Netflix turns to Napa Valley for new wine drama
A forthcoming Netflix show set in California’s most famous wine region offers the trade a rare moment in the global spotlight. Producers hope the story will draw new audiences into wine at a time of shifting consumption patterns.
Napa Valley is poised to feature prominently on the international screen as Darren Star and David Schulner develop a new Netflix series set among its vineyards. The half-hour single-camera dramedy, currently titled Uncorked, centres on a gifted but troubled female winemaker granted a second chance, weaving personal drama into the fabric of one of the world’s most recognisable wine regions.
Star, whose previous work includes Sex and the City and Emily in Paris, said in the Netflix announcement: “We’re diving straight into the legacy and romance of Napa Valley, where every great vintage has a unique story to tell.” Schulner added: “With Napa’s beauty and bounty as our setting, we hope the audience never wants to leave.”
Wine meets global streaming audiences
The project arrives at a moment when the wine sector continues to adapt to changing consumer habits, offering what Napa Valley Vintners describes as an opportunity to reach millions of viewers worldwide. Through Netflix’s global platform, the series is expected to encourage broader curiosity about wine and invite new consumers to engage with it.
Tracey Pakosta, vice president of comedy series, US at Netflix, said in the announcement: “We’re thrilled that Darren and David have partnered on this new series which tells the story of romance and redemption set in the beautiful Napa Valley that we believe will connect with audiences around the world.”
A storyline rooted in excess and ambition
According to the Netflix announcement, the protagonist of Uncorked is a talented but self-destructive winemaker whose passion for wine becomes her undoing. Returning to Napa, she pursues both personal redemption and the elusive 100-point score, with the narrative drawing on the tension between ambition and excess.
Partner Content
Schulner described the premise as an exploration of “what happens when your greatest passion is also your Achilles’ heel”, adding that the creators have immersed themselves in the region during development.
Close collaboration with the local trade
Over the past year, Star and Schulner have spent time in Napa Valley working alongside producers and attending key industry gatherings such as Auction Napa Valley and Premiere Napa Valley. Their most recent visit included participation in the organisation’s annual meeting in February 2026.
Teresa Wall, senior director of communications at Napa Valley Vintners, told the drinks business: “It’s early in development to make broad-scale predictions, so for now, we’re just excited to see wine find a home with top Hollywood storytellers on a major streaming platform. We’re hopeful it will be a win for the industry, and we’re excited that Napa Valley is part of the story.”
She added that authenticity remains central to the project: “When it comes to authenticity, we’re really encouraged by how much research the creators are doing and how much time they are spending here in Napa with winemakers and industry professionals to learn firsthand.”
Proven creators with a global reach
Star’s previous titles on Netflix, including Emily in Paris, Sex and the City and Younger, generated 435 million views between the first half of 2023 and the second half of 2025, with Emily in Paris alone accounting for more than 250 million. The series has already been renewed for a sixth season after spending five weeks in the platform’s global top ten.
Related news
Robert Mondavi California targets Chinese wine experience seekers
'Greatest offerings of rare and mature California wines' comes to auction
