If you haven't seen the movie "Sideways," winners of the Ventura County Star's trivia contest based on the film's wine-country locations have some advice: Tour the Santa Ynez Valley in a convertible. Then buy your tickets.

"After being there in person, it made the movie a heck of a lot of fun," said Jeri Deane, 76, of Westlake Village, who spent a sunny day in November driving from one trivia-map location to the next in her brand-new Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet. Along for the car's maiden voyage was friend and fellow Westlake Village resident Carol Ghens, 70.

Unlike the characters in the film, the women decided not to do any tasting as they visited the wineries listed on the map. They did, however, enjoy lunch and a glass each of Sunstone merlot during a stop at the Los Olivos Cafe.

Fans of the film take note: It is at that very restaurant that the character played by Paul Giamatti has a wine-y tantrum, shouting, "I'm not drinking any (expletive) merlot!" The women had a good laugh at that when they saw the movie the next night, Deane said.

The award for answering all five of the trivia questions correctly is dinner for two and a bottle of Highliner pinot noir from The Hitching Post II, a Buellton restaurant featured in "Sideways." Their entry was selected via drawing from all entries with correct answers.

Trivia questions and answers

Want to test your knowledge both of the new movie "Sideways" and of the Santa Ynez Valley wine country that is its setting?

Here are the questions — and answers — to the Ventura County Star's trivia contest inspired by locations from the movie.



Question: Growing at the entrance to the gravel driveway at Sanford Winery & Vineyards (7250 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton; 688-3300) is a drought-resistant plant that produces edible fruit. Name or describe the plant. Answer: Cactus, or Prickly Pear.

Question: You're welcome to photograph the birds at Ostrich Land (610 E. Highway 246, Buellton; 686-9696), especially after contributing a little something to their upkeep. Donations go into a white metal mail box with the word "----" written on the side. Answer: "SLOT."

Question: Before their dinner date with Maya and Stephanie at the Los Olivos Cafe (2879 Grand Ave., Los Olivos; 688-7265), Miles warns Jack, "If anyone orders merlot, I'm leaving." Name one of the Santa Barbara County merlots available by the glass from the cafe's wine list. Answer: Sunstone, Gainey and Foxen are among the possible answers.

Question: Kate Firestone is shown curtseying to which member of the British royal family in a black-and-white photograph hanging on the wall next to the "restrooms" sign in the lobby at Firestone Winery (5000 Zaca Station Road, Los Olivos; 688-3940)? Answer: Queen Elizabeth II.

Question: Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard (6200 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos; 688-1545) — the winery that Daniel Boone built — is the body-double for which fictional tasting room, gift shop and tour-bus stop depicted in the movie "Sideways"? Answer: Frass Canyon