Fifteen years ago, the sleeper hit movie Sideways catapulted the Santa Ynez Valley wine country into international fame. Today, Sideways is a cult classic. To toast the movie’s anniversary and the wines it made famous, the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance will hold Sideways Fest, Oct. 18-20.
“We are excited to produce an event that embraces the energy of and celebrates everything Sideways. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the wines and locations of the movie, and still have time to visit our tasting rooms and explore our backroads,” said Barbara Satterfield, executive director for the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance and long-time employee of the Hitching Post II Restaurant.
Sideways Fest kicks off with a Friday night screening of Sideways at the outdoor Solvang Festival Theater; a panel discussion with individuals involved in the film’s production; and a wine tasting.
For those who haven’t seen the film, or if it has been a while, here is a synopsis:
Debuting in 2004 and filmed on location, Sideways is the adaption of Rex Pickett’s novel of the same title. The story focuses on Miles Raymond and Jack Cole, both 40-something, who visit the Santa Ynez Valley wine country for a week-long, two-man bachelor party in honor of Jack’s upcoming nuptials. They meet two local women, taste a lot of wine, and …
The movie stars Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh.
Viewers will want to pay close attention to location shots as Saturday’s morning bus tour will retrace Jack’s and Miles’ trip. For example, the hotel where they stayed (the one with the big windmill off Highway 101), the then-Sanford tasting room, and the Hitching Post II Restaurant and its famous in-house Highliner Pinot Noir.
Saturday’s schedule includes time for a self-guided tour of Solvang, the Danish capital of America.
“Sideways brought well-deserved international attention to the wines and the beauty of Santa Barbara Wine Country,” recalls Frank Ostini, owner of the Hitching Post II Restaurant. “We said Sideways would come and go, and we’d be here for the next 50 years. Turns out Sideways will outlive all of us and be viewed by wine lovers forever. Now we say with pleasure ‘Sideways forever.’”
During Sunday‘s festival event at Buellton’s River View Park, a gathering of Sta. Rita Hills wineries will pour their Pinot noirs, and other Santa Ynez Valley wine producers will join them. There will be a special Merlot tasting as well. (The currently much-maligned Merlot is thanks to a scene from Sideways depicting the varietal in an unflattering light, which caused sales to plummet.)
Other activities include a Sideways Saab photo booth, a food truck court, and live music.
“No one had any idea the impact Sideways would have on the Santa Ynez Valley,” said Satterfield. “Not a night goes by at the restaurant that someone doesn’t ask about the movie or come in to get their picture taken in the bar, even after 15 years. People come from all over the world to experience the Sideways adventure and drink Pinot noir.
“More importantly, it alerted Southern Californians that there is a beautiful wine region just a few hours away. People come to visit two or three times a year to enjoy.”
For details and tickets to all the Sideways Fest events, visit sidewaysfest.com. To learn more about the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance, visit staritahills.com or email info@staritahills.com.
— Andres Nuno for Sideways Fest.