Saturday, December 28, 2013

12/27-Michael Jordan visits with Mike Horn

Mike Horn - President, CRN Digital Talk
This veteran broadcaster has been part of major market operations for more than 30 years. He is the founder and President of CRN Digital Talk and has helped to launch the careers of countless media celebrities.  In addition to being the President of Cable Radio Network, Mike works with Paul Stern to host the nation's premier daily food, wine and travel show, the "What's Cookin' Today" show.  He also has hosted CRN Digital's popular "PM Show" for years. 

Horn’s experience in Los Angeles includes working at KBBQ and Alternative Rock/KROQ as News Director and later as on-air talent with KROQ’s original personalities Charlie Tuna, Sam Riddle, John Darren and Jay Stevens. Later Horn moved to KLAC Radio as Production Director and then to Country KFOX in Long Beach serving as on-air talent on the "Country Mike" show. 
Horn teamed with Dick Whittington to become part of KFI’s comedy team line-up of Lohman and Barkley, Whittington and Horn, and Hudson and Landry on "Goodtime Radio KFI." He recently appeared with his good friend William Shatner on ABC TV's  "Boston Legal". Michael J. Horn is the founder and President of CRN Digital Talk Networks (Cable Radio Network), the world’s first original cable audio service. CRN’s reach has grown to more than 11 million cable customers across the United States, the Bahamas and U.S. Virgin Islands. CRN quickly became “the voice of cable” and the only exclusive 24-hour radio service for cable television. Horn, always looking to the future, placed CRN on the Internet (www.CRNi.net) to reach the World Wide Web’s millions of listeners.  Prior to launching CRN in 1983, Horn played a significant role in the evolution of radio in Southern California. Horn served as “on-air” personality for the legendary KBBQ, California’s first “hot” country station and paved the way for that sector of the industry to its’ subsequent nationwide appeal. Horn has a distinct style that makes his audience see and understand through his words. He knows how to draw out the information from “on-air” guests, making them look good while informing listeners.  In 1978, Horn founded Big Horn Productions, a company that pioneered the infiltration of country music to clubs in Los Angeles and the Marriott Hotel Chain. Big Horn Productions was an innovator in audio music entertainment by providing a comprehensive library of music to the vast circuit of nightclubs. As recognized cable audio expert, Horn was the voice of the Southern California Cable Marketing Council’s “Cable Up” commercials. Horn has appeared on TV’s General Hospital with “Frisco” (John Stamos) and “Blackie” (Jack Wagner) as well as “Luke” and “Laura”. His voice can be heard in numerous motion pictures and on many commercials. Horn is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio, Television and Film and a minor in Speech. He has held positions with the Southern California Cable Association, Marketing Cable Council and past President of the Chamber of Commerce. Horn is also a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

12/20-Michael Jordan talks with Fred Scherrer & Jeff Stewart

Fred Scherrer - Sherrer Winery
Since our small winery’s first vintage in 1991, our goal has been to create handcrafted, full-flavored wines that express the personality of the unique Sonoma County vineyards where they are grown. Fred first became known for Zinfandel from his father’s Alexander Valley vineyard, and now his careful hand with Pinot Noir from the Russian River and Sonoma County has quietly gained attention and a steady following. That same attention has made Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah that exemplify the bounty of Sonoma County vineyards.
Thank you for taking the time to find us,
Fred and Judi Scherrer




Born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, California, Jeff Stewart is, not surprisingly, an avid skier. But it was a summer trip to France and an enthusiastic chemistry teacher that enticed him away from the mountains and into winemaking.
"My summer in France was really my first experience with wine as part of the family meal. I was fascinated with the lifestyle and the importance of wine in that culture," says Hartford Family Winemaker and General Manager, Jeff Stewart. "I knew I wanted to pursue a career in science and after several conversations with my high school chemistry teacher, I was soon enrolled in the Viticulture and Enology program at U.C. Davis. The idea of combining agriculture, science and the creativity of making wine, something celebrated and revered in many cultures for thousands of years, was mesmerizing."
Throughout his academic career, Stewart did internship work at Robert Keenan Winery and in 1988 received his degree in Fermentation Science, Viticulture and Enology from the University of California at Davis. Having also held winemaking positions at Laurier, De Loach, Mark West, Kunde, La Crema and most recently Buena Vista Carneros, Jeff brings with him a wealth of experience and an established reputation for quality. His deft hand with cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in particular make him a perfect fit to lead the winemaking team at Hartford Family Winery.

