The Santa Ynez Valley lacked the Russian River Valley's expanse and Napa's glitz when Alexander Payne's wine-soaked comedy "Sideways" first debuted. Although it still lacks the tourist appeal of either, California wine's feisty younger sister has matured since Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church's disastrous bachelor vacation there in 2004, when they declared war on Merlot and sent Pinot Noir sales skyrocketing.
Locals called it the "Sideways effect.” In the years since the film's release, tourism to the region has exploded, whole towns have been built and eyes have been cast upon once sleepy Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and Los Alamos (there's also a sixth town, Ballard, but it serves as a bedroom community for the region).
Before "Sideways," Los Olivos was mostly known as the home of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch; now it’s a burgeoning hamlet. Solvang, the vestige of a Danish settlement once regarded as something of an oddity of the Central Valley, now has lines out the door of every restaurant.
And the region has benefited from the cannabis industry capitalizing on the terroir that makes the wine taste so good. A total of 9.8 million pounds of pot were grown in the region last year, making it a more valuable crop than even wine grapes. Maybe Santa Ynez Valley needs a “Sideways 2” starring Cheech and Chong (actually, they don’t: cannabis is highly controversial among residents).
Of course, Santa Ynez Valley was wine country before “Sideways,” and it'll always be a prime destination just a hop-skip from L.A. So plan your escape to Santa Ynez, where you can learn to play polo from a master, the shops are all hygge, the food is as good as it gets and the wine flows like water at countless estates.
Artisan Excursion offers wine tours in Solvang CA, which include a range of exquisite wines ranging from rare vintage ones to new bridle ones to help you branch out and discover new, unique tastes.
Our wine tour packages also include a delicious dinner in the vine, and small group tours so you can enjoy your privacy. What makes the tour more memorable is the added advantage of the scenic views that Solvang offers.
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