9/30-Michael Jordan Hosts Live from the LA County Fair

Live Broadcast from the LA County Fair

Wine & Spirits Marketplace at the L.A. County Fair

Taste the award-winning wines, spirits and olive oils from the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits and Extra Virgin Olive Oil competitions. Wine or food classes are taught by some of the best experts and chefs in the state. There’s also shopping and light dining for the gourmand in all of us.

Gourmet School
Classes and seminars in wine, spirits and olive oil are offered through the Fair’s wine education program. Topics include chocolate and wine pairing and wines of the Sonoma Valley. Each wine class features a minimum of six wines and each participant receives a ticket for a taste of a gold medal winner at the International Tasting Bar. The cost to participate is $17 per class. Try one of Chef Henry Gonzalez's of Spaggi's Restaurant seminars. Classes extremely popular and fill up quickly. Click here for a list of seminars. Over 3,100 wines, 214 spirits and more than 600 olive oils were entered into the prestigious competitions. Now it’s your turn to choose your favorite.

Beerfest
Guests can also enjoy beer sampling at the Beer Tavern serving winning brews from the Fair’s commercial beer competition. Enjoy your brewski with some pretzels and watch sports on the big screen.

Shop Around
The Crushed Grape offers everything from award-winning wines, olive oils and cheeses to the finest in gourmet kitchen, wine and olive oil accessories.

9/23-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan talks to Juliette McCourt

Juliette McCourt - Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne

Created in 1976 by Mr. Nicolas Feuillatte, this dynamic young brand has quickly grown to become the #1 top-

selling Champagne in France and one of the top Champagne producers worldwide, with an international presence in more than 90 countries. In 1986, the brand was purchased by the Centre Vinicole, and with the support of its 5,000 wine growers, now benefits from an extensive and rich supply of quality grapes, representing 7% of all Champagne produced.

Nicolas Feuillatte has created one of the largest ranges of Champagnes available, including its classic wines (Brut "Blue Label', Brut Rosé,Blanc de Blancs Vintage and Brut Vintage), as well as specialty cuvées like Cuvée 225, Cuvée Spéciale, single Grand Cru wines and the prestige cuvée Palmes d'Or Champagne!
Together, this collection of wines have made Nicolas Feuillatte a recognized choice in top restaurants, luxury hotels and trendy venues worldwide.

9/16-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan talks to Ernie Loosen

Ernie Loosen - Loosen Bros. USA Ltd.

Roots of the wine

The Dr. Loosen estate has been in the same family for over 200 years. When Ernst Loosen assumed ownership in 1988, he realized that with ungrafted vines averaging 60 years old in some of Germany’s best-rated vineyards, he had the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class wines. To achieve this, Ernst dramatically restricts crop size, prohibits chemical fertilization, insists on very strict fruit selection, and employs gentle cellar practices that allow the wine to develop its full potential with a minimum of handling.

Classified quality

All of Dr. Loosen’s six major vineyards were designated as “Erste Lage” — equivalent to grand cru — in the 1868 Prussian classification of Mosel vineyards. Only wines from these top-rated sites are bottled with a single-vineyard designation. All others are labeled simply as estate wines.

The Elements of Quality at Dr. Loosen 

The regional climate

The Mosel’s steep, south-facing slopes create the perfect climate for Riesling, giving the vines ideal exposure to the low-lying, northern sun. Generally cool conditions allow the grapes to ripen slowly, while retaining bright acidity.

The slate soil

The Mosel’s stony soil and rocky outcroppings reflect sunlight and hold in heat, creating very warm microclimates in the best sites and helping to ensure excellent ripeness. Thin topsoil forces the vines to dig deep for water and nutrients, producing vibrant wines that capture the strong minerality of the soil.

Old, ungrafted vines

Dr. Loosen owns vines that are well over 120 years old, and all are on original rootstock (phylloxera can't survive in the Mosel, so ungrafted vines are allowed here). Old vines produce naturally lower yields, resulting in higher concentration and richness.

Accolades for Ernst Loosen

• Man of the Year 2005, Decanter
• White Wine Maker of the Year 2005, Wine International
• World's 50 Most Influential Winemakers, Wine & Spirits
• Germany's Winemaker of the Year 2001, Gault Millau

9/09-Michael Jordan Hosts Live from Angelo & Vinci's Restaurant

Angelo & Vinci's Restaurant
Master Sommelier Michael Jordan will interview owner Cynthia Peck on the history and success of Angelo's and Vinci's Restaurant in Fullerton. He will also discuss with long time Manager and Italian Wine Expert Robert Ciccaglione his memories of past days and current success as well as discuss the restaurant's place in the memories of its many long time patrons. This is the first of many events planned for a month long ‘ Festival Italiano” celebration of the restaurant's 40 year success story. Owner Cynthia Peck will also talk about upcoming wine dinners and show host Master Sommelier Michael Jordan will talk about his in-restaurant wine class.

9/2-Michael Jordan talks with Steven Ackad & Doug Krenik

Steven Ackad-Wine Director & Tony Motakef Director of Operations - A Restaurant

Since 1922 The Arches has been the destination for fine dining in Newport Beach. Known for it's amazing steak and seafood menu It is a place where celebrities and local customers can dine in privacy. With grand renovations and its rebirth as A Restaurant this landmark will once again be a haven for classic culinary experiences.

Doug Krenik - Midwest Regional Manager Loosen Bros

Say hi to the newest member of the Loosen Bros. USA team, Midwest Regional Manager Doug “Kronik” Krenik.

Over the past 20 years, Doug has been associated with almost every aspect of the wine business; importing his own wines, working for local distributors in both sales and education, and directing the wine program of the prestigious Flagstaff House Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado, for six years.

He completed the rigorous Court of Master Sommeliers Diploma Exam in February 2006 and is one of only 169 Master Sommeliers worldwide. Doug is also a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) through the Society of Wine Educators.

Doug currently lives in Colorado with his wife Chris and enjoys cooking, writing, and cycling. He is a veteran of the much-feared Triple Bypass ride which crosses three Colorado mountain passes, all above 10,000 feet. (For you oxygen-rich flat-landers, that’s two miles above sea level.)

He also plays guitar and has been playing in bars and bands since the tender age of 15. When not hosting events such a Beer vs. Wine Throw-Down, he rocks out with a local Colorado cover band.

Why did Doug want to work for Dr. Loosen? Because his passion is site-specific wines.

“Too much wine is soul-less,” he says. “Wines should speak of where they come from, and Riesling is one of the most site-specific wines. It’s the purest expression of the grape that there is.”

And Doug’s favorite food-wine pairing? Currently it’s a Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Spatlese with an Asian-cuisine-inspired summer peach soup.

If you happen to see Doug at one of our tastings–or maybe with his rock band–give a big wave (or yell “Freebird!”) to our Mile-High Wine Guy.