Enjoyed the episode. I have been drinking tons of Pinot Noirs in the last year and anybody who says they suck or are lame just has not tried the right ones. I used to think they were just watered down, funky tasting wines, but no more.

QOTD: I am glad Sideways hyped Pinot, before that I had not been drinking any good ones and it opened my eyes. Bummer on the price elevation though.

Enjoy Chicago, eat at Frontera grill for the best gourmet Mexican in a nice atmosphere.

QOD wasn’t into wine when I first saw sideways, although I did come to share Mile’s sentiment towards merlot.. fancy that.

QOTD- I still can’t figure out how a basically depressing movie with unlikeable characters sparked such an interest in Pinot. My buddy keeps trying Pinot on me because he loves the stuff, but I’ve liked maybe one of the dozen or two I’ve tried. Anyway, it’s too bad it raised the price for all the old time Pinot drinkers.

Not angry at Sideways at all (loved the movie). It forced me to move on to other types of wine. I’ll come back to Pinot after the hype dies down. Or rather, after the hype moves on to another varietal.

Hated the movie. Can’t wait to hear & read about the Chicago dinner\tasting.

What’s with that Cubs logo?
Cuck the Fubs!
Go White Sox!

I loved Sideways. I saw it before I was into wine, so I can’t speak to the price increase issue. But it definitely inspired me. And it’s just a fun, breezy movie to watch. (By contrast, if you want to see a crapola wine movie, check out “Year of the Comet” from 1992. I taped it by accident and watched it last night. I’m sure you can find it on Netflix and IMDB.)

Another thing: words gets around blindingly fast on the Internet these days. People learn quickly about good wines. So I’m sure that Pinot Noir varietals would have become more popular anyway, because they can be great and they deserve the attention. Sideways surely helped, but I think it helped across the board. From everything I’ve read and heard, wine popularity in general has exploded in the US over the past 5 years. A rising tide lifts all boats. Yeah, maybe that raised some prices, but it has probably also helped more people get access to many more types of wines than before. So it’s all good.

BTW, had a Duckhorn Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2004 the other night. Wow! Before that, I hadn’t really given thought to the Anderson Valley, but I’m singing a different tune now.

Pinot is keen-o.

Here’s a great site to well illustrate TagWorld Brian’s #57 post: http://www.winesciencenews.com

I’m not mad, except for the fact that it really made me want to go have a glass

Also, an interesting factoid that I learned this week. I didn’t realize there’s a difference between the words varietal and variety. “Variety” is a noun, it describes a type of grape: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, etc. “Varietal” is an adjective; it describes a wine that is made from the particular variety. So Elke is a varietal, made from the Pinot Noir variety. Confusing? I dunno. Just thought I’d share.

KenP, thanks for the link BTW. I’m going to geek out on that site, soon as I get some downtime.

Like a good Pinot… try Jeff Fink’s Tantara… from Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Barbara County mmmm delissh… However thanks to hollywood it has gone up to a point where it’s no longer a bargain. They make a killer Chardonnay too…

QOTD: I’m going to take Sideways as a life lesson. With Hollywood, you kind of have to play a guessing game. Take this scenario:
If Hollywood is filming a movie with an influencial actor.. Lets say Al Pacino. Movie takes place or revolves around vineyards and wine. Then he mentions his favorite wine is Rioja and how he hates Tempranillo. If the movie is a hit, guess what.. prices will take the symmetrical direction of his character’s “fictional review/enjoyment”. I guess the lesson is to watch or guess if the next wine movie will be a hit, then pay attention to the main character’s current obsession and buy as much of it as you can before prices skyrocket. (I’m pretty sure there wont be another Sideways type of influence through Hollywood though)

New Gravatar!!!

Oops! here we go.. New Gravatar!!!

My girlfriend is taping the Oprah Winfrey show today! She just IMed me that she just met oprah!!! OK I know it’s off topic just had to share. Her company is sponsering the Greenfest there so all you Vaniacs in Chicago should check it out this weekend. (And say hi to my gf at the sustainlane booth. She’s the Brazilian girl with the curly hair.) Also there’s tons of organic wine producers giving free tastings.

not working… my gravatar…

QOTD: I’m not necessarily angry at sideways at all. I’m angry at a lot of people who went out and bought anything with “pinot noir” on the label and drove prices up. so many people are so scared to think for themselves, in life and in wine. so, they see this movie and then went nuts over california pinot noir. oh well. more inexpensive other wines for me.

For the love of God man…you have to try some Burgundy you LIKE on this show!! QOTD: Sideways was just ok…guess I am not a middle aged single guy, which is what the movie seemed geared towards. I do hate that it has created this price inequity in PN, and encouraged the planting of this wine everywhere, even where it tastes more like Syrah than Pinot, and then charging 50 bucks as the price of admission!!

For the love of God man…you have to try some Burgundy you LIKE on this show!! QOTD: Sideways was just ok…guess I am not a middle aged single guy, which is what the movie seemed geared towards. I do hate that it has created this price inequity in PN, and encouraged the planting of this wine everywhere, even where it tastes more like Syrah than Pinot, and then charging 50 bucks as the price of admission!!

LPapi #62, the problem is that Cal. merlot is often some of the most awful stuff, imho. I’m glad it got slammed. Be that as it may, be aware that the Cheval Blanc vineyards, in addition to growing cabernet franc, also grow merlot! Perhaps as much as third. I’m not sure of the ’61 Cheval Blanc Miles drank in the film, but I am fairly confident it contained merlot.

QOTD: Loved Sideways! Who cares about the “effect” at least it exposed more people to wine and it was funny as hell!

Since there is no couch today, I will take one for the team and flop on the couch and drink wine for the evening.
QOTD- I have mixed feelings on the movie, I was not really into wine until I saw it. Now, I am drinking one to two bottles a week sittinig in front of a computer monitor everyday wearing a wrist band. Actually, I enjoyed the movie because it introduced me to a whole new world, I have been trying everything not just pinot.

PLEASE CALL YOUR WIFE!!!!!!

QOTD- Not mad at Sideways. Liked the movie and the Pinot Noirs that I normally buy (Farallon and Cartlidge & Brown) have not really gone up in price.

Harley Stan gets it. Sideways with a little bit of movie and a lot of us changed the wine world, didn’t it.

Yeah, Chehalem! Just had that the other night and loved it… Oregon pinots are awesome.

QOTD: Loved it. No anger whatsover.

I’m glad someone corrected you on the Ory-gone pronunciation… Those of us in Or-i-gun appreciate it. 🙂

Loved the McD reference… Have fun in Chicago!