to son since its inception. Elijah struggles with the demands of school and a new relationship, while Louis wrestles with the feelings of his son rejecting the family business until a tragedy forces both of them to slow things down.

That is the official description of the movie but it represents so much more than that. Not since Sideways or the documentary SOMM has there been so much buzz about a wine movie. But, unlike other wine movies, it’s the first to show the wine experience exclusively through then lens of a minority and features a predominantly black cast. It’s also the first to fictionalize the experience of becoming a Master Sommelier. The film is loosely based on the life story of my friend and colleague, DLynn Proctor, and his journey to become a Master Sommelier.  You, perhaps, may recognize him from the SOMM documentary. In an interview with wine writer, Julia Coney, Proctor offers, “This movie is going to expose wine to an entirely new group who felt left out of other wine movies before.” I’ve only seen the trailer but I could immediately relate to the story. I also got initial pushback from my family, began my career working at a wine shop, took a life-changing trip to France and I chuckled at the part where he tried to explain what a Master Sommelier is to his family. My Indian mother thought it was a medical specialty. I am thrilled for this movie and am hopeful you will get a chance to check it out too.

Uncorked premieres March 27th on Netflix.