Drops of God: New World - Softcover

"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)

"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

Shizuku Kanzaki is the son of a recently deceased, world renowned wine critic named Yutaka Kanzaki. In order to take ownership of his father's legacy, an extensive wine collection featuring some of the most rare labels of the last 30 years, he must find 13 wines, known as the "Twelve Apostles" and the heaven sent "Drops of God" that his father described in his will. But despite being an only child, Shizuku is not alone in this unique wine hunt. He has a competitor. Issei Tomine, a renowned young wine critic, was recently adopted into the Kanzaki family and is also vying for this most rare of prizes.

In the New World arc, the focus shifts from the European wines found in most Tokyo wine bars to the wine cellars of Napa Valley and the wine makers of Australia. The next apostle is destined to change the perspective of wine drinkers everywhere as it brings hope to the future of wine. Shizuku takes off for a trip across the Pacific to Chile before heading out to Oz in search of a sensational Shiraz. While Issei and his new drinking partner find the naunaces of Syrah in Northern California.