Movie Review - "Blood into Wine"

            We watched the movie Blood into Wine in my Geography of Wine class.  Professor Boyer claimed this movie was his favorite documentary wine film, and I soon realized why.  When I first heard that we were watching a “wine documentary,” I could not figure out how a film dedicated solely to the winemaking process could be entertaining.  For some reason, I thought it would be boring and mundanely educational.  However, I was definitely wrong about what type of film this was.  Blood into Wine turned out to be an enjoyable, and even comical, documentary about Maynard James Keenan and Eric Glomski, and their Caduceus brand wine out of Arizona.  Directed by Christopher Pomerenke and Ryan Page, Blood into Wine is a must-watch film for young or beginner wine lovers.

            Maynard James Keenan, the lead singer of the heavy metal rock band Tool, and his business partner Eric Glomski team up to create a winery.  Maynard becomes extremely interested in winemaking during his rock tours in Europe, the land of wine.  Maynard returned to the United States, and settled down in Phoenix, Arizona.  He started studying the winemaking industry and found Eric Glomski, whom had experience working in the wine business.  After some research, they started growing grapes in Verde Valley of Northern Arizona.  The film then goes on to document the initial wine growing process that Maynard and Glomski went through when starting their wine business, Caduceus Cellar.  It shows the audience the ups and downs of growing wine in Arizona.  The film also follows Maynard and Glomski as they attend autograph signings during wine presentations, and it shows wine tastings at the Caduceus wine store.  Famous wine critic, James Suckling, even appeared in the film to critique the Caduceus wine.           

            Throughout the film, we experience some comedic relief from comedians Patton Oswalt and Bob Odenkirk.  They “interview” Maynard through what I’m pretty sure was a made-up show.  They joke about him being a merely “D-list” celebrity, and mock his wine business and “disgusting” wine, even though they end up getting hilariously drunk.  Maynard also provides some humor, mostly through his very sarcastic and biting personality.  He is a very smart and polite person, but the film depicts his bottled up anger, possibly from his rocker days.  Personally, I think the wine business, although stressful, is actually having a relaxing and calming effect on Maynard.

            Maynard began studying wine in 1999, and soon after finding his business partner, Glomski, they began growing grapes in the unusual area of northern Arizona.  The early problems Maynard and Glomski faced where mostly due to the initial grape growing period.  Like most wineries, the first batch of grapes makes it or breaks it.  They needed a successful season of grapes, or they would have wasted a lot of money, time and effort.  Maynard himself gets down, dirty and involved in the grape growing process.  Luckily, they ended up producing a good batch of grapes, and named their vineyard Merkin Vineyard.  They then experimented with the grapes in order to perfect their uniquely tasting wine.

            There are two main points that the film wants the audience to follow.  The first intention of the film is to highlight Maynard’s duel personalities.  One lifestyle portrays is his “rocker” personality, and the other his “winemaker” personality.  Many people are in disbelief when they hear that Maynard is a winemaker as well as the lead singer of a heavy metal rock band.  These two professions do not usually mix or work together...at all.  However, Maynard specifically explains in this film that he was never keen on the “rockstar” lifestyle.  He favored a life away from the sex, drugs and rock and roll, and much preferred the winemaker lifestyle free from fame.  Many of his rock fans show up at his wine tastings and signings, and Maynard shows them his winemaker side of life.  Maynard is actually very serious about his winemaking, and this is seen through his winemaker personality.  Maynard even says he prefers the winemaking business to the rocker business, and he does not regret giving up his rocker lifestyle for the winemaker lifestyle.

            The second main point of this documentary is to show the audience that Arizona is an up and coming wine making state.  The audience gets to experience the vast, beautiful desert scenery known to Arizona.  Maynard and Glomski started their lush vineyard on a stretch of land in arid Arizona, in the Verde Valley.  The stretch of Arizona land is actually a desert, and not a place someone would think to plant grapes or make wine.  The Arizona desert landscape is not a typical environment for the winemaking business.  However, this documentary shows the audience that Arizona can actually produce some great wine; some may say it’s on par with California wine.  I don’t exactly remember which grapes were grown at Merkin Vineyards, but James Suckling tasted Maynard’s Cabernet Sauvignon, which he dedicated to his late mother, and gave it a favorable review.

            I would definitely recommend this film to a wine audience.  In addition, I would recommend this film to anyone at all because it might make someone interested in wine.  It highlights the up and coming wine industry in the unlikely state of Arizona, but not in a dragging educational fashion.  Oswalt and Odenkirk, and even the dry humor of Maynard, bring the comedic punch to this fascinating documentary.  Rocker Maynard, and the mostly forgotten about Glomski, make this film delightfully interesting and relatable by their unlikely business relationship.  This isn’t a typical clean-cut, sophisticated film about wine.  Some film critics claim this film is very sporadic, unfocused and random.  Well...duh.  The film is about a rocker turned winemaker, and that is pretty random.  Blood into Wine will not disappoint anyone looking for an out-of-the-ordinary wine film experience.