Documentary dives deep into the wine world

What’s the oldest bottle of wine you’ve ever enjoyed? Did it look like this one?

Most would say no.

In 2012, wine geeks and wine-swirling amateurs alike tuned into director Jason Wise’s Somm, about four disciplined wine enthusiasts studying for the notoriously difficult Master Sommelier exam.

Wise’s new follow-up documentary,Somm: Into the Bottle, takes us into the world of the wine industry, from sun soaked vineyards to dusty bottles in ancient cellars.

“The first film’s really about these guys who are obsessed with something, and so there’s a lot of human drama,” said Matt Kettmann, editor at the Santa Barbara Independent and Wine Enthusiast. “The second film is really about what they’re obsessed with. It dives into the history of these regions, it dives into winemaking, it dives into what makes wine tick in the bottle.”

All the students from the first film are now experts in this film. One of them is Brian McClintic, who’s known in Santa Barbara for opening Les Marchand in 2013. His next project is a new wine retail venture called Viticole, which is set to launch this year.

Kettmann says the documentary will entertain and inform wine lovers, history nerds or anyone intrigued by the complexity and, to some, ambiguous jargon that surrounds the art of making, drinking, pricing and describing wine.

“The craziest thing is watching these famous vintners from around the world, some of whom are very reclusive, come out on screen and open these amazing bottles of wine that are 50, 60, 70, 80 years old,” said Kettmann.