The Drops of God Episode 1 Review: The battle for the taste begins

The Drops of God Episode 1 is a must-watch this Spring 2026, and Crunchyroll granted us an early preview of the same. Drawing from a popular manga series written about wine, The Drops of God combines elements of drama, rivalry, and sensory storytelling in an exciting new way. No matter how you feel about wine (big fan or brand new to it), this first episode has something for you.

The Drops of God Episode 1 follows Shizuku Kanzaki, who, even though he's the son of one of the most famous people in wine, has little interest in the world of wine. But he soon finds his life turned upside down due to unexpected inheritance issues that lead him into an intense rivalry with another character, Issei Tomine, and he has to re-evaluate everything about himself.

The premiere lays out a personal and emotionally charged foundation. Without giving too much away, The Drops of God Episode 1 establishes a contest between two very different people, one who has lived and breathed wine his entire life, and one who is only just beginning to understand its weight.

The Drops of God Episode 1 Review

There’s a certain type of anime where food and beverages are not only the subject of the story, but serve as an emotional connection as well. The Drops of God Episode 1 is definitely an example of this type of anime.

From the outset, the series demonstrates a confident grasp of tone. They treat the subject of wines with respect, but at the same time, they tell the story in a way that does not alienate anyone who may not be familiar with wine appreciation. This balance is one of the subtle accomplishments of the episode.

The episode's unique creative decision regards the visualization and descriptions of wine tasting: instead of using technical language, the series builds sensory experiences of tasting into descriptive images that use vibrant, almost poetic imagery to express what each taste feels like. Tasting comparisons to other cultures will serve as an excellent narrative device, making the subject matter accessible to a wide variety of audiences. Thus, viewers who are already familiar with specialty food and drink cultures will find these moments particularly impactful.

That said, The Drops of God Episode 1 suffers from trying to do too much at one time. It introduces many characters, provides many backstories, and establishes several dramatic stakes all at the same time. The pacing often hampers the experience, leaving some scenes feeling rushed.

The supporting characters like Miyabi Shinohara and Ryoko Kiryu are not fully developed, but have enough detail to suggest they may play more significant roles in future episodes. Additionally, at this early stage of the story, we see the beginnings of a solid rivalry between two different philosophies of wine and possibly of life. The conclusion of this conflict will be exciting to follow as the show continues.

Final Thought

The Drops of God Episode 1 marks a very strong start to its series. Although there may be some issues with pacing, the emotional understanding achieved through the use of creative methods to tell this story is what will make people want to watch more. The central conflict in this show creates an atmosphere for a very exciting start for Spring of 2026.

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For those who want to learn something new through anime and view a truly moving story, this should be added to your Saturday viewing schedule.

The Drops of God streams on Crunchyroll this April.

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