Did Sideways ruin Merlot or make Pinot Noir a bit too popular? 😂

I've been thinking about how much the film changed the conversation around Pinot Noir. It seems like it went from being a grape people appreciated for its elegance and complexity to something of a cult favourite, with prices to match in some regions.

Curious what people think. Did the Sideways effect genuinely change how we drink and value Pinot Noir, or was it just a bit of a fad? And where are you finding good Pinot these days that doesn't cost a fortune?

Personally, Pinot Noir remains one of my favorite personal styles (and I didn't discover Sideways till much later!)