The Right Bank of France’s Bordeaux region is lined with châteaux producing some of the world’s best wines. From the stone-lined paths of Saint-Émilion to vineyards with as much lushness and divinity as a primeval forest, there’s so much to capture Shizuku and his friends’ imaginations. But in this paradise of wine, can Taiyo Beer’s wine division find the tools they need to fend off a hostile takeover by their own company’s restaurant business?
The description of the Seventh Apostle is revealed--a wine reliant upon believing in others and never giving up on your dreams. Winner of the 2009 "Best of the Best" prize from the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards!
The Seventh Apostle is the Sagrada Família, the unfinished masterpiece -- and, trusting their feelings, Shizuku and Issei each take their own journeys to the New World. There, they find the miracles that the power of mankind can bring upon wine -- and life. The Apostle hunt reaches its climax here, as Shizuku learns of loneliness and feels the circle of life!
After being trounced in the Seventh Apostle search, Shizuku begins to doubt the whole competition, hinting that he may choose to bow out. Then he learns of the Médoc Marathon, an event where competitors run 26.2 miles while visiting some of the best wineries Bordeaux’s Left Bank has to offer. Seeking the origins behind his father Yutaka’s entry into wine -- and the inner meaning behind the epic wine struggle he devised -- Shizuku takes to the starting line!
After wrapping up the Médoc Marathon, Shizuku stays in Bordeaux, seeking clues behind what motivated his father Yutaka to delve into wine. What was the bottle that convinced him to walk the "path" to wine for all eternity? But meanwhile, the wine division Shizuku works at is in mortal danger! In order to stay alive in advance of a blockbuster company merger, the team must discover an under-the-radar sparkling wine that has the power to transcend Champagne itself!
The battle for the Eighth Apostle begins, a wine fabled to be as divine as a regal Madonna herself—a woman not even Shizuku’s father Yutaka could reach. The Apostle described by him is an elegant, golden “wine of encounters,” and to find it, Shizuku decides to track down the “Madonna” Yutaka wrote of. Meanwhile, Issei conducts his own search—not for the woman behind the wine, but for the wine that made Yutaka picture such revered beauty…
The Eighth Apostle battle comes to a close! Here is the bottle that exemplifies the “Madonna” Yutaka Kanzaki looked up to, a golden-yellow wine that brings the lucky sampler new encounters. Anyone who tastes it must take care, lest they become intoxicated with its sensual aroma that captivates all comers…
From out of nowhere, a third competitor makes his appearance—bringing with him the aroma of an Henri Jayer, the wine Yutaka Kanzaki chose for his final sip. Soon, he will descend upon the Ninth Apostle battle arena, poised to surpass even Shizuku and Issei…
The race is on for the Ninth Apostle—and Shizuku, Issei, and Chris are all focused on Brunello di Montalcino, the style of red wine from the sun-kissed valleys of central Italy. The first three-way battle of the competition soon explodes into a whirlwind that could threaten loves…and friendships! The latest in the manga series acclaimed around the world, its author recently winning France’s L’Ordre du Mérite Agricole award!
Only those who overcome a towering wall of adversity can throw themselves into the warm embrace of the Ninth Apostle. Issei is on the run now, searching for the goddess of victory—and Shizuku is close behind, hot on his heels across central Italy. Now they’re joined by Chris, a man capable of naming any wine instantly. As cheering fills the air, who will be crowned the victor of this challenge?
Why is life laden with so many fortunate encounters that prove to be all too fleeting? As Robert Doi would say, "that, too, is wine." But now Loulan, whose keen wine senses have made her indispensible to Issei Tomine, finds herself navigating separation, followed by new meetings—bookended by similarly new, and enthralling, glasses...
With Issei winning five to four over Shizuku, the battle over the Tenth Apostle begins! But this time, Yutaka’s prepared a challenge trickier and more complex than ever before. The task facing the two competitors: The enthralling, sometimes maddening world of Burgundy’s Pinot noirs. As divinely elegant as they smell and taste, exploring their realm can be like setting foot in a labyrinth with no escape...
