Under the Vines season 1: release date, cast, interview, plot, trailer and all about the comedy drama set on a New Zealand vineyard – What To Watch

Under the Vines on Acorn TV is a show that fizzes and pops with romance and possibility as it sees two mismatched city dwellers thrown together when they inherit a failing New Zealand vineyard.

Heres our complete guide to the sun-dappled, six-part comedy-drama featuring an exclusive interview with Downton Abbey star Charles Edwards...

Inheriting a vineyard in New Zealand may seem like a dream come true, but for stuffy London lawyer Louis Oakley its a living nightmare that he wants to put a cork in.

Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey, The Crown) and Rebecca Gibney (The Flying Doctors, Wanted) star as the cheeky pairing of bottled-up Louis and effervescent Sydney socialite Daisy Munroe.

These two lost souls are brought together In Acorn TVs lighthearted new six-part series when they jointly inherit Oakley Winery after the death of Louis uncle Stanley, who was also Daisys stepdad.

Under the Vines lands on Acorn TV from Monday Jan. 2022. Episodes 1 and 2 are available from Monday 10 January then new episodes of the six-part series will be made available weekly on Mondays. We will update on its availability in the US and worldwide.

To sign up for Acorn TV, visitwww.acorn.tvor download the Acorn TV app on your favourite device to start your 30 day free trial. You can also getUnder The Vines through Acorn TV on Amazon Prime Video (for extra charge).

Yes there's a very entertaining trailer for Under The Vines Season 1! Enjoy this taster of the sparkling new series below.

Louis flies to Queenstown and sets about trying to sell the dilapidated vineyard cheaply and quickly. Hes keen to return home, even though his marriage and career are in tatters, and hes gone viral for stripping off while blind drunk in Piccadilly Circus! Daisy, however, has other ideas...

Louis gets a call saying his uncle Stanley has died and that hes the sole heir to his vineyard. But when Louis flies out to Queenstown and meets Stanleys stepdaughter Daisy at the airport he realises that sole heir isnt the operative phrase! explains Charles Edwards, who was newspaper editor Michael Gregson in Downton Abbey and now plays Louis in Under The Vines.

Hes attracted to Daisy, but when it becomes apparent that theyre linked in this inextricable way, he can tell that he's going to get bossed around!

After a quick look through Stanleys finances, Louis is determined to sell off Oakley. Sampling the vineyards BT wine [bloody terrible!] makes up his mind completely and he accepts an offer from neighbouring wine producers, Marissa (Sarah Peirse) and Don (John Bach).

Daisy, meanwhile, begins to experience remorse at how she soaked up Stanleys money and never so much as visited him

When they examine this apparent dump in the middle of nowhere hes keen to sell it and get out. But Daisy has more of a vision, reveals Charles.

Daisy's had this long term, very distant relationship with her stepfather Stanley and, after a while, she just started sending him a gift basket every year, as we all do with some of our relatives. I think subconsciously shes looking for something else.

Prior to meeting Daisys living a fraught and rootless life in Sydney, while Louis home life and professional career are in disarray

His marriage to Simone (Shortland Street star Sara Wiseman) is rocky. But he feels duty bound to make it work for their son Julian (TV newcomer Sam Gardner). Hes also taking the rap for his business partner, whos been embezzling funds, explains Charles Edwards, 52, who plays Louis.

Daisy's also at a crossroads. Something that Becs very keen to plant within the character is that shes of an age where she's had the fillers, she likes younger men, she's a socialite, donating at charity dos - the cheques bounce! - but she knows deep down that her life is kind-of empty.

In New Zealand Daisy awakens to that and is inspired to turn Oakley Winery around. Louis lost and needs leading, so he goes along with it. Hed never admit it, but hes intrigued by and fancies her, basically!

Under the Vines Season 1 was filmed on location in Central Otago, New Zealand in 2021.

