A ‘Sideways’ Look At Vino

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Wednesday - November 23, 2005

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Chuck Furuya hosts a ‘Sideways’ extravaganza at
Vino

Anyone who saw the movie Sideways earlier this year is now aware of a few things: Pinot Noir is the new black, it’s fashionable to hate Merlot, and men can be really moronic.

Oh, maybe that’s just me being unfair. But whatever my issues with the movie, Sideways has become the biggest marketing tool Pinot Noir could ever hope to have. The notoriously difficult grape, fickle and filled with finesse, has suddenly become the wine of the year - and sales are booming.

At Vino, they know a thing or two about wine. They know what they like and they know what you’ll like - mostly before you even know it yourself. The other thing they know how to do is throw a party.

To celebrate its first anniversary, the trendy Restaurant Row wine bar/restaurant is holding a Sideways party. They’re inviting winemakers featured in the movie, restaurant owners featured in the movie, they’re serving wines drunk in the movie - heck, they’re even inviting people who rented the movie. Yes, that means you.

World-class - and now world-famous - winemakers will join the irrepressible Chuck Furuya and his staff as they head into the holidays and their second year in business. Guests at the wine and food extravaganza will include chef and winemaker Frank Ostini. Frank’s restaurant in California, The Hitching Post, was featured throughout most of the movie. (Mia, one of the female lead characters, works at The Hitching Post.) Ostini is known as the “father” of Santa Barbara barbecue, and as well as cooking, he’ll bring his highly allocated Hartley Ostini Hitching Post Pinot Noir and other wines to the party.

Chris Whitcraft, whose wines have gathered something of a cult following with several vintages simply sold out, will be there along with Gary Burke (Costa de Oro) and Jason Drew (Drew Family Cellars).

And while Pinot Noir will be the main guest at the party, many other gorgeous wines will be featured. Master sommelier Richard Betts (so wine savvy he’s one of only nine people in the world to have passed the master sommelier test on the first attempt) will be on hand to answer questions.

So, that’s the wine - well some of it, anyway. And you know the food will be good - Danny Morioka of d.k Steakhouse will serve up some dry-aged steak, there’ll be cheese, artisan breads, fabulous pizza, and barbecue by Frank Ostini.

The party is Sunday, Dec. 4, from 4.30 to 7.30 p.m. at Vino, Restaurant Row. Tickets are $85 per person and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Culinary Institute of the Pacific. Call 524 8466 for reservations.

Happy eating and drinking!