The movie is playing at Sundance Kabuki and Rajat Parr is holding a Q&A session after the 4:10 showing and pouring Sandhi wines before the 7:10pm show.
I will be there. Who is going?
Already saw it on iTunes. 
The film confirmed my suspicions: Most somms are arrogant twats. The characters were painful unsympathetic DB’s. Too much about tasting (which lets face it is as exciting as watching paint dry unless you are participating) instead of why wine is so fracking amazing and why it drives people to do insane things. Perhaps this was the directors fault… There is some great wine porn in it though which makes it worth viewing for some.
Wow - we must have seen different movies. Anyone who knows Ian, Brian and especially DLynn would never use the word arrogant. I do not know Dustin as well as the others, but he has never rubbed me as arrogant at all. Remember the movie is called SOMM not WINE, this is not a movie about wine, it is about 4 guys trying to pass a test about wine. I loved the flick, but I am a little too close to the subject matter I guess, so I am not objective. Well to each their own and I always respect everyone’s personal opinions. Makes the world go round.
Perspective is everything. I am sure they are great guys. I only saw a sliver that the director chose.
One thing I’m wondering… apparently you can keep taking the test again and again until you pass all three parts? So the percentage of anyone passing in a given year is low, but what’s the percentage of all takers who pass eventually?
Also:
I was shocked that DLynn didn’t pass. He was a ridiculous natural at the job of actually being a “Somm”, far more than the others. Sigh.
So the way the test works is this - Once you pass 1 or 2 parts of the three, you “clock” is running. You have two more years to pass your other sections or you are reset and have to start at 1 again. So technically you have three years to pass all three parts. You can take the test only once a year. I have heard rumors that this is changing a bit going forward.
Gene, that link you listed is for Master of Wine - which is very different that Master Sommelier.
I kmow: Sommelier is linked in that article.
I saw this at the Kabuki on Friday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt it was well balanced such that both geeks and casual movie goers could enjoy it.
http://www.mastersommeliers.org/Pages.aspx/Master-Sommelier-Diploma-Exam
So it claims the pass rate is 10%. Without further information I assume that refers to a given year’s pass rate. If we can assume your average super-dedicated somm is willing to take this test three times, the math works out to an eventual pass rate of 27%.
My wife and I saw it in St. Helena on Fri. and loved it.
I missed the version with the arrogant twats- The wine is about people prepping / stressing for the MS exam, not why wine is awesome.
First, I loved the movie and in the end didn’t think any of them were portrayed as arrogant. If I’m trying to psych myself up for test, confidence goes a long way. If I were to concede that I didn’t know everything and wasn’t the greatest (for the purpose of not coming across as a DB), then it would only hurt my confidence and performance on game day.
Secondly, if I were to do a rough “passing rate,” they said 50 people took it this year and 6 passed; if you simply extend that across the 43 years they’ve held the exam = that’s 2150 candidates. 197 became MSs (accounting for those that eventually passed). … that comes out to 9.16%. That % would go up a bit for folks that were repeat takers, but probably not all the way to 27%. Depends on the average % of candidates that are first timers each year.
Wine grapes are the largest fruit crop and wine sales(and peripheral industries)account for a substantial slice of all commerce but we get few videos to latch onto. As a result, I found myself nearly thanking the producers of the film prior to seeing it. Well, having saw it, I can say that it gave me a glimpse into a subculture that I wouldn’t have otherwise had. I’m not sure it colored wine for me any differently as did the movie “Red Obsession.” It follows a handful of guys studying for what appears to be a grueling test. The editors really delve into their personalities, and do a great job. For $6.99 on iTunes, it’s worth renting.
Best,
Kenney
I knew my post would be controversial. FWIW, I saw it with 3 non wine geeks. They were appalled at pretentious and un-fun they made wine. I would admit that I found watching guys tasting wine pretty boring. YMMV.
i have not seen Red Obsession although the trailer makes it look like it is a better film.
With all due respect, I find it difficult to imagine this as a Public Service Announcement.
That there will be a special showing of a movie presumably of interest to many people here? I don’t find it difficult at all.
As much as wine is part of my everyday professional identity, I still feel that a movie involving wine is not worthy of a PSA. Famine in Africa, Dysentery in Haiti? Sure, I could buy into that. Exactly what is the social significance of the message about young men spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to advance their careers?