Monday, December 16, 2013

12/13-Guest Host Larry Van Aalst vistits with Christopher Silva & William Seppi

Christopher Silva - President & CEO of St. Francis Winery
Being President / CEO of St. Francis Winery would be more than most of us could handle. Chris is not only in that enviable position but is also one of the young Wine Industry notables who gives tirelessly to his job and community. St Francis is one of the most well know of the Sonoma Valley Wineries and the world wide acclaim is what we will discuss , along with finding out about  the new winemakers.








William Seppi - Costeaux French Bakery
Having won both local and national honors , Costeaux French Bakery is a Sonoma County treasure. Located in Healdsburg , the bakery is a must visit for all those touring the local Wine Country. Will is General Manager and one of the family who made Cousteaux into a favorite spot in our area. We will talk about the Holidays and his role in the big San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition coming up in January.

Friday, December 6, 2013

12/6-Michael Jordan visits with John Gellentien & Lisa Rigisich

John Gellentien - Monte De Oro Winery and Vineyards
Tasting room host at Monte De Oro Winery and Vineyards in Temecula & former Student of Michael Jordan.
Congrats to John who just passed his sommelier exam this week!  




Lisa Rigisich - Founder of Pinot Days
Pinot Days Southern California is our fastest growing event, and it makes sense! People who enjoy blue skies and an easy, breezy lifestyle gravitate to pinot noir because it is easy to pair, easy to drink, and fascinating to talk about. Couple that with the area's innovative food, and you have a fantastic coupling of place with pinot. Enjoy Winemaker Pinot Pairings at restaurants and wine venues around town in the days preceding our Grand Festival, which is back on the West Side at the Skirball Cultural Center. Meet our winemakers, hear their stories and enjoy the most diverse, lovely wines on the  planet....

When - Saturday, December 7th, 2013.
Trade Tasting: 1pm-3pm.
Public Tasting: 3 - 6pm.
Price: $75 - Grand Festival. $120 VIP Tasting and Seminar.
Tickets - Tickets are on sale for the Grand Festival and Grand Festival VIP Tasting. To order tickets for the Grand Festival:www.pinotdays.com

Exhibitors -

Ancient Oak Cellars
August West
Blair Estate
Cargasacchi Wines
Domaine Chandon
Donelan Family Wines
Double Bond
Emeritus Vineyards
Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard
FOXEN
Fritz Winery
Gros Ventre Cellars
Hahn Estate
Inman Family Wines
J Vineyards & Winery
Ken Brown Wines
Kendric Vineyards
Kenneth Volk Vineyards
La Follette Wines
Landmark Vineyards
Loring Wine Company
MacMurray Ranch
MacPhail Family Wines
Martinelli Winery
Meiomi
Monterey Chocolate Company
Morgan Winery
New Zealand Winegrowers
Ousterhout Wines & Vineyard
Pali Wine Company
Reuling Vineyard
Robert John Russo Gallery
Romililly Wines
Rusack Vineyards
Saintsbury
Scherrer Winery
Siduri Wines
Sojourn Cellars
Sokol Blosser Winery
The Wine Check
Thomas Fogarty Winery
Thomas George Estates
Thorne Wine
Trombetta Family Wines
Waits-Mast Family Cellars
Wren Hop Vineyards




Friday, November 29, 2013

11/29-Guest Host Larry Van Aalst fills in for Michael Jordan

Debra Del Fiorentino & Jil Child - Vineyard & Winery Management












The heart of the Wine Competition aspect of Vineyard and Winery Management ,Debra and Jil  have some great news about a new competition , and will give us the latest results. We will also talk about a new certification for International Wine Judges.
















Sean Lovett - The Wine Country Kombucha
One of the newest Sonoma County products is the baby of Sean Lovett ,a principal in Revive . The Wine Country Kombucha is the talk of the town , it has a huge list of benefits and is especially good at a wine tasting.
Sean will tell us what Kombucha is and why we can all live better by drinking it.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

11/22-Les Kincaid fills in for Micahel Jordan


Les Kincaid* always presents his listeners with stimulating, pro-vocative information and great interviews or discussions with interesting, intelligent, knowledgeable guests all within the wine industry. Whether they are vintners, winery owners, Sommeliers or Master Sommeliers they can all talk about wine with authority.

Monday, November 18, 2013

11/15-Guest Host Larry Van Aalst talks with Miro Tcholakov & Brenda Chatelain





Being Winemaker for Trentadue , and his own brand Miro Wines , is a  non stop proposition . Along with his other responsibilities , Miro is an officer with the largest Petit Syrah organization in the US. We will be talking about the 2013 harvest , and how someone from Bulgaria hit a home run as a Winemaker in Alexander Valley.








