20 Years Later, "Sideways" Still Affects Wine Sales

[Pink Freud]

From today's L. A. Times: "When director Alexander Payne set out to create the 2004 film “Sideways,” based on the then-unpublished novel by Rex Pickett about two friends’ wine-fueled visit to the Santa Ynez Valley, his intention was just to make a funny film.

“I just wanted to make a movie and I loved the fact that it was about wine,” says Payne, who acknowledges he had no way of knowing what the film would become. “Sideways,” which went on to receive five Academy Award nominations including Payne’s win for adapted screenplay, celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday. “Never could I have foreseen its impact, both its popularity as a movie and its impact on an industry.”

The effect of “Sideways” on the wine region in which it was set and shot is profound, with visitors flocking to California’s Santa Ynez Valley to experience “Sideways”-themed wine tours featuring wineries from the film such as Foxen, Firestone and Kalyra. What was known as the Windmill Inn where the characters stay is now called the Sideways Inn, and Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley — whose restaurant the Hitching Post 2 is central to both the book (Pickett was a regular) and the movie — say that there are still new customers every day who come to see the restaurant where the iconic scenes were shot."

I always wondered if the filmakers, cast, and crew had a bad experience at the Fess Parker Winery, where Paul Giamatti dumped the wine tasting spit bucket over his head and the winery's onscreen name was "Frass Winery". Frass is what exterminators call vermin poop.

For the whole story, google LA Times, ‘Sideways’ turns 20. A generation later, are the kids drinking Merlot? before I get locked in the forum mods' stocks and starved for posting about it with a direct quote. Hey, at least I'm not posting about that forbidden Most Popular Sports League in America.

[WLTFE]

You are one narcissistic piece of [shirt]!

[MikoTython]

I loved that film.

[charlesmastis]

Really liked that film. A fun watch. As is Payne's The Descendants .

[Pink Freud]

Love "Sideways". I always like Giamatti -- his father was Yale President and MLB Commissioner A. Barlett Giamatti, who banned Pete Rose, then died.

Thomas Haden Church was a real hoot!

This is the film that finally convinced me to try dry red wines. I now like Shiraz/Syrah, and my fave red is the Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend.

It was when I was waiting tables and tending bar at Rossino's in 1977 that Herb Carp (Balaban's/Herbie's) was my customer and ordered a bottle of one of our reds.....when we kept all reds cold. He straightened me out about that....though I still violate international law and chill my reds.

I also occassionally sip a white wine with a great steak. I guess I'm just a rebel.

[WLTFE]

Love "Sideways". I always like Giamatti -- his father was Yale President and MLB Commissioner A. Barlett Giamatti, who banned Pete Rose, then died.

Thomas Haden Church was a real hoot!

This is the film that finally convinced me to try dry red wines. I now like Shiraz/Syrah, and my fave red is the Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend.

It was when I was waiting tables and tending bar at Rossino's in 1977 that Herb Carp (Balaban's/Herbie's) was my customer and ordered a bottle of one our reds.....when we kept all reds cold. He straightened me out about that....though I still chill my reds.

Jesus [fork]ing Christ you are [fork]ing funny!

[Pink Freud]

Really liked that film. A fun watch. As is Payne's The Descendants .

For some reason, "The Descendants" was marketed as a comedy. The trailer showed Clooney running around a sharp bend in the road in sandals, which was humorous, but I didn't see the movie, which IS very good, as a comedy. Even my adorably funny Judy Greer had a serious role.

[FrankTheTank]

I love that movie. I just re-watched it a few weeks ago and laughed a lot, just like the first few times I have watched it. I am also a big Giamatti fan, ever since his first role (I think it was his first role) as Howard Stern's terrible boss Pig Vomit.

When they jump out of the car and it misses the tree...oh man gets me every time. ha Oddly enough, I don't drink wine at all, but would love to go out there someday and see that part of the country.

[George Zipp]

I love that movie. I just re-watched it a few weeks ago and laughed a lot, just like the first few times I have watched it. I am also a big Giamatti fan, ever since his first role (I think it was his first role) as Howard Stern's terrible boss Pig Vomit.

When they jump out of the car and it misses the tree...oh man gets me every time. ha Oddly enough, I don't drink wine at all, but would love to go out there someday and see that part of the country.

My favorite scene is when Sandra Oh beats the ever living (bleep) out of Hayden Church with the motorcycle helmet.

[MikoTython]

Spoilers, in case you never in the last two decades got around to watching this,

The pathos of his situation - as I recall it - his long-time girlfriend who didn't want to have kids dumps him and promptly starts a family - was gut-wrenching.

That's gotta hurt. And him grubbing in his mom's stash to get money to go have his face rubbed in it at her wedding - hoo boy. Haven't seen it since it was released, but it definitely drew you in.

[charlesmastis]

Really liked that film. A fun watch. As is Payne's The Descendants .

For some reason, "The Descendants" was marketed as a comedy. The trailer showed Clooney running around a sharp bend in the road in sandals, which was humorous, but I didn't see the movie, which IS very good, as a comedy. Even my adorably funny Judy Greer had a serious role.

Fun might have not been the right word. Not a comedy, I guess enjoyable would have been more to my feelings.....??

[George Zipp]

Spoilers, in case you never in the last two decades got around to watching this,

The pathos of his situation - as I recall it - his long-time girlfriend who didn't want to have kids dumps him and promptly starts a family - was gut-wrenching.

That's gotta hurt. And him grubbing in his mom's stash to get money to go have his face rubbed in it at her wedding - hoo boy. Haven't seen it since it was released, but it definitely drew you in.

And then you add the pathos of Thomas Haden Churches character, who was the main part of the plot in the road trip was his bachelor party. A bachelor party for a guy who didn't know or care about the meaning of monogamy. A very fringe, D level, once sort of semi famous guy, who had no issues meeting the strange. Spent the week hooking up with Sandra Oh, while Giamatti wallowed in his misery from his pathos you describe, and then Giamiatti he meets up with the waitress who he sort of knows. And then he displays the game of a timid 8th grader trying to get a dance to the date. And then he gets the brunt of the blame after Sandra Oh beats Church up.

It's all coming back............