https://www.thewinestalker.net/2014/04/the-sideways-effect_9.html The wine so famously maligned in A few days later it hit me, Miles killed himself. Movie wine snob, Miles, played by Paul Giamatti responded to to the offer of a glass of merlot: "If anyone orders merlot, I'm leaving. While that is an exaggeration, there is truth to it. Alexander Payne is a and he also disparages merlot, outright refusing to drink it at one point. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot! And, sales dropped everywhere. By that time, the disease had killed over 200,000 Americans. If anyone orders Merlot, Im leaving. The article discusses the line that stirred controersy and many say, shot a hole in the merlot market. The demand for Merlot in the US and Britain fell after the movie, while Pinot Noir sales (and prices!) While that is an exaggeration, there is truth to it. A 2009 study by Sonoma State University found that Sideways slowed the growth in Merlot sales volume and caused its price to fall, but the film's main effect on the wine industry was a rise in the sales volume and price of Pinot Noir and in overall wine consumption. "Sideways at 10: Anybody for a nice glass of merlot?" It gave Merlot a terrible stigma. The movie Sideways killed merlot. Conventional wisdom has it that Sideways killed Merlot and crowned Pinot. The film Sideways, released in 2004, had a very positive effect on Pinot Noir sales, courtesy of Paul Giamattis character, Miles, and his effusive praise of that grape. And I mean, just killed them. The 2004 movie about an obsessive wine snob helped boost California's pinot noir production by 170 percent. rose considerably, much to And merlot? They buy more merlot Many folks will tell you that Sideways killed the market for Merlot. Wine drinkers buy more merlot than zinfandel, syrah, and riesling combined. Yes, even in other states. Made people think it sucks. Sideways. Believe it or not This ONE line in an indie movie with a $12 million budget Killed Merlot wine sales! Example: Not exactly. What is wrong with merlot sideways? Sideways is a 2004 American comedy-drama road film directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. It also effectively killed the merlot industry and sent sales of pinot noir through the roof.