Brenda Chatelain - The Smoked Olive

A great friend of CRN, Brenda is a principal in The Smoked Olive. Although it is hard to describe , and must be tasted to be appreciated , smoked olive oil is one of Somoma Countys ' exceptional products. Garnering some great press , the olive oil and smoked brown sugar is a treat that shouldn't be missed. Brenda will give us the breaking news about the first dedicated shop for The Smoked Olive, and how to find it on the net.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

11/8-Guest Host Larry Van Aalst talks with Bob Peak & Randy Pitts






One of the owners of The Beverage People , Bob runs the premiere wine, beer, cheese, vinegar, shop in the North Bay Area. Located in Santa Rosa . they cater to amateur and professionals alike. Bob will give us the scoop on how to make some extraordinary products at home and the easy way to get started.








Randy Pitts - Winemaker, Harvest Moon Winery
A long time friend of CRN , Randy is the Winemaker at Harvest Moon Winery , in the Russian River area of Sonoma County. Making hand crafted , soft , food friendly wines is Randys passion . We will talk about the 2013 vintage , and wines with lots of character but not lots of alcohol.

Friday, November 1, 2013

11/1-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan talks to Dan Kessler & Michael Rossi

Dan Kessler - Winegrower/Winemaker, Kessler Haak Vineyard and Wines

Winegrower/Winemaker - Dan Kessler was born in Lansing,Michigan and graduated with a BSEE/MSEE degree from MIT in 1981. He spent the early part of his career developing state of the art semiconductor fabrication technologies for Hewlett-Packard in Fort Collins,CO. In search of warmer weather, Dan made his move to sunny California where he joined Vitesse, a small high tech startup company, developing and manufacturing  semiconductor technology for the supercomputer and telecommunications industries.
A love for wine started Dan on a journey that took on a life of its own, in a kind of "if you give a mouse a cookie" kind of way. Drinking wine led to learning about wine; led to learning about winemaking; led to making wine as a home winemaker; led to planting a small 200 vine vineyard in his backyard; led to obtaining a Winemaker's Certificate from the UC Davis Distance Learning program; led to falling in love with Sta. Rita Hills; led to buying a 40 acre parcel and planting a 30 acre vineyard; led to, well, where he is today.
Dan loves to learn and is actively involved in every aspect of growing and making wine. In the vineyard, you will frequently see him on the tractor or working with the crew. When the early spring weather gets cold, he's out in the wee hours turning on the fans and frost protection systems.
When he is not in the vineyard, you will find him at his second home at Lafond Winery, helping winemaker, Bruce McGuire, make wine at harvest and working in the tasting room.




Michael Rossi - Chef , The Ranch Restaurant


THE RANCH Restaurant features true American regional cuisine. We’re cooking from scratch with the finest ingredients possible to capture the rustic style of wine country and the freshest flavors of the farm. We honor California’s great ranches, farms and dairies, the artisan bread bakers and cheese and wine makers. Our seasonally driven menu showcases the freshest produce in season- as nature intended. The emphasis is on farm to table, fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables from local farms and from our own ranch in the Santa Ana Mountains.


You can look forward to mountain lamb flown in from Colorado; steaks and beef from the highest quality ranches in the U.S. and seafood sourced from those who ensure the sustainability and the bounty of our oceans. The dining experience is in an atmosphere of comfort and truly old-fashioned genuine hospitality. THE RANCH’s wine program features an extensive and complete cellar and a world class selection of wine served in a friendly "non-intimidating" style. The restaurant's bar features a large selection of wines by the glass along with selected hand-crafted draft beers and the latest in mixology with fresh ingredients and great flavors. Don’t fret, there is also plenty of cold longnecks in THE RANCH Saloon to cool down with after dancing the two-step, line dancing, or learning the California state dance, the "west coast swing" to your favorite country artists!

Friday, October 25, 2013

10/25-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan talks with Sofia Partida

Turns out that the key to a top-quality Tequila starts at the beginning.
Every ounce of Partida Tequila begins with a carefully cultivated supply of blue agave. We found ours near a dormant volcano in the Tequila Valley. Under the agave’s spiky tips lies “la piña,” Tequila’s soul.
Even with Tequila, patience is still a virtue. You cannot rush the growth of la piña – the bigger it gets, the more mature the sugars, and the more full, ripe, and flavorful it becomes. We wait 7-10 years. It’s not fast work, but it is worth the wait.
Most agave is cooked "the old fashion way," in stone ovens that are rarely cleaned. The soot that develops adds bitterness to the Tequila, not something we want to share with you. So at Partida we use only state-of-the-art stainless steel ovens to bake our agave, creating a smoother, cleaner agave taste. We even clean our ovens after each batch. Bonus!
But our 21st century skills don’t stop with cooking and cleaning: our Tequila is distilled twice under precise temperature control, yielding an excellent, non-aged Tequila. Some of which is filled by hand directly into our Partida Blanco bottles.
The rest is aged in one-pass Jack Daniel’s American Oak barrels. That’s right, we age our Tequila in barrels once used to age excellent whiskey. Why? Because those barrels make for excellent Tequila as well silly.
Our Reposado and Anejo are aged 50% more than required, and like ripe sweet apples, this aging makes for a better taste. Partida Tequila is completely natural with no additives and no coloration – the result is simply pure Tequila goodness.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

