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.

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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

The Palm - Beverly Hills

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas bring a little Hollywood glamor to the airwaves with a review of the wine list at The Palm, a Beverly Hills hotspot

Wine List Review of The Palm, Beverly Hills

Grace Hood

The Palm

The Palm

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you!

GH: Hey hey Robert !Happy to be here as always

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting. Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Today we will be chatting about Beverly Hills hot spot The Palm

GH: Robert I was very excited to chat about this location, as it&rsquo;s one of those old school Los Angeles classic locations! It&rsquo;s rumored that Fred Astaire once tap danced across the bar, and boy would I have loved to been a fly on the wall for that! &nbsp;

RT:&nbsp;You would have got up there and joined him in a duet! &nbsp;

GH: You know me so well Robert hahaha &nbsp;

RT: Besides old Hollywood royalty, what else should we know about the Palm and the wine list? &nbsp;

GH: They&rsquo;re keeping it simple! Highlighting both the wine and the cocktail list. Straightforward and user friendly. It&rsquo;s all about the ambiance and the people watching here

RT: I love it. Shall we start with some bubbles then?

GH: That&rsquo;s what Marilyn Monroe would do! If you&rsquo;re wanting proper champagne, then I would choose a classic &ndash; Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne. However, if you wanted a smaller producer, the 2020 rose Prosecco from Italian winery, Riodo, would be a really fun choice.

RT: Fantastic. And I assume they have some delicious white and rose choices as well?

GH: Oh for sure. If you&rsquo;re thinking rose all day, they have the aptly named Hamptons Water which is a staple in most trendy restaurants these days. Or if you&rsquo;re feeling a light white and wanted an unusual varietal, you could go with the 2020 Toscolo Vernaccia di San Gimignano out of Italy. And then of course I won&rsquo;t forget my chardonnay drinkers &ndash; the 2020 from Hartford court in the Russian River Valley would do the trick.

RT: Something for everyone here. I love it. How are we looking for reds?

GH: Looking tasty Robert! If you&rsquo;re wanting a light red, they have the 2020 Argyle Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley or this 2020 Renato Ratti Barbera d&#39;Asti from the Piedmont, Italy.

RT: Delish. Do they have anything a little juicer and more lush?

GH: They sure do! Getting into Sonoma, you could do 2019 merlot from Alexander Valley Vineyards, or this 2020 zinfandel from Cline 

RT: Oh yum. merlots and zins don&rsquo;t get nearly enough love. Thanks for the reminder, Grace. Now of course, it wouldn&rsquo;t be a California restaurant without California cabs.

GH: I know that&rsquo;s right! They&rsquo;re def holding it down for Napa Valley here at The Palm. If you wanted a single vineyard cab experience, the 2018 Butcher&rsquo;s Choice Vineyard is looking pretty tasty. Or if you wanted to do a big bold red blend, they have the 2018 Stags Leap Hands of Time red, or the 2020 Fabric of the Land from Quilt Vineyards.

RT: Awesome Grace, thank you so much for helping us navigate the list at The Palm Beverly Hills. To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.&nbsp; 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 and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists. Follow us on social media @CorkRules and @wineswithgrace

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End

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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

Chiarli is a historic family-owned winery in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. With over 150 years of experience, they specialize in producing high-quality Lambrusco wines using traditional methods. Their commitment to quality and innovation has earned them a reputation as one of the top Lambrusco producers in the world.

Refined quarters in an upscale inn featuring a spa, as well as a restaurant & free breakfast.

Eddy V's Prime Seafood Restaurant

The View

Il Capriccio

Clarity

Bellissimo Restaurant

Bellissimo

Sandbar

Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern

Mirabelle at Three Village Inn

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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

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