We were based on the South Island and filmed between February and April last year. It was like stepping into another world. Its a lovely, real vineyard. They overgrew the vines and made it look shabbier than it is for filming," reveals Charles.

Throughout the series youll see it gradually improves as we discover this charming dilapidated place has potential. At weekends we did a bit of research and enjoyed some of the local produce!"

As soon as Louis and Daisy land in New Zealand they meet a host of characters including hapless lawyer Vic, two very different Oakley employees - optimistic employee Gus and enigmatic Tippy, plus married couple Don and Marissa, who have their sights on owning Oakley.

Lawyer Vic is played by Cohen Holloway (Top of the Lake) and hes untiringly hilarious, very funny and very warm, says Charles.

Vineyard employee Tippy (Killer Sofa star Trae Te Wiki) keeps popping up and scaring the hell out of Louis and Daisy. Shes a mystery but has magic bones as far as wines concerned. Other employee Gus (Golden Boy's Simon Mead) is hugely lovely and could solve all their problems if only theyd let him!

Then theres Don (Jack Irish star John Bach) and Marissa (Sweet Tooth's Sarah Peirse), the king and queen of the area. Theyre successful wine producers and have their eye on Oakley. They need toppling!

In more than one scene Louis gets legless. The most memorable? When he goes viral after being filmed drunk as a lord and running naked through Piccadilly Circus, earning the moniker, Piccadilly Willy.

Louis has got into a drinking habit, which he enjoys! But it gets him into trouble, laughs Charles. It was very funny filming the [naked Piccadilly Circus] sequence in a disused airport room in New Zealand wearing whats known as a modesty pouch - a bit of old stocking with tape on it. The glamour!

I really enjoy playing drunk. I stagger around beforehand to get off centre and then try and focus on something!

The cast and crew followed strict pandemic protocol when filming.

It was a bubble within a bubble. New Zealand itself was a bubble because it was Covid free and then we had our show bubble. It was a curious but joyful experience, says Charles.

We went to an outdoor concert to see Crowded House on a beautiful, warm night. I sent a video to a friend of mine back in England and he said That's like a message from the future. I loved the way he put that.

Yes! During the series Louis and Daisy become increasingly committed to Oakley Winery and the endearing ensemble characters so there will be a season 2 of Under The Vines.

Its a lovely, warm world to step into. Even though its a fish-out-of-water story its different, and thats in the writing, the humour and great actors. Its funny and touching, says Charles.

Youve got two lost souls connecting. Its inspiring in a way. Im very excited about going back in February to film the second series. Louis might have to loosen up a bit!

From the press release: Season two will see lovable socialite Daisy Monroe and London lawyer Louis Oakley continue to navigate running the Otago winery they inherited. They also have to navigate their feelings for each other but love, like a fine wine, is always complicated.

Along the way, Oakley Wines up-and-coming winemaker Tippy (Trae Te Wiki) faces challenges of her own when a rockstar French vintner is hired by a rival winery.

Production on the six-episode second season will commence early 2022 in picturesque Central Otago, New Zealand.

Star and Executive Producer Rebecca Gibney said: I am beyond thrilled that we were commissioned to commence Season 2 of Under the Vines even before it has gone to air. It shows such enormous faith in our series and I am very grateful to Acorn TV and TVNZ for their amazing support.

"To be given the opportunity to work with the phenomenally talented Charles Edwards and to showcase not only the incredible talent here in New Zealand but the majesty of the location in the South Island was such a gift and I have no doubt Season 2 will bring as much joy and heart this time around.

Under the Vines is created and co-written by Erin White (Other Peoples Problems, Doctor Doctor, The PMs Daughter) and produced by Libertine Pictures (Daffodils, Mystic) and EQ Media Group (Jack Irish, Doctor Doctor) in association with Hardy White Pictures. Acorn TV has all rights worldwide with the exception of TVNZ in New Zealand.

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Under the Vines season 1: release date, cast, interview, plot, trailer and all about the comedy drama set on a New Zealand vineyard - What To Watch