10/18-Michael Jordan visits with Heather Muran & Chris Taranto

Heather Muran - Executive Director, SLO Wine Country
Enjoy the transcendent sights, scents and flavors of this signature season as we present our annual Rockin’ Harvest Celebration, a rambunctious extravaganza of local food and wine. 
The main event is an outdoor grand tasting and auction on Saturday at Avila Beach Golf Resort, featuring wine tasting, artisan foods, live music by local indie-pop favorite,Fialta, and ocean views. The auction features a broad selection of rare wines, culinary treats and SLO Wine Country destination experiences.  Along with the array of wine and lifestyle packages, you'll have a chance to raise a paddle and support the Assistance League of SLO County and S.A.V.E. (Sexual Assault Victim Education) during the fund-a-need live auction lot.

CHRIS TARANTO - PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE 

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a cooperative marketing alliance made up of Paso Robles Wine Country wineries, vineyards and related businesses. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a 501c6 nonprofit organization operated under the guidance of a nine-member board of directors.

Harvest Wine Weekend  October 18 - 20, 2013
Harvest is the most colorful time of year in Paso Robles Wine Country and those in the know have long since discovered the experience that can be had while visiting wine country at its height of activity. Held the third weekend in October, wineries celebrate the beginning of the vintage by inviting you into their individual events that are as diverse as the wineries themselves. Please visit the Harvest Wine Weekend page for more information.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

10/11-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan talks with talks with Jim Striegel & David H Bova



After working for four years as assistant winemaker at Paradigm for Heidi Barrett, one of the world’s renowned winemakers, Anne Vawter opened her winemaking consultancy with support and encouragement from Heidi, whose referrals now make up Anne’s client list. Shortly after, Anne began her own venture - Red Mare Wines.
An avid horse woman, Anne named her wine label in honor of her red mare, Paradigm, who was a bonus given to her during her time at Paradigm Winery. The inaugural release of Red Mare Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 vintage, sold out in just two months. In addition to her Cabernet Sauvignon, Anne also produces a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and will add a Sonoma Chardonnay in the 2011 vintage.
Red Mare Wines sources fruit meticulously from very small, well-respected vineyards throughout the Napa Valley, from a cool enclave of the Carneros to a hill top in Coombsville, and northward on the Valley floor in Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena.  Our 2011 Chardonnay hails from a choice location in the famed Russian River Valley of Sonoma.  We look for vineyards with unique qualities and distinctive character that will come together in the blending process to produce layered and beautifully balanced wines.

