Is "Sideways" Dead?
"Sideways Country" listed among top five wine-tasting weekends by Women's Day online.
I'm sometimes asked whether it makes sense to operate a wine club under the "Sideways" brand, almost three years after its release.
Detractors (usually those who hated the movie) are quick to tell me "the buzz is so over". Or that it was a poor idea in the first place.
Proponents (usually fans of the movie) believe the story resonates with our emerging food and wine culture, and will be forever linked to wine the way "Field of Dreams" was linked to baseball. Well not exactly in the same way, but you get my point.
Then an email like this shows up in my in-box today. It's from Laura Kath, who manages P.R. for Santa Ynez Valley Visitor's Association (Sideways Country).
"The "Sideways" effect keeps on giving! This article is now online - a "photo travelogue" featuring Santa Ynez Valley and Solvang as one of the top 5 wine-tasting weekends in the USA."
Click here to view the entire article or scroll down for the text/slides for our area.
Hit the road for a fun adventure
Jennifer Conrad
The movie Sideways whetted our appetite—isn't there something great about tasting a bunch of wines with a group of good friends while taking in drop-dead gorgeous scenery? We found five weekend trips that will get you well-versed in vino. Just be sure to hire a car or designate a driver.
Santa Ynez Valley, California
[Photo courtesy of Firestone Vineyard] More laid-back than Napa or Sonoma, this wine region near Santa Barbara was made famous by Sideways, and is known for Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
Don't miss Firestone Vineyard (photo) - owned by the family of "The Bachelor" Andrew Firestone...
[In the 1970's, the Firestone family leveraged part of their considerable fortune to become an early pioneer in Central Coast wines. By the early 1980's they had even hired famed André Tchelistcheff as their consultant. Now in their third generation, the winery's history took an interesting twist recently, when it was purchased by Foley Estates. The third generation of Firestones are now pursuing artisanal wine under a different label in Paso Robles. But I still encourage you to visit the scenic grounds shown here!
To enjoy an armchair tour of the wineries of Sideways Country visit our online store, where we've collected the best of the area. Enjoy! ~ Dave the Wine Merchant]
European Vacation
(Photo by Robert Holmes) Don't miss the Danish town of
Solvang
(solvangusa.com). Stop by for pastries, chocolates, European shops, spas and a farmers' market every Wednesday. Visit Solvang Restaurant for the popular Danish dish aebleskiver—sort of like ball-shaped pancakes covered in powdered sugar and jam.
[All of the above is true. But Solvang is also the epicenter of Sideways Country, offering 15 wine bars and tasting rooms within its cozy boundaries. This has made Solvang an attractive destination for wine pilgrims concerned about drinking and driving! Be sure to visit our affiliated wine bar - Tastes of the Valleys - in the heart of Solvang. ~Dave the Wine Merchant]
Night Cap
Drift off to sleep at Solvang's Wine Valley Inn & Cottages (winevalleyinn.com), which features gardens and a patio with an outdoor fireplace. Plus, you'll be close to the region's hiking, golf and fishing. Rates start at $89 a night. Get more information and plan your trip at santaynezvalleyvisit.com.
[The Visitor's Bureau website, above, is very helpful for planning your trip. You may also want to check out some of our favorites here, as well as what they have to say on Yelp! ~Dave the Wine Merchant]
In addition to "Sideways Country", the article recommended four other wine weekends across the nation:
- Texas Hill Country - The buzz on the wines of Texas is that many are forgetable, but some are pleasantly surprising and a few are stellar! My old winemaking friend Big Tim Truitt recently traded in the dust of the Golden State in favor of trudging his Tony Lamas through some Lone Star vineyards. If Texas wineries continue to lure winemaking talent like this, watch for Texas wines to elbow their way into an increasingly significant role.
- Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula - I toured this area in the early 90's and found the wines less riveting than the scenery. But that was 15 years ago, and I'd love to see how things are coming along out there. Highly recommended if you're in the Midwest.
- New York State's Seneca Lake - I've yet to tour this area, but know the best of their wines include cool-weather grapes that thrive in their environment. Try the Riesling, Mead (a sparkling wine made from honey and growing in popularity nationally) and traditional sparkling wines.
- Walla Walla Washington - A woman named Wanda once invited me to wallow in the wines of Walla Walla. Would that I had. Merlot is king, and despite the Sideways-based epithet to the contrary, I do like a good Merlot!
We hope to see you soon!
Dave the Wine Merchant Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com
www.SidewaysWineClub.com and www.TastesOfTheValleys.com
. Help me continue this free blog by taking 5 seconds to vote here!
Comments