"We try to continue that philosophy of friendship to this day. We have a lot to celebrate, and we pay homage to all the staff and workers who have been part of our success."
"There is no question that the movie changed the fortunes of the Santa Ynez Valley and pinot noir more broadly," says Rex Pickett, the novelist and filmmaker best known for his novel Sideways, adapted into the hit 2004 film of the same name. "Before the release of the movie, pinot noir was 1% of the red wine market, and now it's at least 10% to 13%. Merlot was 25%, and now it's basically a blending variety. And the towns themselves, especially Solvang, which was just kitschy garbage in the '90s, now have dozens of tasting rooms and Michelin-starred restaurants."
The proposed support package from the Nova Scotia government for the wine industry deviates from expert recommendations, providing excessive funds to commercial bottlers instead of farm wineries.