The Drops of God

NOW A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A 2011 NEW YORK TIMES HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE PICK
ABOUT.COM BEST NEW MANGA OF 2011

“Absolute page-turner… It’s the sweeping two-page illustrations of taste-transporting moments (a shirt-tearing jam by rock band Queen, a maiden fleeing through strawberry fields) that better capture wine’s great allure than a thousand dry scribblings on history and weather conditions.”
—Time Out New York

“It presents wines rapturously and in creative ways… I’m a vodka man, but Drops of God left me with a new appreciation for the grape, new vocabulary words like terroir (the flavors and aromas that soil and geography impart to a wine) and a fascination with decanting, which the book depicts as an art form.”
—The New York Times

“My favorite wine book of 2011… Pick up this first volume at your sleep’s peril. It’s a one-nighter, a wine tale that is equal parts coming-of-age, love and detective stories. Along its nervy way, it nonetheless plainly explains various wines, wine talk and the how-to of wine tasting. As a graphic novel, it gets across a lot more emotion and imagery than mere prose… You’ll be drunk with anticipation.”
—Chicago Tribune

“An almost psychedelically beautiful work… It’s like Speed Racer crossed with Wine Spectator.”
—The Daily Dish (LA Times)

“Following the recipe of many graphic novels, 'Drops' is filled with adventure, betrayal, family secrets and a pinch of sexual tension.”
—The Daily (Wall Street Journal)

“Visually stunning and effortlessly entertaining… To top it off, reading Drops is a trippy literary experience… Don’t be surprised if you crush this book in one night. It’s pretty impossible to put down once you pick it up.”
—Bottlenotes (The Daily Sip)

“Reading about wine has never been so weird, wild and exhilarating… The twisting, turning drama of the story rivals that of a Spanish telenovela, spurred on by the energetic, antic illustrations… [Tadashi Agi] manages to sneak in an entire vinous education, from the finer points of tasting and serving wine to the sense behind the organization of Burgundy’s crus. It’s addictive stuff.”
—Wine & Spirits

“The authors manage to conjure a version of wine that is intensely personal, yet widely comprehensible. Flowery metaphors are counterbalanced by a fair bit of instruction in technical wine history, vocabulary, and viticulture… It is precisely this balance of imaginative storytelling and technical material that makes The Drops of God a refreshing departure from your typical wine reading.”
—Terroirist

“I have already ordered the second volume (out in December) and I guess that in terms of reviews that is a definitive statement.”
—Wine Psych

“Presents some complex wine topics in an easy to understand manner, without talking down to the consumer… I urge all wine lovers to take a look, with an open mind, at The Drops of God. Give it a chance and you might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.”
—The Passionate Foodie

“Penchants for French wines drive the selection of vinos described with dramatic, often fanatical detail.”
—Wine Enthusiast

“Through the dramas of their wine-drinking characters, [Tadashi Agi] instructs readers on how to taste wine. It’s hilarious, for sure, when a young woman swoons over a man’s decanting skills, but it’s also a great way to draw attention to the technical proficiency of a beautiful pour without getting too technical. And that’s what’s truly extraordinary about Drops of God: It makes learning about wine—which, let’s face it, can be a totally tedious thing for the non-obsessed—really fun… Seriously, this is juicy stuff!”
—GILT

“This is not only an influential wine book in Japan (and France) but is a gem of a find—something that is out-of-the-ordinary, yet based on serious wine understanding, i.e. that wine is a living thing and the memories that fine wines can evoke. It is a real page turner!”
—WEINGARTEN

“The Drops of God…is the first manga graphic novel I’ve read, but it won’t be the last because it’s the first entry in a fun and informative wine-related series… The novel has a lot going for it, starting with an exciting and action-packed story and multidimensional characters. Learning about wine has never been so entertaining. I am totally hooked on the series and can’t wait for volume 2 to be released next month.”
—Beth Fish Reads

“I can’t begin to express how much I learned from this manga… Even if you aren’t comfortable with graphic novels, this one is very approachable due to the subject matter… I can’t wait until the second volume comes out, but for now I will content myself with rereading and savoring the first.”
—S. Krishna’s Books

“This book is extraordinarily easy to like, and I vastly prefer whiskey over wine. I’ve been hearing everyone and everything hail The Drops of God as the latest best thing ever since 2009. As it turns out, the hype was right. This is good comic-booking.”
—Comics Alliance

“Does it live up to the hype? It does… Where Drops of God draws you in is its writing… Vertical’s translation and presentation is as good as we’ve come to expect from them.”
—A Case Suitable for Treatment

“The series really seems to be more about teaching readers about wine by showing the ways it can influence people’s character… It’s about hooch, it’s got amiable stars, and you can learn stuff about a subject that may be new to you… I’m in for the duration.”
—Manga Curmudgeon

“As interesting as all of the subtleties of wine is, the art on this title is just drop-dead gorgeous and steals the show. From that beautifully designed cover to the detailed backgrounds to panel upon panel of beautifully rendered talking heads, this book looks fantastic… It’s hard not to feel the excitement that the characters do throughout their journey. This really is an amazing work.”
—Comics-and-More

“The Drops of God describes the various wines in an entertaining, appealing and unique manner… Now, wine geeks in Finland will be able to drink in this zesty text in English and hopefully inspire a Finnish translation.”
—Helsinki Times

“The powerful, evocative imagery used to capture the sensorial effect of wine on the tongue and myriad fragrances in the nostrils is staggeringly effective—a perfect use of the disciplines which only comics can muster. This is a surprisingly compelling comics-read and might well be the perfect gift for all those people you thought you couldn’t buy a graphic novel present for.”
—Now Read This!(U.K.)