It’s been six years since the original Somm documentary revealed the mysterious, underground world of sommeliers. Now the third installment of the series, Somm III has made one of its premier screenings in Napa Valley at the Cameo Theatre in St.Helena with an after party with our friends at Brasswood Estate.
The Cameo Theatre was an ideal location for the intimate screening of roughly 70 people. The film was followed by a question and answer session with the film’s director, Jason Wise, and three-star winemakers and industry buffs, Raj Parr, Delynn Proctor and Brian McClintic.
While Somm III features the return of many former cast members, it is also anchored by three of wine’s most respected palates: consultant editor Steven Spurrier, renowned master sommelier Fred Dame, and wine critic Jancis Robinson.
The original Somm film followed the journey of four young sommeliers as they attempted to pass the infamously difficult Master Sommelier exam. In the second film, Somm: Into the Bottle, the filmmakers explored everything that goes into producing a single bottle of wine. Somm III is less about jaw-dropping landscapes, vines, and cellars, and more about the people who have played a major role in shaping the $220 billion wine industry we know today.
Continuing with the Judgment’s old world versus new world theme, Somm III sets the stage for two separate tastings: the tried and true palates set in Paris versus the new kids on the block set in New York City. Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson, a familiar face from the previous two films, tears a page out of Spurrier’s playbook, summoning the top, up-and-coming tasters in New York for a modern-day Judgment, with a twist. Meanwhile back in Paris, Spurrier, Dame, and Robinson gather together for a tasting of their own.
Ultimately, this film serves to remind us that wine is subjective and deeply personal; it’s not about scores and ratings or price tag, but about who you’re with, where you are, and how you feel in the moment you taste it. Worldwide screenings of Somm III will take place throughout the Fall, with the film set to be officially released on digital platforms at the end of the year.
Check out the trailer:
We can’t wait to hear what you think!
