The concept of a documentary based around the entrepreneurial ventures of a rock star may not be to everyone's palate, one only has to think of the excited anticipation which 'Salmon Farming with Roger Daltrey!' or 'Cheese Making with the floppy haired posh boy who used to be in Blur' would arouse to confirm such a fact.
'Blood Into Wine' is about Maynard James Keenan (frontman with Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer); well to be more precise, it's about his vineyard in Arizona. A place where he has been toiling for over a decade to produce a unique and remarkable range of wines. This is a project in which he has partnered with Eric Glomski, an exceptionally affable and knowledgeable expert in the field of challenging cultivation.
The documentary very soon focuses less about the man and more about his endeavour and becomes something altogether more fascinating than your average 'rock star' feature. Keenan is an interesting individual and his musical exploits are attested to by a barrage of talking heads, but the real interest lies in the meticulous and challenging procedure by which wine is conceived, grown and processed.
The location of Arizona is one which baffles most wine critics, yet upon inspection, the volcanic residue and limestone rich soil evokes a similar planting ground as that of southern Sicily. Different critics and writers are used throughout the film and each brings their own particular observations of the wine industry and the pretensions that exist around it.
It will probably be a bit of a let-down for anyone who is seeking a documentary about Tool, but Puscifer get a bit of screen time, including a brief conversation with sometimes vocalist Milla Jovovich. It would be best to approach this with an open mind and an open bottle.
Read more at zombiehamster.com
