A unique look at the world of fine wine – documentary series about extraordinary stories of human triumph over adversity
Extreme Obsession – Wine is a bold new global travelogue series that celebrates the passion, dedication and bravery of the world’s most extraordinary winemakers. Set across six episodes and filmed over the course of an entire year, an award-winning actor with a deep connection to the world of wine will travel to a host of awe-inspiring locations, showcasing incredible vineyards, witnessing extraordinary human stories and delving deep into the local terroir.
From an active warzone, to heading high into the world’s highest mountain range, braving a penal colony or evading bush fires – we will meet incredible people living on the edge – battling extreme environments, industry gatekeepers and their own demons – in pursuit of liquid perfection.
Charting the ups and downs of each vineyard’s harvest season, we will use the hyper-local nature of wine growing to explore broader themes relating to each region. From war, environmental disaster, political dictatorship and conservation through to discrimination, corruption, organised crime and corporate monopolisation - episodes will follow the risking it all human stories of people dead set on achieving their obsession: exceptional wine.
Liquid Icons has partnered with Maverick TV to co-produce the series.
Maverick TV
Maverick TV is a multi-award winning international television and digital production company based in London and Los Angeles. Renowned for some of the of the most loved programmes on British and US television, Maverick is growing fast by developing and producing exciting shows that audiences love to watch. Maverick prides itself in inventing the next ‘turn of the wheel’ and by delivering high-quality shows.
Maverick produced more than 956 total programme hours broadcasted across 232 countries and has been nominated for 72 awards internationally.
Maverick is owned by All3Media – a British worldwide independent television, film and digital production, and distribution company. The All3Media group is owned by Discovery, Inc. and Liberty Global.
Simon Knight (CEO, Maverick TV)
Simon Knight (CEO, Maverick TV) is the lead person at Maverick TV in charge of producing the series in collaboration with Liquid Icons.
Simon joined Maverick TV as Chief Executive Officer in 2015.
Since joining Maverick TV Simon has been responsible for launching Inside The Ritz Hotel – ITV, The Elephant Hospital – C5, Don’t Scream – BBC Three, 10 Years Younger in 10 Days – C5, How To Look Good Naked – Really, Escape – C4, Tried and Tasted – C4 and Bizarre ER – E4. He is also responsible for Maverick TV USA led by John Hesling. John and Simon work closely together growing the company on both sides of the Atlantic.
Previously Simon was Creative Director at Warner Bros Television Production UK indie’s Ricochet where he was responsible for growing the company’s output which included launching Channel 4’s ratings success Food Unwrapped, Superfoods: The Real Story, BBC 2’s The Hairy Bikers and Lorraine Pascale Cooking The Nation’s Favourite Foods, and More 4’s Simon Hopkinson Cooks.
Beforehand, Simon was Executive Producer at BBC Bristol where he developed and grew BBC ONE’s huge success DIY SOS: The Big Build, launched Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers on BBC1, Simon Hopkinson’s The Good Cook, and developed BBC daytime’s hit Wanted Down Under. Simon has also produced I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Celebrity Love Island, and Poor Little Rich Girls for ITV.