The Wines in Sideways

Sideways_guideAs the founder of the former Sideways Wine Club, as a licensee of Fox Searchlight Pictures, I still get questions about the movie. The most common among them is "What wines were shown in Sideways?" Sideways was produced as an independent film, and had no budget for product placements. So the wines that made their way into the film were those loved by the Writers (both book and screen) and Director. Though a good listing is included in the small book from New Market Press "The Sideways Guide to Wine and Life", I've identified a few additional wines as well (and see the comments from the year 2021 to get even more!)... The Wines of Sideways:
  1. Byron, 1992 Sparkling Wine (sadly, Byron no longer produces a sparkling wine). This wine makes a brief appearance as Jack pops the cork in Miles' car as they leave the house of his future in-laws), then proceeds to guzzle this rare gem from a common all-purpose glass that looks as if it was rescued from a 1990-era tasting room.
  2. Sanford Vin Gris - this is the first wine tasted by Jack and Miles once they finally begin their first day of tasting. The scene is filmed in the Sanford tasting room and features the former Sanford Tasting Room Manager - the pony-tailed man in the cowboy hat - who achieved a fair amount of fame from that scene. I feel it is safe to say no Tasting Room Manager has ever been asked more frequently for their autograph, or to appear in photos with visitors.
  3. Foxen Vineyards - though no specific wine bottle made it on screen, this is where the Tasting Room employee turns her back long enough for Jack and Miles to fill their glass and guzzle - not one of the movie's better wine scenes.
  4. Kalyra Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc - this is the tasting room where Jack and Miles first Meet the flirtatious Stephanie.
  5. Fiddlehead Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Honeysuckle. This is the wine that sparked Miles' interest in Maya. After his famous "I'm NOT drinking any *#! Merlot!" line, he approaches the table where Maya and Stephanie are already seated. This is the wine Maya is enjoying. They discuss it briefly and then he orders a glass.
  6. Whitcraft 2001 Pinot Noir. This is also served at the double date dinner, one of a sea of wines that starred for a few seconds during that scene. But I give kudos to anyone who can still find any of the 2001. Whitcraft wines are difficult to obtain even in their current vintage, and the 2001 is long gone. An acquisitive collector's best bet? The auction market.
  7. Sea Smoke Botella Pinot Noir (Vintage unknown) - Also served at the same dinner. Also amazingly rare and difficult to find. But worth the trouble! Winemaker Kris Curran was on the San Francisco Chronicle''s "Winemaker to Watch" list, a sort of runner-up category for their "Winemaker of the Year". This is the "entry-level" Pinot from this famed Santa Rita Hills vineyard, if you consider $40 entry level. But relative to their other two bottlings ($50 for Southing, $70 for Ten - IF you can find them) it is a relative bargain. Just two years ago the Botella was priced at $26. Surprising what can happen to a wine's perceived value after a few seconds on the silver screen.
  8. Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (vintage unknown) - Man, that was one over-served table! This wine also appeared in that same scene. Though neither the producer nor the vineyard were from "Sideways Country" - Central Coast - it is a fine pinot noir from another cool growing region, home to noble souls who often to toil against nature to produce such fine examples of this variety.
  9. Louis Latour Pommard Premier Cru (Vintage unknown) - yep. Same scene. And one of three French wines mentioned or shown, along with Cheval Blanc and Richebourg.
  10. Andrew Murray Estate Syrah (vintage unknown). This is the wine Maya pulls from Stephanie's wine rack and discusses with Miles in the kitchen before they retreat to the porch. It is the wine they're enjoying during the scene in which Miles reveals why he loves Pinot, and Maya describes why she loves wine - the best scene in the movie, from a wine lover's point of view.
  11. Lucas & Lewellen Neither the Vintage nor the Varietal are evident in the scene where Miles lays in bed alone, watching TV and reading magazines, while this bottle sits on the nightstand.
  12. Hitching Post, Bien Nacido Pinot Noir and Highliner Pinot Noir, vintages unknown. After deciding to get out of the hotel room to see if Maya is at work at the Hitching Post, a disappointed Miles drinks these wines at the bar.
  13. Cheval Blanc, 1961 In a joke surely intended for the true wine geek, this is Miles' most prized wine, a wine he's saved for years for just the right occasion - a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. And its a blend of Merlot (yes, MERLOT) and Cabernet Franc! It's the wine a depressed Miles drinks at the fast food restaurant from a styrofoam cup - not our recommended vessel of choice - it's better in Riedel or other fine stemware.
Cheers! Dave the Wine Merchant Toll Free, 866-746-7293
Back to blog