In September 2023, I stopped while passing through Buellton, California for dinner at The Hitching Post II.  I’d been planning this dinner in my head for a while and had already decided to order a special bottle to enjoy – as one does at the Hitching Post.

Some of you may remember the Hitching Post as the scene of several dinners in the movie Sideways (2004) – and most significantly as the infamously over-served wine extravaganza featuring Paul Giamatti (Miles), Thomas Haden Church (Jack), Sandra Oh (Stephanie), and Virginia Madsen (Maya). 

I arrived for my 7pm reservation and waited… and waited.  After the third person walked through the foyer without acknowledging my presence, someone finally did.  I was led to what must be the worst table in the house – a two seater placed smack dab in the kitchen entrance.

Initially I started to put my coat on the back of the chair and even thought about dutifully sitting down.  But then, I saw what was happening here – single, 55+ woman, gray hair – dispensable and invisible.

There were many empty tables; I insisted upon a new seat. And then I proceeded to order this wine.

Eyes – translucent garnet
Nose – complex Byng cherry, pomegranate, garrigue, and dried herb
Palate – significant development, sour and super ripe Byng cherries, blood orange rind, tarragon, anise, black olive
Drinking at its peak, absolutely sublime, pure sunshine and happiness (16 yo at opening).

In Sideways, Virginia Madsen’s character gives a heartfelt speech about what makes wine special for her – what kind of a day was it when they harvested, who picked the grapes, who was there when it was bottled, are they still alive?  From the picture to the right, we know that Bob Lindquist was there – this 2006 wine was made well before he left in 2019.

In the end, I luxuriated in the wine, and had a lovely conversation with the people at the next table.  The wine was glorious, the dinner barely average, and my new table, much improved over the original version. 

Miles would have insisted on being moved.  So, I did too.