To this day we can never buy this bottle without commenting f*****g Merlot… but let us explain on our Sideways look at California Wine Month.
Sideways is the cult movie where a groom-to-be and his best man take an oenophiles’ road trip through California.
Connecticut’s own Paul Giammati’s repressed character Miles delivers an immortal line about SoCal students favourite Merlot.
When pal Jack (Thomas Haden Church) asks him to make up a double date.
And wine snob Miles reluctantly agrees but says ‘I am not drinking any f*****g Merlot.’
Stomp of approval
Californians, of course, drink from the vine all year around but they deem September to be Wine Month.
And our friends we have met and wined and dined with in the Golden state have laid out the table for us.
Only they want us to work for our supper.
Visitors are invited to trample the grapes underfoot while marvelling at the sight of colourful hot air balloons floating over the vineyards.
And there is, of course, no shortage of vineyards in Temecula Valley, an hour and a half south of LA.
With wineries including Callaway Vineyard & Winery, South Coast Winery, Europa Village, Temecula Carriage Company, Ponte Estate Winery, Somerset Winery, and more.
The full Ponte
The stomping is pretty much what it says on the barrel.
So you step into a vat and start stomping.
And all with a background of live music, dining, dancing and even a Lucy lookalike competition.
Now our Californian chums have kindly laid out the swathe of fancy accommodation options for our road trip.
And keeping in the spirit of Sideways we thought we’d perm the romantic getaways for you.
Air Miles
As a sample booking the non-members 22nd Annual Grape Stomp at Ponte Winery brings 20% off the standard room rate for non-members which you can access via their site.
And because we can’t just zip down the coast like Miles and Jack, we do the next best thing.
And fly Aer Lingus Smart with pre-clearance from Dublin from €819.81.
Something to think about then as you sip your f*****g Merlot wherever you are.
It’s how they do it in the Golden State, it’s a Sideways look at California Wine Month.