Sideways Movie Wine Trail: A Self-Guided Driving Tour

4.6 (5 reviews) 1 h 30 min – 2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

5 reviews

4.6

Sideways Movie Wine Trail: A Self-Guided Driving Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Sideways Movie Wine Trail: A Self-Guided Driving Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

California’s Santa Ynez Valley, made famous by the film Sideways (2004), is a scenic wine region and film pilgrimage site. On this 90-minute self-guided driving tour, explore iconic movie locations, award-winning vineyards, and charming towns. Highlights include:

Learn about the “Sideways Effect” on Pinot Noir and Merlot
Discover five distinct wine trails, including Foxen Canyon and Los Olivos Promenade
Visit Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café and the Firestone Vineyard barrel room
Explore biodynamic, sustainable wineries producing estate wines
See which wineries earned gold and platinum medals for quality and accessibility
Discover rich local history, from Spanish missions to celebrity residents

A perfect mix of cinematic nostalgia and wine-country discovery.

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At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min – 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

What is included

Included

Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: App for Android and iOS
Included: Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones
Not included: Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Not included: Food and drink
Not included: Transportation

Itinerary

Old Mission Santa Ines

Passing by

Founded in 1804, pass by one of California’s 21 Spanish missions, showcasing colonial architecture, Franciscan heritage, and Chumash culture amid the scenic Santa Ynez Valley.
Santa Ynez Valley

Passing by

Drive along the pristine Santa Ynez Valley AVA, famed for its rolling vineyards, Pinot Noir and the 2004 film Sideways, which boosted the region’s global wine reputation.
Brave & Maiden Estate

Passing by

Pass by what was famously spotted in the Sideways film as “like something out of a wine country daydream.” Appointment-only tastings offer visitors acclaimed Cabernet and Syrah, sustainable practices, and a scenic, intimate estate experience. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Kalyra Winery

Passing by

Catch a glimpse of Kalyra Winery, featured in the film Sideways, in the playful Jack-and-Stephanie flirtation scene, nestled among grapevines in the Santa Ynez Valley. The original tasting room is closed, but visitors can enjoy wine at their Buellton location. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Stop 5

Passing by

Drive by a standout in the Santa Ynez Valley, celebrated for its biodynamic vineyards and bold Syrah and Grenache. Visitors can savor tastings amid rolling hills and breathtaking vineyard vistas. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Roblar Winery & Vineyards

Passing by

Pass by forty acres of oak-studded splendor, producing Cabernet, Merlot, and a full Bordeaux chorus. Visitors can enjoy tastings, farm-to-table dining, and panoramic vineyard views daily. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Stop 7

Passing by

Drive by what became legendary thanks to the film "Sideways", where Miles’ “I am NOT drinking any f**ing Merlot!” made Pinot Noir famous. Visitors can stroll this charming strip, enjoy award-winning tasting rooms like Brewer-Clifton and Stolpman Vineyards, and savor curated wine flights in a walkable, wine-loving destination. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard

Passing by

Founded in 1989 by the actor famed for Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett, pass by and learn how it gained Sideways fame as “Frass Canyon.” Known for estate-grown Rhône and Burgundian varietals, it offers daily tastings, scenic verandas, picnic spots, and authentic Santa Barbara hospitality, making it a must-visit wine-country destination. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Andrew Murray Vineyards

Passing by

Drive by a standout on the Foxen Wine Trail, celebrated for Rhône varietals like Syrah and Grenache. Known for hands-on, sustainable winemaking and expressive, high-scoring wines, it welcomes walk-ins and appointments, offering visitors a vibrant Santa Ynez experience and a taste of innovative California wine craftsmanship. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Firestone Vineyard

Passing by

Drive by another winery featured in Sideways, where Miles, Jack, Maya, and Stephanie sneak out of a dull lecture for a romantic, candlelit barrel-room stroll. Visitors can enjoy daily tastings of estate-grown Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay, plus private tours, barrel sneak peeks, and food pairings in a stunning Santa Ynez setting. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Stop 11

Passing by

Pass by The Sideways Inn, Buellton’s Days Inn reborn, a cinematic shrine where Miles and Jack checked in during "Sideways". Room 234 and the windmill are iconic, drawing fans eager to relive Pinot-soaked moments, just steps from the legendary Hitching Post II, where Merlot disdain became wine-country legend. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Stop 12

Passing by

Pass by one of the twin temples of Sideways debauchery and charm, a wood-paneled paradise of oak-grilled meats and Pinot-fueled revelations, capturing both the humor and heart of Sideways. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

The tour starts by the River Course at Alisal, on the corner of Juniper Drive and Alisal Road, under the California pepper tree. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading

End point

The tour ends at the Ostrichland USA, East Highway 246, Solvang, CA, USA.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking.

You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]