Pinot vs. Cabernet: The scene from Sideways

I promised earlier that I'd post the scene from SIDEWAYS in which Paul Giamatti's Miles and Virginia Madsen's Maya talk about why they like certain wines, in which there is certainly some subtext, and in which Miles chickens out. It's a great scene. Interestingly, the published screenplay is billed as the shooting script but there are definitely a few bits that were obviously cut or never shot. This scene, as far as I can remember it, is very close to how it ended up.

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EXT. STEPHANIE’S PORCH (more was said before this but I'm cutting to the chase:)

MAYA
Wow, this is really starting to open up. What do you think?

MILES
My palate’s kind of shot, but from what I can tell, I’d dub it pretty damn good.

MAYA
Can I ask you a personal question?

MILES
(bracing himself)
Sure.

MAYA
Why are you so into Pinot? It’s like a thing with you?

Miles laughs at first, then smiles wistfully at the question. He searches for the answer in his glass and begins slowly.

MILES
I don’t know. It’s a hard grape to grow. As you know. It’s thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It’s not a survivor like Cabernet that can grow anywhere and thrive even when neglected. Pinot needs constant care and attention and in fact can only grow in specific little tucked-away corners of the world. And only the most patient and nurturing growers can do it really, can tap into Pinot’s most fragile, delicate qualities. Only when someone has taken the time to truly understand its potential can Pinot be coaxed into its fullest expression. And when that happens, its flavors are the most haunting and brilliant and subtle and thrilling and ancient on the planet.

Maya has found this answer revealing and moving.

MILES (CONT’D)
I mean, Cabernets can be powerful and exciting, but they seem prosaic to me for some reason by comparison. How about you?

MAYA
What about me?

MILES
I don’t know. Why are you into wine?

MAYA
I suppose I got really into wine originally through my ex-husband. He had a big, kind of show-off cellar. But then I found out that I have a really sharp palate, and the more I drank, the more I liked what it made me think about.

MILES
Yeah? Like what?

MAYA
Like what a fraud he was.

Miles laughs.

MAYA
No, but I do like to think about the life of wine, how it’s a living thing. I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing, how the sun was shining that summer or if it rained... what the weather was like. I think about all those people who tended and picked the grapes, and if it’s an old wine, how many of them must be dead by now. I love how wine continues to evolve, how every time I open a bottle its going to taste different than if I had opened it on any other day. Because a bottle of wine is actually alive -- it’s constantly evolving and gaining complexity. That is, until it peaks -- like your ‘61 -- and begins its steady, inevitable decline. And it tastes so fucking good.

Now it is Miles’ turn to be swept away. Maya’s face tells us the moment is right, but Miles remains frozen. He needs another sign, and Maya is bold enough to offer it: she reaches out and places one hand atop his.

MILES
(suppressing his panic)
But I like a lot of wines besides Pinot, too. Lately I’ve really been into Rieslings. Do you like Rieslings? Rieslings?

She nods, a Mona Lisa smile on her lips. Come on, Miles. Finally --

MILES (CONT’D)
(pointing)
Bathroom over there?

MAYA
Yeah.

Miles gets up and walks out. Maya sighs and gets an American Spirit out of her purse.

Comments

[Dan Brekke]

I loved this scene. I imagine everyone who's seen the movie loved it. Just beautiful, beautiful expression in the language. Thanks for posting it.

[James]

Not sure why that scene brought tears to my eyes, but it did. Beautifully done, I guess.

[Sophia]

Indeed it is the most vampish scene... it is like tasting bits of magic...
I have been looking for that dialog like crazy, thank you so much for posting it!

greetings,
Sophia

[ken]

thanks!
saw the film yesterday (aussie release) and really enjoyed this scene as well.

[daniela]

I have just wanted to read this scene and a blogger sent it to me through your blog. cheers,

[sideways2]

This is the scene that inspired me to change careers, from consulting to wineries to launching the Sideways Wine Club. I figured any movie-goer who reated to this scene the way I did most surely would be the sort of club members I'd want to be around! I've not been disappointed.

Cheers!
Dave Chambers, Wine Merchant
www.SidewaysWineClub.com

[Coco]

what more words could i say about this scene, rather than..

Unbelievable Brilliant!

greetings
Coco