Photographer Merie Wallace, Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
The film Sideways (2004) made a star out of Santa Barbara Wine Country and drummed up demand for pinot noir around the world. Directed by Alexander Payne (Election, About Schmidt), who won an Oscar® for the adapted screenplay (based on the novel by Rex Pickett) he wrote with his long-time screenwriting partner, Jim Taylor, Sideways tells the story of a celebratory road trip saluting Jack's (Thomas Haden Church) final days as a bachelor. A sojourn in Santa Barbara County's verdant valleys quickly careens sideways as he and Miles (Paul Giamatti) hit the gas en route to mid-life crises. The unlikely pair share a heady blend of failed potential and fading youth and a nose for drowning in wine and women (Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen).
It’s easy to follow Miles and Jack's footsteps—many of the locations that set the stage for the wine-infused film are open to the public, and a movie location tour map is available. Sideways, The Map spotlights 18 locations in the Santa Ynez, Lompoc and Santa Maria Valleys—including the very spots where Miles and Jack wined and dined.
Key Sideways stops include boutique wineries like Alma Rosa, Foxen and Kalyra, where the two stars flirt their way through a flight of wines. Dining at the legendary Hitching Post II is a must for visitors hot on trying traditional Santa Maria-style BBQ or the house pinot noirs like Miles’ favorite, “Highliner”. Other highlights include the River Course at the Alisal Guest Ranch where Jack and Miles disregard golf etiquette, Firestone Winery where the double-dating couples picnic and find privacy in the private barrel room and Fess Parker's Winery where Miles downs “Frass Canyon’s” communal spit bucket to express his disdain for their stingy tasting pours. Sideways, The Map is available for download on www.sbfilmtour.com, and a hard copy of the brochure can be mailed upon request, free-for-the-asking.
To toast the return of Sideways with the “Perfect Pairing” DVD release of Sideways and Bottle Shock, Santa Barbara County hotels, restaurants, wineries, tour companies and attractions teamed up to create the “Perfect Pairing Pass”. The pass can be downloaded from www.sbfilmtour.com and the discounts and special offers are valid through Memorial Day. “Perfect Pairing” values include 2-for-1 wine tastings, complimentary glasses of wine (with purchase) at area restaurants and discounts on guided wine tours featuring Sideways locations. “Perfect Pairing” hotel packages including exclusive wine tastings and behind the scenes tours are also available.
Click here to view Santa Barbara's "Perfect Pairing" Food & Wine Hotel Packages.
“Sideways” Movie Tour Itinerary Highlights
Alma Rosa Winery (A.K.A. Sanford in the film)
7250 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton
805.688.9090, www.almarosawinery.com
Miles teaches Jack the basics of wine tasting. Tasting room manager Chris Burroughs (starring as himself) starts them off with the vin gris in which Miles smells citrus, strawberry, the faintest soupçon of asparagus and just a flutter of nutty edam cheese.
Kalyra Winery
343 North Refugio Road, Santa Ynez
805.693.8864, www.kalyrawinery.com
While tasting wine, Miles and Jack meet Stephanie, a flirtatious wine pourer who becomes the object of Jack’s affection.
Fess Parker Winery (A.K.A. “Frass Canyon” in the film)
6200 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos
805.688.1545, www.fessparker.com
At “Frass Canyon’s” large wine tasting event, Miles phones his agent and finds out his book will not be published. After the pourer refuses to serve him a full glass, Miles guzzles the spit bucket.
Firestone Vineyard
5000 Zaca Station Road, Los Olivos
805.688.3940, www.firestonewine.com
Miles, Jack, Maya and Stephanie sneak out of a wine lecture to share a romantic walk through the Barrel Room.
Foxen Winery
7200 Foxen Canyon Road, Santa Maria
805.937.4251, www.foxenvineyard.com
During the split screen portion of the film, Miles and Jack help themselves to full glasses when the pourer turns her back.
Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant
2879 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos
805.688.7265, www.losolivoscafe.com
Miles, Jack, Maya and Stephanie enjoy dinner and several exquisite bottles of wine. Later, Miles stumbles down the hall to drunk dial his ex-wife Victoria.
Hitching Post II
406 East Highway 246, Buellton
805.688.0676, www.hitchingpostwines.com
Miles and Jack share a bottle of Highliner at the bar. While having dinner, they talk to Maya who waits tables there. Later, Miles returns on his own. He leaves depressed and stumbling-drunk.
Solvang Restaurant
1672 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang
805.688.4645, www.solvangrestaurant.com
As they sit down for breakfast, Jack grumpily insists that Miles’ gloominess not thwart his attempts to get lucky before the wedding.
Click here to visit Santa Barbara’s Sideways map to taste your way through Santa Barbara Wine Country!
SANTA BARBARA “PERFECT PAIRING” FOOD & WINE HOTEL PACKAGES
Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn offers the “Grand Wine Getaway” for Sideways fans and wine-lovers throughout 2009 at the price of $1,035 for two. Package includes a two-night midweek stay in deluxe accommodations with wine upon arrival, full American breakfast for two each morning, a four hour chauffer-driven limousine wine tour, a gourmet picnic lunch for two prepared by Restaurant Marcella’s talented Chef Ron Stewart and tasting passes at Fess Parker Winery and Epiphany Cellars, both recipients of Gold and Double Gold awards from the recent 2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition. Call 805-688-7788 or visit www.fessparker.com and mention “Grand Wine Getaway” to book the package. Sunday through Thursdays only; subject to availability.
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