20 years ago, an indie movie about two guys wine tasting on California’s Central Coast became a hit, got nominated for five Academy Awards and won Best Adapted Screenplay. This movie, Sideways by Rex Pickett, came out just as I was planning to start my own wine executive recruiting company. As Miles Raymond was drinking from the spit bucket at Fess Parker Winery and uttering those famous words, “I’m not drinking any f—-ing Merlot!” I was wondering if I could support my family by focusing on wine industry placements. Today I’m happy to say starting WineTalent was the right thing to do, and that we have a new Sideways to savor, this time with Miles and his buddy Jack traipsing around New Zealand.
Sideways New Zealand brings us right back into Miles Raymond’s complex psyche. He’s an expat living in Central Otago, New Zealand. He’s in wine country, writing his follow up book after his last one was a bestseller and turned into a successful movie. He’s got a little vineyard, is dating a winemaker and has his own wine label. All is good in Miles’s world. That is until he gets surprising news from California right as he is about to embark on a book tour.
Author Rex Pickett did a great job of weaving in current events and New Zealand elements in the book. There are fleeting references to the pandemic and the incorporation of Zoom into routine business encounters. Of course, the wine and vineyard descriptors are extensive, but never overbearing. Pickett is a very intelligent man with an immense vocabulary—which makes Miles even more interesting—Pickett is able to deftly convey a situation with a few well-chosen words.
Sideways New Zealand is a fun romp through New Zealand, with Miles getting into awkward and titillating situations. We have buddy Jack joining Miles on the book tour. The guys travel around New Zealand in an RV, meet with book clubs in private homes (The Cougars of Christchurch Book Club gets Miles into some hot water), engage with local bibliophiles at The Featherston Booktown festival, all while these two old friends are each facing, and maybe trying to avoid, their own uncertain futures.
This book was a great travelogue for anyone who hasn’t traveled to New Zealand. It’s also a wonderful book about wine, vines and friendships. Miles has a pleasant return to California, meets a young wine industry human resources professional at a very important point in her life. Who knew HR would get an honorable mention in Rex Pickett’s new book, after this HR professional, me, decided 20 years ago that Sideways was a good omen for a future in the wine industry? I think this newest tale of Miles Raymond is another good premonition for the wine industry and WineTalent.
Cheers to Miles and Jack! And I will gladly drink Merlot.
