The reason Miles hates merlot so intensely is because the California market is over saturated with this product. Merlot grows very well in California, and can produce very pleasant wines, but it can also be found in every restaurant, bar, wine store, grocery store, hotel mini bar-it’s literally everywhere.

Paul Giamatti is an American actor. Giamatti began his career as a supporting actor in several films. Giamatti began to earn critical acclaim after his lead role in the 2003 film American Splendor….

IMDb Rating: 7.6

Throughout the film, Miles speaks fondly of the red wine varietal Pinot Noir while denigrating Merlot. Following the film’s U.S. release in October 2004, Merlot sales dropped 2% while Pinot Noir sales increased 16% in the Western United States.

It has now been 15 years since the release of the Alexander Payne hit film “Sideways.” Many credited this movie with killing merlot sales when Miles Raymond, played by actor Paul Giamatti, proclaimed “If anyone orders merlot, I’m leaving. I am not drinking any (expletive) merlot.” Merlot is celebrated in Bordeaux.

Merlot is hated due to its infamy from the movie Sideways released in 2004. Sideways is Paul Giamatti’s breakout film about two friends who take a trip through wine country. Paul Giamatti’s character vocally hates Merlot because he thinks that it tastes bland and that the American market is oversaturated with it.

There’s nothing inherently bad about Merlot. When it’s mass-produced, it can create a very forgettable wine, and a few mass-producers have done some work to ruin the reputation of an otherwise very noble grape. Bridget’s Merlot is actually 92% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot.

Merlot is known for its softness and fruitiness, whereas Pinot Noir is more earthy with smoked notes. Merlot is the most produced wine in France, whereas Pinot Noir is more delicate and needs cooler climates. Merlot is a full-bodied grape with low acid level, whereas Pinot Noir is more light-bodied and slightly acid.

Pinot Noir has a stronger flavor and lighter color than Merlot. It has a deep color as compared to Pinot Noir, and is smoother and soft. It has a higher alcohol content. It is usually blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc to produce a milder and softer wine with lesser tannin.

I Like… Smooth Mellow Red Wines

• Merlot. Where you’ll find it: Basically everywhere – most famously in ‘Bordeaux blends’ of cabernet sauvignon & merlot, plus all over the new world.
• Grenache/Garnacha. Where you’ll find it: Spain (garnacha), France (especially the Rhône), Australia.
• Valpolicella. Where you’ll find it: Northern Italy.
• Carmenère.
• Rioja.
• Chianti.

Pinot Noir

Drinking too much can increase the risk of high blood pressure, liver damage, heart disease, obesity, certain cancers and can increase the risk of impaired driving and accidents. For those who already drink a glass of wine a day, this may have good benefit for your health and in general is safe to do so in moderation.

Pinot noir

WHITES. When it comes to lighter white wines, opt for chardonnay, white zinfandel, or sauvignon blanc. Zuckerbrot notes that these picks are all under 85 calories, with 2.6 grams carbs and 1 gram of sugar per glass.

Wine & Weight Loss: The Reality. While some of the phenolic compounds in wine may help with weight loss there’s one essential fact never to forget. While wine doesn’t contain fat, if you consume more calories than you burn off, you won’t lose any weight.

Alcohol and weight gain Drinking too much wine can cause you to consume more calories than you burn, which can lead to weight gain. What’s more, calories from alcohol are typically considered empty calories, since most alcoholic drinks do not provide substantial amounts of vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients.

5 Best Types of Alcohol for Weight Loss

• Red Wine (105 Calories per 5 oz Serving)
• Light Beer (96 to 100 Calories per 12 oz Serving)
• Dry Vermouth (105 Calories per 3 oz Serving)
• Booze on the Rocks (About 100 Calories per 1.5 oz Serving)
• Champagne (85 Calories per 4 oz Serving)

Alcohol is a source of empty calories in the diet. Meaning it adds to your daily calorie intake but doesn’t provide any real nutrition. Some argue that small amounts of alcohol can have health benefits, like heart health, but the research does not show that alcohol benefits weight loss or fat loss in particular (1,2).

Key takeaways: Excess calories from alcohol can lead to weight gain. People who stop regular moderate to heavy alcohol intake can more easily lose unwanted excess weight. Your food cravings may decrease when you stop drinking alcohol.

And according to him, drinking a bottle of wine a day isn’t bad for you. Although drinking nine bottles of wine a day probably is still bad. He believes drinking only becomes harmful when people consume more than around 13 units a day—most bottles of wine contain 10.

Immediately after quitting drinking, it’s likely you’ll experience a few nights of bad sleep but this doesn’t last long – two weeks in, most people will be sleeping better. “That’s because, while alcohol can help us get to sleep, we sleep less deeply when we’ve been drinking so feel less well-rested,” Dr Piper added.