How many stories are there about that pinot noir quote in Sideways? How many people did it resonate with? I know I was one of them. Bear with me, it is a good story.
When I first met my husband, we were colleagues working in a start up in California. At that time, he was all about Pinot Noir–or seemed to be. We used to talk about movies and music and wine and … well…we just used to talk a bit about everything. AND then that movie Sideways came out. One evening, I was driving home after work and I was listening to the highlights from the radio program Fresh Air with Terry Gross. She was interviewing Rex Picket (the writer). They played the clip where the character Miles is talking to the girl and explaining why he liked Pinot Noir:
Miles Raymond: Uh, I don’t know, I don’t know. Um, it’s a hard grape to grow, as you know. Right? It’s uh, it’s thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It’s, you know, it’s not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it’s neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they’re just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and… ancient on the planet.
AS SOON AS I HEARD THIS QUOTE, I understood my friend (at the time) at another level. AS SOON AS I HEARD THIS QUOTE, I thought: “MY GOD. THAT IS LUDO”. That description fits him TO-A-T!” I laughed when told him the next day. I don’t believe he thought it as funny as I did.
Now, as I re-read that quote, 10 years and two boys later, I think I was correct.