Swirl, Sniff and Sip 2007-07-01 (1)

Marianne Frantz, a Certified Wine Educator and founder of The Cleveland Wine School, discusses the Oscarwinning 2004 film Sideways, starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. Sideways follows two former college friends—one of whom is about to get married—as they embark on a wine-tasting trip to California wine country. The film received five Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director, and went on to win a 2005 Oscar Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

As the two old friends visit several wine-tasting rooms, the aficionado advises the neophyte how to taste wine.

Their procedure is pretty much what Frantz advises: Look at color, clarity and depth of color. Swirl the wine to shake it up like a sweater you're fluffing. . . . Sniff it, put your nose into the glass. You're looking for fruit and earthiness. As Frantz says, "The wine will unfold in the glass. So much of wine is smelling; it really should be called wine smelling, not wine tasting."