French fashion designer Alain Clair knows full well who Yutaka Kanzaki is—and he’s just insulted him in front of his own son! Now Renée’s fashion competition is a kind of preliminary to the Tenth Apostle battle in Shizuku’s eyes, one he can no longer afford to lose. Meanwhile Tomine, fresh from rescuing Elsa’s job, attempts a dive down to three hundred feet below sea level. It’s the most complex, maddening Apostle search yet—who will reach this mysterious wine of "hope" first?
The Tenth Apostle battle comes to a close, themed after the mysterious world of Burgundy wines—made exclusively with Pinot noir, but offering different tastes with every field, every vintner, and every vintage. Both Issei and Shizuku have ventured into this so-called labyrinth, but who will come out bearing the "Apostle of Hope" in the end? And afterward, the Taiyo Beer gang has to choose Spanish wines for a special take-home three-pack, in the prologue to the Eleventh Apostle!
Alsace, a region nestled on the France-Germany border, is home to a mix of two cultures—blessed with a great many grape varieties, letting it create wine with no peer in either of those nations. Can Shizuku’s Alsatian wine picks defeat more traditional French selections in a livestreamed competition?
The Eleventh Apostle is revealed—its description resplendent with descriptions of the wind and setting sun. With five victories each, Shizuku and Issei can’t afford to lose—and the key to this match could be Spain, a land of sunsets and a region shrouded in mystery. Now, their attention turns to the young vintners seeking elegant wines and crafting new trends in the Spanish scene! Plus: What happens when Issei Tomine stumbles upon a daring wine robbery on a posh cruise?
The chase is on for the "sunset over Granada!" Between its high elevations, half-century-old vines, and talented vintners from all over the world, Spain enjoys one of the world’s most fascinating wine scenes. But when Shizuku touches down, he’s immediately given a challenge from an up-and-coming wine selector. What Spanish wine best evokes a sunset framing Alhambra? And who is this mystery selector? The action heats up fast, as the Eleventh Apostle lurks within a land experiencing a wine renaissance!
At a party held by Spanish nobility, Shizuku has successfully picked and described a wine that evokes sunset in Granada—but Loulan had a surprise of her own for him...! It’s taster against taster in this party framed by dusk over Alhambra—followed soon after by Shizuku against Issei in a fight over the Eleventh Apostle. Don’t miss the climax as Shizuku fights the most epic wine battle of his life!
The Eleventh Apostle, a.k.a. the Spain arc, grew to become the longest arc in series history. With its end, The Drops of God shifts its focus...to made-in-Japan wine! Full of dedicated artisan craftsmen, steep heights, and the entire litany of Earth’s natural climates from north to south, the nation of Japan proves to be an unexpected treasure trove of terroir and new discoveries!
If a nation full of artisans like Japan turns its attention to wine, the sky’s the limit—and now Shizuku is exploring the top three wineries the nation has to offer! Before long, though, the battle over the Twelfth and final Apostle kicks off! What will Shizuku and Issei find themselves tangling with this time...?
Akie, an old flame that Fujieda has just reunited with, is diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Kyoka Amakasu, a genius wine taster, suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Two women, facing their fates, set off in search of wine to to entrust themselves to... What impact will they have on Shizuku Kanzaki and Issei Tomine’s final battle? The world of older vintages provides new depth and charm to this epic tale!
Akie, Fujieda’s reunited lover, has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Kyoka, suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, struggles to retain her mind amid fears of losing her memory. Their problems provide an unlikely window to the Twelfth Apostle for both Shizuku and Tomine...
Fujieda’s lover Akie, diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, is preparing to face up to death. Kyoka, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, tries to retain herself amid the horror of losing her memory. Shizuku and Issei are both seeking a wine for one of them...firmly believing the effort will lead them to the Twelfth Apostle!
Shizuku and Issei have both successfully found wines to satisfy Akie and Kyoka’s wishes...and now, they’re absolutely positive they’ve found the Twelfth Apostle!