As a Server, can I just say how much I hated this movie! Jeez, I love Paul Giamatti and all but if I had to hear one more bumpkin from Kansas come in and make a joke about Merlot I was gonna throttle someone! There are some amazing Merlots out there and if the “hop-on-the-bandwagon” crowd wants to race after Pinots than fine, more for the rest of us. I just think that its unfortunate that many restaurants do not offer them by the glass anymore.

Oh, and Gary, best of luck tonight (or this afternoon, I never know when they tape that stuff…)

Sideways was intended to be toungue in cheek in regard to Merlot as many people know the Prized wine of the recitivist protaganist was a mostly Merlot ’61 Cheval Blanc.
The best Merlot I’ve ever had is the Chappelle de Ausone 2000 St Emillion. I can only imagine how good the $600 1st wine from that vintage is.
I drank a bottle of Robert Sinsky 2003 Los Carneros Merlot last night, look Ma, no Hangover! This was real wine in a nice place in between New and old World style and a decent bargain at $24. It went great with the KFC my talented wife cooked up for me.

I was already avoiding most merlots well before “Sideways”. There were way too many overpriced and bad merlots that made it a pass.

The same thing is happening with both Shiraz especially and Pinot Noir.

Edwardo

Help me out movie fans, but wasn’t the ironic twist to this movie that Miles’ most prized possession, a bottle of wine that he had passionately guarded and which formed the psychological link to a much happier time in his life, a merlot?

The movie had no affect on my buying or drinking habits except that I purchased fewer Pinot Noir’s because their QPR no longer made sense.

GV, I set the DVR just in case I can’t stay awake to watch Conan live. We’ll be rooting for you.

Thanks, TR I couldn’t remember the ’61 Cheval Blanc.

QOTD: I hated the movie Sideways. I thought that it made wine drinkers look like freaks and buffoons. Merlot is still one of my favorite wines and I am glad that because of the movie, Merlot is more available and less expensive than in the past.

GV: Convince Conan to join the Vayniak nation. Have fun on the show!!

Exactly right RandyB. Hence the title SIDEWAYS

Sideways SUCKED!!! There’s a reason it was nominated for a bunch of awards and didn’t win except for best adapted screen play!! I wouldn’t listen to anything they said in that crapy movie.
Got the Tivo set for Conan….good luck.
Signing off…as a friend of a friend of a friend…
Kara

QOTD: Hated sideways. But, now Merlots are much harder to find in my local stores; So I do drink less of it, yes. Also, Merlots seem to have fewer PQRs than other varietals.

QOTD: Sideways didn’t affect my attitude toward Merlot, but it did get me to revisit American Pinot Noir. It was much better than I had remembered from many years before. Unfortunately, it got expensive.

Have fun with Conan tonight. I’ll be watching (well, recording) it.

I couldn’t be happier for you on your appearance on Conan. I’m still amazed that you try to answer all your e-mails (wow, what a work ethic!!!), and I’m glad you’ve got so much momentum now. Change is good; so I’m happy to do my part, with other Vaniacs, and a little bit of you, and a little bit of Conan, and hopefully a some more press, and a whole lot of wine, in changing the wine world.

Good luck on the show!

QOTD: I like merlot…tell you the truth, I’ve never found any kind of wine that was consistantly bad. I’ve enjoyed them all.

I’ve always been a fan of GOOD merlot so Sideways didn’t influence me regarding my drinking habits much. If anything I probably drink less Pinot Noir since Sideways. Lots of Pinot producers raised their prices and I think there is a lot of “fake” tasting pinot out there too. I’m not going to complain about people backing off merlot since the movie cuz there is more of it out there at good prices for me. Corte Riva is one of my favorites along with Keenan and Pride.

QOTD: I was always a huge Pinot Noir drinker and never liked Merlot for a long time before SIDEWAYS, which I thought was an extremely overrated film. I’m drinking the same wines I always was, just paying a lot more for them now…

Gary – Have fun on Conan tonight and don’t be shocked by his size – he’s like 6’5″-6’6″.

GVNC, Nice spoof on Conan, good luck on the show. Nice comments regarding Bill Walsh, as a long-time 49er fan, its a sad day. Thanks to him, we had an awesome 15 year run!

QOTD: Thought Sideways was a great movie. Reminded me of some road trips with my college bros. Probably temporarily changed my wine drinking habits. Sought out more Pinots. Now looking for good values in Merlot.

Sweet episode. Cant wait to see you tonight on Conan man.

QOTD – I really hadn’t heard of PN, I don’t think it impacted my Merlot as much as it got me to see what all the fuss over PN was.
– Loved the spoof of Conan’s interview of celeb deal. Best wishes to you on his show.

QOTD Sad to admit that Merlot was my entry into red wine and I abondoned it but I’m coming back baby!

Will check out the merlot from Umbria and Charles Creek.

Gary goes mano-a-mano with the Oak Monster and crushes the beast (84!!!)…
Gary – Gary – Gary *\o/*

Thanks for getting us an episode in spite of having a busy day man. GOOD LUCK on Conan tonight! I’ll try to watch, but will record it just in case I can’t hehe.

QOTD: I never saw that movie and don’t think I will anytime soon either. As for being influenced by Hollywood, naw I’m to focused on expanding my horizons now to get swayed into any particular direction 🙂

Never was a big fan of Merlot (although had an Oyster Bay the other day which I really liked) so Hollywood didn’t make much difference on that front HOWEVER I think it pushed up the price of Pinot Noir which definitely affected me and my bank manager!

Gary:

Rarely drank Merlot both prior too and after “Sideways”. I found a couple I love but most would be forced to have at Weddings or work events which were poor. The movie did get me to try Pinot Noir, which is I started to like, but have since moved away.

I was a Merlot drinker- not a huge fan, but I did consume it. After the movie I did get more into the Pinot’s. I am still a Cab and Shiraz fan, also throw a Zin in there as well, just to make it a 3 way! :-0)

Merlot ? of the day (yes I’m on day behind) No, H-wood did not effect my view on Merlot. However, it did probably push me a little more towards trying more Pinot. But more importantly,people always ask what type of wine do you drink, which strikes me as a funny question. Why is it that people seem to think you can only possibly like one type of grape? I tend to tell them I like all wines, just depends on the wine itself. Does not matter if it is a Cab, Shiraz, Pinot, or Viogne, as long as it tasts good to me I simply do not care. BTW, love your show, always very intertaining.

Hey Gary,

I have been gone out of the country for my honeymoon for a couple weeks but this is a great episode to come back to. It was good and i will be watching conan tonight to see you on that 🙂

QOTD:
I have always loved merlot and after watching sideways i still love it the same if not more and i drink merlot most of the time. Lets bring MERLOT BAAAAAAACK YEEEEEEEP!!!

QOTD :

About the same. Always have enjoyed a good Merlot, especially from Washington St – they should
have got some time on today’s show.

Good luck on Conan!

When I saw Sideways I wasn’t even wine-aware enough to remember or distinguish Merlot or Pinot Noir, so I can honestly say it had no influence on me.

Having said that, I later figured out that many of my favourite wines in the world are from Pomerol – so I obviously have no problem with Merlot (at least in a skilfully made blend).

In any case I don’t buy much traditional single-grap ‘big 3’ (Cab Sauv / Merlot / Pinot Noir) wines, mostly because they often represent poor value and often lack character. Sure there are great ones from Bordeaux and Bourgogne, but then the prices are in line with their quality…