Rex Pickett, celebrated author of Sideways, recently gave a talk at Schug Winery in Sonoma County about his background and how the popular movie inspired by the book came to be. Produced and directed by Alexander Payne, the film recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its release.
Schug, a producer of stellar Pinot Noir in the heart of Carneros, is a favorite of Pickett’s, who now lives in wine country. The winery’s general manager, Dave Moore, invited Pickett to speak to his club members while pouring Schug’s 2005 Heritage Pinot Noir as well as a library edition of its 2005 Merlot. Following the trail of Pinot Noir around the world as an ode to his love of the variety, Pickett has since written the sequels Vertical, which partially takes place in the Willamette Valley; Sideways 3 Chile; and Sideways New Zealand. Next up? Sideways Bourgogne.
