Wine, Beer, Sake, Whiskey Blog at MoIppai » American wine

Sideways Movie – Japanese Version

MoIppai — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:01:05 +0000

サイドウェイズ Sideways

This weekend sees the release of the Japanese remake of the 2004 movie “Sideways“.

I haven’t been to see it yet, but the other day when I went to see Wolverine I picked up a poster and flyer and saw the trailer.

To be honest I couldn’t follow much of the trailer (my Japanese still needs some work) but it appears, as opposed to being about Miles and Jack going on a “stag weekend” in Napa valley, it’s about a reunion of 4 university friends, Michio, Daisuke, Mayuko and Mina (2 guys and 2 girls) who take a trip to California to try the wines.

Many conversations about love, friendship, career, marriage etc. ensue and at least one scene in a mud bath (which I don’t remember from the American version!), oh, and the scene where the “Jack” character drinks the wine from the spittoon, that was in the trailer.

When I first heard they were making a Japanese version of Sideways I really thought they’d relocate it to Japan, (as Hollywood tends to do, like moving High Fidelity from London to Chicago), maybe Katsunuma in Yamanashi prefecture, one of the main wine regions of Japan.
I would have thought that would have been much more interesting.
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Read the rest of Sideways Movie – Japanese Version (113 words)

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Post tags: American wine, Californian wine, Napa Valley, Sideways

A Drop Of The Red Stuff

MoIppai — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:05:52 +0000

Vampire Pinot Noir

As an ex-dodgy-goth and a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I still like to dip in and out of the underworld every now and then, and discovered this winery the other day while surfing the net. Vampire Vineyards

Supposedly owned by a circle of vampires and run by an entertainment lawyer in New York, the company has moved round a bit,starting in Algeria, moving to Italy, Transylvania (of course) and finally ending up in Paso Robles, California.

They have some big fans, the first batch was sold to Alice Cooper apparently and also the Anne Rice fanclub in New Orleans.

There’s quite an interesting history on their site, difficult to know how much of it is true however.

Their range of wines includes “Dracula Syrah”, “Dracula Zinfandel” and “Chateau Du Vampire”. But they don’t just stop at wine they also make vodka, cola (Dracola!) and Witches Brew Beer.

Unfortunately however, as always, it doesn’t seem to be available in Japan. Only North America and Europe. I guess the vampires didn’t make it to the Far East.

If anyone has tried any of these wines, leave a comment and let me know what they’re like, thanks!

Silver Palms Wine Bottle Wins Design Award

MoIppai — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:18:50 +0000

Silver Palms Cab Sauvignon Wine Bottle

For reasons I’d rather not go into, I receive occasional emails from “Shelf Impact” (from the publishers of Packaging World!). Well, I’m sure you can imagine what a gripping read that is – however I shouldn’t criticise as occasionally something interesting does crop up.

Like this for example:
Jackson Family Wines in California have recently won the “Overall Package Design” in the 2009 Clear Choice Awards from the Glass Packaging Institue.
Apparently the logo is screen printed in inks that contain platinum flakes…so far so…what.
However if you click the image to see the enlarged close up version it does actually look pretty impressive.

Also the bottle is 1inch taller than your standard 750ml bottle and slightly tapered at the shoulder – apparently this is a subliminal way of expressing quality.

Goes to show, a lot of thought goes into the actual bottle of wine and not just the wine itself.

Silver Palms Cabernet Sauvignon website

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Cycles Gladiator Wine Label Pornographic in Alabama

MoIppai — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:37:51 +0000

This passes for pornography in Alabama

Was amused to see that the Cycles Gladiator Wine label has been banned in Alabama, USA for being “pornographic”!

Mind you this was the country that nearly imploded when a glimpse of nipple was seen because of a “Wardrobe Malfunction” during the Superbowl.

Equally impressed to see that the Hahns Family Wines (the makers of the Cycles Gladiator wine) are using this as a great marketing idea!
“Banned In Alabama”.

I think the Alabamans (is that what you call them??) are missing out, as it’s not a bad a wine.
Cycles Gladiator 2006 Review

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