Happy 10th: The “Sideways” Celebrations Grow

The parties are bubbling, like sparkling wine, around Santa Ynez Valley.

BEYOND THAT ONE GLASS OF WINE: Just like there are numerous vinos sipped in the seminal wine-loving flick "Sideways," there must be numerous celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of its release. Yes, "must" is a strong word, but consider the lavished love the Alexander Payne flick bestowed upon the Santa Ynez Valley, where the film was memorably and picturesquely set. Maps to locations seen in the film, and wineries where Miles and Jack tasted everything but merlot, soon appeared on stands around Solvang and Buellton, and the already popular weekend-y region grew in further stature. So when a merlot taste-off sprung up to pay homage to the movie's 10th anniversary, well... like a single glass of wine, fans guessed more to-dos would soon follow.

AND SO THEY HAVE: That aforementioned merlot taste-off, which is a bit winky, given that Miles, the film's lead, was having no merlot nope nope nope, lands in Solvang on Saturday, Sept. 13, but there is a veritable bouquet of "Sideways" happenings flowering around the valley during the fall. Want to see stills from the movie? Head for the Elverhoj Museum in Solvang from Oct. 4 through Nov. 2. Kalyra Winery in Santa Ynez will screen the film on Oct. 10. And will Fiddlehead Cellars in Lompoc raise a toast to the film with the sauvignon blanc seen in the film? You bet, on Sept. 20.

THERE ARE MORE... more more "Sideways" happenings springing up all around the already famous wine country it helped to make super extra tremendously famous, but if you just want to snag a map and go where the film's characters went, you can do that, too, any ol' time.

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