I know, you’re saying, “What does this have to do with New Jersey wines or wineries?” Nothing…though I did have a great Pinot Noir from Turdo Vineyards and Winery in Cape May on Friday… But I was recently offered a reviewer’s copy of Rex Pickett’s sequel to Sideways — Vertical: Passion and Pinot on the Oregon Wine Trail. First, let me give a spoiler alert: If you have not read or seen the movie, Sideways – You should do so (it is hilarious) and you should do so before you read this review.
For those of you who did read the book or see the movie, Sideways ended with Miles knocking on Maya’s door, seeking forgiveness for his indiscretions and hoping to rekindle their romantic adventures.
Vertical begins with Miles and his sidekick, Jack, on another wine-infused road trip, However, their fortunes have flip-flopped. Miles is now glowing in the spotlight of his recently published book, which was made into a well-received movie with a cult following. It made him into a hero in the wine world and a god in the Pinot Noir-rich vineyards of Oregon. He is Living The Life. Winemakers are sending him bottles of their best Pinots, offering him speaking engagements for huge fees and putting him up at the finest hotels and establishments. Women who wouldn’t give him a second look are throwing themselves at him. Along the way, we learn that his attempts at a reconciliation with Maya were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Miles’s best friend and sidekick, Jack has been thrown out of his lavish house and divorced by his wife. Jack’s looks now betray his lifestyle of boozing, whoring and smoking too much and for far too long. He has put on a lot of weight and lost his mojo and opportunities in his acting career.
Accompanying Miles and Jack on this road trip are Miles’s mother, her caretaker, (the pot smoking, Joy) and Mrs. Raymond’s dog, Snapper. Miles’s mom has had a recent stroke and a series of medical crises resulting in her being placed in a nursing home. Miles made a promise to take his mother to live with her sister in Sheboygan, Michigan after emceeing at an award ceremony in Pinot Land. It should be noted that Miles refuses to fly due to his mortal fear of flying. To add to the chaos (and at times, hilarity) this unlikely group of wine country travelers experiences a series of mishaps. These include an injury to Snapper, Mrs. Raymond’s dental crisis requiring surgery, daily overindulgence in the fruit of the vines and in the way of the flesh. The later involved Jack’s taking a few too many little blue pills resulting in more than four hours at attention (also requiring emergency medical intervention).
The crippling blow to this misadventure came when Joy and Mrs. Raymond had a falling out and Joy went AWOL leaving her charge and the rest of the crew, and leaving Miles to care for his mom. Soon after, Jack bailed on Miles. Though the difficult journey from Oregon to Michigan seemed to be too much for Miles, at times, it also provided a chance for Miles and his mom to bond in ways they never could before. There were times when Miles’s new-found sensitivity and (almost) tenderness toward her, were as touching as they were surprising. This is the same man who stole money from his mother before his first road trip in Sideways. The same man, whose acerbic tongue unleashed venom at her in countless interactions. But we also see insights into why Miles and his mom were never very close and how the apple did not fall far from the tree (depression, self-esteem issues, poor life decisions based on totally selfish motivation). In my previous occupation I used to refer to individuals like Miles (and his mom) as “clinically rich.” We also see a chance for Miles to finally have a deeper understanding of his mother and himself. While a more somber and sobering tale in the last quarter of the book, it also gives you hope about Miles as a person, as he takes stock of his life and seeks to right his own ship and live on a more even keel, armed by his new insight into his mother, himself and his psychic demons. I won’t reveal the most moving ending. However, even as the revelation of what has transpired in the closing scenes sinks in, the story concludes with a glimmer of hope between Miles and Maya…
Bottom line: This was a very entertaining book and a worthy sequel to Sideways. It is definitely a book for and about adults (even if many of the characters behave like adolescents a good deal of the time). Rex Pickett is a gifted writer, who can write some hilarious scenes with comic interchanges. In Vertical, Mr. Pickett also shows that he can handle serious topics (such as end-of-life considerations, alcoholism, depression and the prickliness of interactions with friends and loved ones). His use of use of language is extraordinary. As a thoughtful touch, a glossary of a few dozen words that Miles utilizes routinely, but deftly, is included at the end of the book. I look forward to the movie!
Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Share your experiences here. Read a good book about wine? I will be writing a post about wine books and resources in the near future and may add your suggestions. Coming soon: Some highlights of my year in search of all things Vino NJ over the past year, a review of a few Special Events at wineries (festivals, entertainment, etc.) and some off ramps from the wine trails into some NJ breweries and distilleries). Like what you see and read here? Consider subscribing.
Cheers!
