Hello, movie buffs and wine enthusiasts! Get ready to swirl your glasses as we introduce you to a new cinematic delight that will take you on an intoxicating journey through the picturesque vineyards of California wine country. It&#39;s time for another grape-infused adventure with &#39;Gap Weekend,&#39; a film that promises to be this generation&#39;s answer to &#39;Sideways.&#39;

<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/gap-weekend-a-film-shoot-in-wine-country/episodes/915" target="_blank">Check out CorkRules Podcast Episode #417</a>

&#39;Gap Weekend&#39; is written and directed by Todd Norwood, who has brilliantly managed to weave together humor, drama, friendship, and fine wines into one compelling narrative. A heartbroken guy befriends an offbeat girl after posting his dating manifesto online. As the two spend a weekend together in a pretend relationship, a connection grows that may both heal and complicate aspects of their natural lives. The two of them spend the weekend pretending they are a couple so long as they follow the rules. &quot;Nothing physical. No kissing. No one gets hurt.&quot; As the weekend progresses, they find that following those rules proves to be very difficult.

The charm of this film lies not just in its plot but also in its stunning backdrop - the enchanting vineyards of California wine county. If you loved how Sideways celebrated California&#39;s viniculture while telling a touching tale about middle-aged men grappling with life&#39;s disappointments, then Gap Weekend is going down your alley, too!

Let&#39;s talk about our captain steering this ship &ndash; writer/director Todd Norwood. Known for his knack of telling heartwarming stories that resonate with audiences, Norwood has done it again with &#39;Gap Weekend.&#39; With an impressive filmography, including the critically acclaimed short films Just in Time and Running on Empty, he&#39;s repeatedly proven he knows how to create engaging narratives.

Norwood&#39;s directorial style is characterized by a keen eye for detail, rich character development, and an ability to bring out authentic performances from his actors. He possesses a unique talent for capturing the essence of everyday life in extraordinary circumstances - something we see shining through in &#39;Gap Weekend.&#39;

One thing you can always expect from a Todd Norwood project is relatable characters navigating through their journeys amidst beautiful landscapes &ndash; running across barren fields or sipping wine overlooking lush vineyards. His movies are not just about storytelling; they&#39;re about creating experiences.

So, where can you catch this delightful cinematic experience? Well, I have good news: it&#39;s out today! &#39;Gap Weekend&#39; is available on most of your major streaming platforms, e.g., Amazon Prime Video! Plus, the novel version will be coming out in Dec as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&#39;Gap Weekend&#39; is more than just a movie; it&#39;s an invitation to take a breather, enjoy life&#39;s simple pleasures and celebrate friendships. It&#39;s about exploring new horizons (and exquisite wines!) while rediscovering oneself amidst laughter, love, and shared memories.

&nbsp;

Hello, movie buffs and wine enthusiasts! Get ready to swirl your glasses as we introduce you to a new cinematic delight that will take you on an intoxicating journey through the picturesque vineyards of California wine country. It's time for another grape-infused adventure with 'Gap Weekend,' a film that promises to be this generation's answer to 'Sideways.'

Uncorking the Delights of 'Gap Weekend': Via California Wine Country

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Robert Tas talks to Chris Phelps, winemaker and owner-operator of Ad Vivum in Napa Valley.

Josh Phelps on Ad Vivum

Robert Tas

Chris Phelps of Ad Vivum

Chris Phelps &ndash; Ad Vivum

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode, we typically review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. But today I have a special guest.

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Chris Phelps, founder and napa winemaker of Ad Vivum. He has an amazing wine pedigree. He studied viticulture and enology at both the University of Bordeaux and &amp; the University of CA at Davis. During the 1982 vintage, he lived and worked on the Right Bank (I was SUPPOSED to be at Petrus, which is part of the story. I returned during the 1984 harvest for 4 months, living &amp; working at Petrus...). In 1984 he became the founding winemaker at Dominus Estate in Napa, owned by Christian Moueix. Chris has worked at numerous notable wineries: like Caymus, Swanson, Inglenook, and consults throughout the west coast.

Chris, thank you for joining us here on CorkRules.

CP: &hellip;

So, Chris, let&rsquo;s start with talking about your wine Ad Vivum. I&rsquo;m super excited to try it. Can you share your story?

CP: Talk about the history, location, wine style, etc.

RT: How has your wine evolved from its first vintage to your latest release?

CP: &hellip;

RT: What&rsquo;s on the horizon? Where do you want to take it?

CP: &hellip;

RT: So, let&rsquo;s pivot a little to the state of the wine world. Where does CA wine-making stand today?

CP:

RT: There are some big challenges facing the wine world &ndash; climate, consumer changing habits, and distribution. Given where you sit, what are your thoughts?

CP:&hellip;

RT: How do you get your wine into the hands of new consumers?

CP:

RT: One of the challenges, I see how do we get younger people into wine? I read your parents, like mine, introduced you to wine at young age? What can the industry do to get your generation into wine?

CP:

RT:

RT: Chris, Thank you so this fabulous discussion about our restaurant (winemaking) industry. It&rsquo;s inspiring to be a part of this community. &nbsp;&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for all our latest episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists and please download our app which has all your favorite restaurant wine lists, make personalized recommendations, and allows you to connect with your friends. &nbsp;&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Acrobat is a label under King Estate Winery, located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. They focus on producing high-quality, affordable wines using sustainable farming practices and minimal intervention winemaking. Their wines are known for their bright acidity and fresh fruit flavors.

French cuisine & craft cocktails are served in this airy, industrial-chic setting with a patio.

28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen

28-50

Bleu Provence

KOCHINYC

Kochi

Wally's

Hav & Mar

Bern's Steakhouse

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Faubourg

Karine Lauverjat

Sancerre 2020

Sauvignon Blanc

Loire, France

Taittinger

Cuvee Prestige Brut Champagne NV

Chardonnay

Champagne, France

Drappier

Carte d'Or Brut Champagne NV

Pinot Noir

Champagne, France

Les Grands Chais de France

Belrose Mediterranee Rose 2021

Blend

Méditerranée, France

Raimbault-Pineau

Sancerre Rose 2021

Pinot Noir

Sancerre, France

La Burgondie

Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Reserve NV

Blend

France

E. Guigal

Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2018

Shiraz/Syrah

Crozes-Hermitage, France

Moët & Chandon

NV, Champagne, France, Champagne NV

Champagne Blend

Champagne, France

Montefresco

Pinot Grigio NV

Pinot Gris

Italy

Lulumi

Pinot Noir 2021

Pinot Noir

Pays d'Oc, France

Trefethen

Eshcol Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

Napa Valley, USA

Château l'Esparrou

Cotes du Roussillon NV

Blend

Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Levert Frères

Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Rose NV

Blend

France

Domaine Lafage

Miraflors Rose 2021

Blend

Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Karine Lauverjat

Sancerre NV

Sauvignon Blanc

Loire, France