Great episode, Gary. QOD: The movie was entertaining and, I must say, made me more aware of and begin to taste more Pinots, which, interestingly enough, had me find that I’m not necessarily a big Pinot fan. Maybe I just need to taste more Pinots.

Garret Nagle,
I’ve two books to recommend: Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine and The New France, by Andrew Jefford.

Rethink Sideways at 30.

old fingernails? That’s the new “cat pee” right?

Sideways was great. Pinot noir; not so much.

Love the theme of this show and I hope everyone is having a blast at the Chi-Town party.

QOTD- Sideways, movie good, book even better. If you thought the movie was ok please read the book it will change your option I promise you. Remember that Merlot prices went down because of the movie so thank them if your a Merlot fan. I love Merlot and Pinot so good put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Having played the Alisal River Course during off hours when the wind was up, I was alerted to the unseemly level of play exhibited by the lowly characters in the movie “sideways” screwing things up in general. OMG! Their disgusting behavior and consequent rise in value of “terroir/hollywood” pinot, has me reaching for a $9 Robert Parker 90 Merlot! Sorry Miles, but it’s all your fault!! Ha!
No way, Santa Rita and Sideways rock!!!!!!!!!!

QOTD: I love Sideways!! one of my favs. I wasn’t into wines when i watched it, and i easily thought it was one of the best movies of the year. I ‘m a huge fan of the director, Alexander Payne, i’m really into movies, and Sideways is his Masterpiece.
Great episode gary!

As usual, interesting episode. I have not had a lot of Pinot Noir in the past, but plan to try more in the interest of expanding my range of experience.

QOTD – I am not a big movie guy (just don’t have the time), but oddly enough, the Sideways DVD is sitting on my kitchen table right now waiting for me to watch it. (In agreement with Comment 102, my son says the book is WAY better than the movie, but I haven’t read the book either.) Since I am not a PN addict, the rise in prices doesn’t really annoy me, so no reason to hate the movie.

Hey, Wine Guy!!! The camera’s over here!!! This episode was like being on a date with a gal who is constantly thinking about her ex-boyfriend. But, we do understand. Yer a busy man. Thank for doin’ the episode.

QOTD: No position. Kinda really getting into Shiraz right now.

QOTD: I thought it was more of a ‘guy’ movie than anything, though I suppose I can appreciate where some of the characters are coming from. . .OK, maybe the only thing I understaood was the guilt of robbing your mother for cash.
I also don’t hate the movie because I love Merlot, and I love less expensive Merlot all the better! Hope CHicago was a blast, and if you ever make it to the West Coast some time, I’m there.

Lars #106,
No position? Too sleepy curled up in the bear skin rug? Wine is not Soma.
Actors…can’t live with them, can’t live without them… well, just maybe.

tarheel17,
Check out the WLTV Meets Forum page. Gary is coming to San Francisco of the 31st of May. And you…?

QOTD: Sideways didn’t ruin Pinot for me, Burgandy did way before them when they hiked their prices beyond what I can afford. Long live the CA Cabs and Zins.

Great ep Gman I’ll try to seek out the elke PN . Smells like cindy Taste like cristina , Awesome !!!

Hey, KenP, no fair!
Leave Lars alone!
He’s my friend!

Thank you, THANK YOU, one and all at WLTV — I just received my SECOND Vayniacs Wrist Band!
Now, at last, I can ward off them flyin’ corks like a true SuperHero!
Bill V.

QOTD: Both “Sideways” and Pinot Noir are on my list of things to experience for the first time.
Anticipation is a good thing!
Bill V.

love the flick, loved the book 1st. dude, you know i am riding my Harley up to The Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival in less than a month. what a w/e that will be! gibe The Savoy Vineyard its props; perhaps the finest PN field in our great nation.

Hey, great. Pity the Rion did not liven up to your expects. Now, I dunno with Rion: his Chambolles are not my cup of tea exactly. It’s seems, to me (saying that again, I am in no way an expert on this) that he isn’t really able to master the elegance this terroir or climat provides. I’d rather have one of his Vosnes or Gevreys.
QOTD: Was quite dissappointed with it. Had expected much more. Good road movie however, but sometimes a bit dull and superfluous. Yet, I loved the wine geek wink with the Cheval Blanc in the MacD. No Merlot … you bet :D! Dunno anything about the impact: Burgundy has always been expensive and no real QPR-breed. About the Oregons I dunno. Had some and liked them quite much. Yet NZ pinot is to me just IT. Love Seresin!
C ya.

QOTD: Always been a Pinot fan……long before that stupid movie came out.

QOD: Loved Sideways. Hate the price increase but LOVE that Sideways now gives me more distribution of Pinot Noir. Let’s be honest, before Sideways the Pinot Noir section in the wine stores was pretty weak. Now its a lot more vast. So for that I’m thankful that Hollywood has helped. It has also helped propel the interest in wine which leads to more consumption and availablitity. It is good thing.

qotd: loved the movie Sideways. Why? Because it’s not formula. Characters are imperfect, just like real life. imagine that!

Are you dining at Alinea while in Chicago??

QOTD: have seen the movie many times, always with a glass of wine by my side. Can’t be mad at a movie for saying whats right. Merlot sucks! It really does (in that lower price range), and pinot noir based wines can be what miles says they can.
Prices going up on pinots from california is not really an issue for me, since we don’t get them as much in Denmark.

Qotd: I don’t know, Sideways didn’t seem to affect the wine world so much over here, in Europe.
I really like both, Merlots and Pinot Noirs and if anything, then their prices have changed very little. I found it was a funny movie!

QOTD – nothing wrong with Sideways. I think it has really helped expand the American palate. Prior to Sideways, everybody was drinking cheap (and lets be honest) in many cases not so great merlot. Now they are just drinking not so great pinot, but I think one could make an argument that Pinot Noir is a bit more sophisticated of a grape in many cases. (Note: I like Merlot. I have respect for Merlot. I’ve also had a lot of VERY basic, artificial tasting Merlot’s in the $10 range) And even if you disagree with that, change is good.

I love Sideways. A great buddy, road movie. Giamatti’s character is not to be taken seriously in his love of pinot and hatred of merlot. The proof: the great 61 Cheval Blanc that he drinks alone towards the end is merlot-based. It’s all a big joke. People who know nothing about wines may not have gotten this subtlety