Sideways Page #8

INT. SANFORD TASTING ROOM - DAY

Miles is at the bar, TWO GLASSES in front of him. Jack walks

in and bellies up next to him.

JACK:

(proudly)

Baked with a butter-lime glaze.

MILES:

Now we're talking.

CHRIS BURROUGHS, a POURER in a cowboy hat and ponytail, comes

over.

CHRIS:

This is the condemned man?

MILES:

Here he is. Jack, Chris. Chris, Jack.

Chris and Jack shake hands.

JACK:

How you doing?

CHRIS:

You guys want to start with the Vin

Gris?

JACK:

Sounds good.

TWO GLASSES are filled with small amounts of PINOT NOIR VIN

GRIS.

JACK:

This is rose, right?

MILES:

Good, yeah, it is a rose. Only this

one is rather atypically made from

100% Pinot Noir.

JACK:

Pinot noir? Not again!

(joking, to Chris)

You know, not all Pinots are noir.

They laugh.

Miles swirls his glass in tight circles on the bar, then

lifts it to smell. Jack clumsily imitates Miles, perhaps

even spilling some wine in the process.

MILES:

Let me show you.

We see details of what Miles now describes.

MILES:

First take your glass and examine

the wine against the light. You're

looking at color and clarity.

JACK:

What color is it supposed to be?

MILES:

Depends on the varietal. Just get a

sense of it. Thick? Thin? Watery?

Syrupy? Inky? Amber, whatever...

JACK:

Huh.

MILES:

Now tip it. What you're doing here

is checking for color density as it

thins toward the rim. Tells you how

old it is, among other things, usually

more important with reds. This is a

very young wine, so it's going to

retain its color pretty solidly. Now

stick your nose in it.

Jack waves the glass under his nose as if it were a perfume

bottle.

MILES:

Don't be shy. Get your nose in there.

Jack now buries his nose in the glass.

MILES:

What do you smell?

JACK:

I don't know. Wine? Fermented grapes?

Miles smells.

MILES:

There's not much there yet, but you

can still find...

(more sniffs)

...a little citrus... maybe some

strawberry... passion fruit... and

there's even a hint of like

asparagus... or like a nutty Edam

cheese.

Jack smells again and begins to brighten.

JACK:

Huh. Maybe a little strawberry. Yeah,

strawberry. I'm not so sure about

the cheese.

MILES:

Now set your glass down and get some

air into it.

Miles expertly swirls the wine. Jack follows suit.

MILES:

Oxygenating it opens it up, unlocks

the aroma and the flavors. Very

important. Now we smell again.

They do so. Jack smiles.

MILES:

That's what you do with every one.

JACK:

When do we get to drink it?

MILES:

Now.

Jack gulps his wine down in one shot. Miles chews his before

swallowing.

JACK:

How would you rate this one?

MILES:

Usually they start you on the wines

with learning disabilities, but this

one's pretty damn good.

(to Chris)

This is the new one, right, Chris?

CHRIS:

Released it about two months ago.

MILES:

Nice job.

CHRIS:

We like it.

JACK:

(to Miles)

You know, you could work in a wine

store.

MILES:

Yeah, that would be a good move.

Now Miles notices something about Jack.

MILES:

Are you chewing gum?

JACK:

Want some?

EXT. SOLVANG, CALIFORNIA - DAY

The Saab passes through this Danish-themed tourist town.

SUPERIMPOSE --

SOLVANG:

EXT. BUELLTON, CALIFORNIA - DAY

The Saab makes its way into this very average-looking Central

coast town right off the freeway.

SUPERIMPOSE --

BUELLTON:

EXT. WINDMILL INN - DAY

The Saab pulls into the parking lot of this motel. And look --

there's the WINDMILL itself, its decorative blades motionless.

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