Somurie: Grape Wine Expert(1998)

Somurie: Grape Wine Expert is a Japanese series following Mr. Ogura, a sidelined manager tasked with reviving La Mer, a struggling French restaurant. Enter Joe Satake, an eccentric Franco-Japanese wine sommelier with an almost supernatural gift for pairing wines to customers' needs and moods. Obsessive about proper handling and appreciation, Joe combines sharp observation with exacting standards to transform the restaurant's fortunes. As Ogura navigates corporate pressure and self-doubt, Joe's uncompromising expertise and quirky personality become the unlikely engine driving La Mer's redemption. The series balances workplace drama with the sensory pleasures of wine culture, exploring how passion and precision can elevate both business and human connection.