PRESS

REVIEWS


  • Rudy Maxa, PBS Network

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This follow-up to ‘Sideways’ is a more nuanced but equally hilarious and touching story of our boys years after they alerted the world to the joys of the pinot noir grape. In short, come to see the flawed heroes again, but stay for the story and the more graceful writing.”


  • Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

    “In the new book, Pickett exploits three parallel worlds: the novel, the movie and his own life. …as the journey heads from Oregon to Wisconsin, you sense the writer, clear-headed and determined, narrowing his focus on Miles and his mother…resolving a lifetime of distrust and hurt feelings. These passages contain the most powerful writing in the book.”


  • WINElala by Noelle Allen

     “I was hooked from the first sentence. Naturally, I poured myself a glass of Oregon Pinot to enhance the experience.”

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“VERTICAL traces another Miles/Jack semi-insane road trip through wine country. This time it is up to Oregon and the gorgeous Willamette Valley. With Miles’ mom Phyllis and her dog Snapper in tow, the idea is for Miles to knock off a speaking engagement for the IPNC, the apparently wild International Pinot Noir Celebration, and then deliver mom to Wisconsin to spend out her final years with her sister.”

MORE PRESS TO EXPLORE

Check out what these fine folks are saying about Loose Gravel Press and the works we’ve published.


  • Three Strings Wine

    “…an easy and quick read, the novel has a much deeper story to tell about the cycle of life, success and depression and family relationships. If captured in the same style on film as the first novel, (Sideways), Vertical would be a beautiful film.”


  • Wine and Lavender

    “If you’re a Pinotphile, love to laugh out loud, or enjoy a great story, check out Vertical:Passion and Pinot!“


  • Red Wine Cats

    “A must read if you loved Sideways, love books and love Pinot Noir. I couldn’t help but instantly visualize Paul Giamatti & Thomas Haden Church’s characters/voices, playing like a movie as I turned the pages…a great book, I didn’t want to put it down.”


  • Vino with Val

     “It’s also a hard book to put down because there’s no telling what the heck is going to happen next.”


  • WineTwoFive Podcast

    “Wine tourism meets comic tension. A must ‘share & tell’ for your wine friends that love to plan trips around wine.”


  • Marc Supsic’s Wine Living

    “Vertical is proof that sometimes, in order to put the pieces of your life together, you must first fall apart.”


  • Wine Predator

    “If you’re missing those two crazy pinot-loving characters from Sideways, check out Pickett’s new book, Vertical: Passion and Pinot on the Oregon Wine Trail.”


  • New Jersey Uncorked by DK MULLEN

    “This was a very entertaining book and a worthy sequel to Sideways. I look forward to the movie!”


  • Oregon Wine Press

     “If you like Sideways, you will love Vertical!”


  • Wine Walkabout

    “… the question of whether this book should be made into a movie…YES!”

  • Mary Reynolds, Book Reviewer

    “This book will keep you entertained from the first moment Miles and Jack and his Mom and dog jump in the rampvan. After traveling through a gorgeous Willamette Valley, laughing and cringing, by the time you reach the last chapter, you will have cried as much as you laughed. 5 stars for sure.”