Los Olivos, Calif. ? Staring at the lush green Santa Ynez Valley lined with rows of vines, I move my hand in a circular motion, the stem of the glass between my fingers, the wine swishing around. I tilt the glass back as my eager palate awaits the oncoming rush of flavors.

There’s a hint of pear, a tinge of tangerine, even an accent of vanilla but alas nothing that resembles a nutty Edam cheese.

There’s nothing better than doing research for a story.

Maybe I don’t have the refined senses of Miles, the lovable but aloof oenophile who pontificates about Pinot Noir in the Oscar-nominated “Sideways,” but I definitely know not to chew gum when drinking wine. My approach to wine-tasting has been significantly altered since I’ve seen the movie. Who knew you were supposed to stick your entire nose into the glass? And when did it become faux pas to drink Merlot?

Granted, the movie about two friends who take a whirlwind road trip to Santa Barbara County before one of them gets hitched shouldn’t be the end-all guide of how to taste wine. Yet there’s no denying that “Sideways” has done for the wine industry what the 1996 movie “Swingers” did for the cocktail nation. Both movies introduced hip subcultures to the mainstream, and “Sideways” has put a bright spotlight on the Santa Ynez Valley.

On this day, my wife and I are at Firestone Winery, where one of the film’s scenes was shot.

Business has been extremely good since the release of the movie, but winter is off-season for the California wine industry. On weekends the tasting rooms are jammed with tourists, even though the places are virtually empty during the week. Don’t expect the same come summertime, when visitors flock to the area.

There are about 60 wineries throughout the valley, which is marked by several rustic towns with distinct charm and appeal. The local visitors bureau has taken advantage of the free publicity from the movie and printed a “Sideways” map that charts the many stops the main characters make.

We leave Firestone with map in hand. Our next stop is a winery owned by Davy Crockett himself — the actor Fess Parker. The winery is called Frass Canyon in the movie; it’s where Miles goes a little haywire with a spit bucket. The real winery, named for Parker, offers a fleet of fine wines and accessories. Parker even runs an upscale bed-and-breakfast inn and spa in Los Olivos.

An early-morning fog helps to paint the horizon over a vineyard in Buellton, Calif. The wine-infused and Academy Award-nominated film Sideways was primarily shot in the bucolic Santa Ynez Valley, 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara and 2 1/2 hours from Los Angeles. Napa may be better-known among wine enthusiasts and tourists, but the Santa Ynez Valley can hold its own when it comes to grapes.

We also decided to head to Sanford Winery, nestled in the Santa Rita Hills near Buellton and off the scenic Santa Rosa Road. Tasting-room manager Chris Burroughs, who appears in the movie, pours while handing out recommendations of sights to see in the valley. The winery aims to inform — there’s a library inside — as well as please with its bounty of wines.

Many people have signed the winery’s guest book with references to “Sideways,” while others have asked about the filming.

“There’s obviously a lot of talk about the movie when people come in here,” Burroughs said. “It’s been a slow spread (of word) and the iceberg is now approaching. There will be more of a surge when our high season rolls around.”