David H. Bova is a Partner and Vice President of Pebble Ridge Vineyards and Wine Estates, a
California vineyard and winery-holding company, which owns and operates Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. Presently, Pebble Ridge Vineyards & Wine Estates owns and operates three separate winery properties: Millbrook Winery in the Hudson River Region of New York; Villa Pillo Estate in Tuscany, Italy; Williams & Selyem in the Russian River Region of California; and five separate vineyard properties - Vista Verde Vineyard on California’s Central Coast, Millbrook Vineyard, Litton Estate Vineyard and Drake Road Vineyard for Williams Selyem winery in Sonoma County, California; and Villa Pillo Estate vineyard. Mr. Bova also acts as Vice President and General Manager of Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. 
David Bova and John Dyson founded Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in Dyson's Millbrook garage in 1983. Today, Mr. Bova is responsible for the overall vineyard and winery management at Millbrook, which remains the cornerstone of the Pebble Ridge wine group. He also maintains an advisory role in the management of Williams Selyem a winery in the Sonoma County Russian River Valley. 
Like Millbrook Vineyards & Winery itself, Mr. Bova’s history with wine is rooted in John Dyson’s  viticultural experiments from the early 1980’s. Mr. Bova would visit his sister, Kathe Dyson and her family at the old dairy farm where her husband John was working on converting the land into vinifera vineyards. Every Saturday morning, Dyson would invite him to help. Mr. Bova’s hobby soon grew into a full time business. 
Dyson was able to focus on his political life while still mentoring Mr. Bova to learn the business. Mr. Bova was also maintaining his day job at an ad agency, where he gained experience with marketing through their comprehensive training program. In 1981, Dyson and Mr. Bova established their winemaking company in Dyson’s home garage and called their company “Véraison Wine Cellars” after the French viticulture term meaning "the onset of ripening or the turning point" of the grape. Dyson and Mr. Bova thought Veraison Wine Cellars would be the “turning point” for the Hudson River Valley wine industry with their dedication to vinifera based wines. With Dyson actively continuing his storied career path in the political sector, he trusted Mr. Bova to run the vineyards and winery. Mr. Bova joined Millbrook Vineyards & Winery full time in 1986. 
Mr. Bova has always been on the consumer business track. He graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, with a B.A. in Business Administration in 1980, and attended Pace University in New York City for his Masters of Business Administration. Additionally, Mr. Bova worked for a trade and children’s publishing house as Vice President of Distribution and Warehousing. The back office skills he gained included guiding the transfer of the 1.2 million book inventory from the 100,000 square foot warehouse in Long Island to New Jersey without interrupting their business. Mr. Bova helped lead the New Jersey warehouse and played an integral role in contributing to the company’s success- a precedent he later paralleled at Millbrook.  M I L L B R O O K  www.millbrookwine.com  Millbrook Vineyards & Winery • 26 Wing Road • Millbrook, NY 12545 • (845) 677-8383 Fax: (845) 677-6186 

Friday, October 4, 2013

10/4-Michael Jordan talks with Cynthia Peck & Daniel Daou

Cynthia Peck,- Owner, Angelo’s and Vinci’s – National Pizza Month

Forty-one years ago, our restaurant was built with tradition and has since continued with tradition. At our home in the old marketplace, we tribute our ancestors who came to America in the late 1800’s – their spirit and their recipes!

A little about this old building…
Originally built as an L-shaped marketplace in the days when Fullerton was an orchard (early 1900’s), the local farmers would bring their produce in from the fields by horse and wagon to sell to the townspeople. The original wood trusses of the old roof system may still be seen in the Venetian Room. Approximately twenty years later, renovation of the building changed it from its original L-shape to a square. This was accomplished by the large wood barrel trusses (an unusual truss!), which can be seen in the Sicilian Room and the Piazza Fantasia. During our renovation in 1992, the old wood, terra cotta tiles and brick was salvaged and re-used to keep alive the feeling and memories of those days long ago.

About our décor…
Be prepared when you walk into Angelo’s and Vinci’s Ristorante to be overwhelmed! With surprises in every corner, you won’t know where to look first! You will sit amidst the art of the great masters, in an Italian town square complete with the storefronts of old Italian butcher and cheese mongers, fruit and wine vendors, seamstresses showing their wares, and more. Fairy lights abound under cathedral ceilings as our ancestors smile down at you from the Family Love Altar. Explore and you will be surrounded by colorful Sicilian puppets, the carnival masks and canals of Venice, and the romance of Romeo & Juliet. Find our mystical Room of the Moon…and don’t forget King Kong, Dracula, Frankenstein, witches, ghosts and who-knows-what that await you in the Monster Wine Cellar!

And, as for Hollywood…
Founder, Steven Peck, renowned Hollywood dancer, choreographer and veteran actor of over 100 movies and television performances, has delightful photographs of over 40 years of famous stars, directors and dancers. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Gary Cooper, Robert Taylor, Broderick Crawford, Kirk Douglas, Walter Winchell, Sam Wanamaker, Vincent Minnelli, Sylvester Stallone, Ted Danson, David Hasselhof, Ray Sharkey, Shirley MacLaine, Cyd Charisse, Dolly Parton, Joan Collins, Raquel Welch, Olympia Dukakis, Shelly Winters and so many more. Films from Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., MGM, Desilu, United Artists, Universal Studios, to name a few.


Please join the DAOU Family on Sunday, October 20th at DAOU Vineyards and Winery for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the restoration of Hoffman Mountain Ranch Winery. The historic Hoffman Mountain Ranch (HMR) and Winery was deveoped by Dr. Stanley Hoffman in the early 1970’s and has been purchased and renovated by Georges and Daniel Daou.  The restored winery will become part of the DAOU Vineyards Winery and hospitality experience. The mountain estate is located at an elevation of 2200 feet, in the Adelaida District AVA, which is known for growing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals. This most coveted land in Paso Robles’ western hills was first planted under the guidance and direction of Andre Tchelistcheff.  HMR Wines achieved critical acclaim over four decades from this mountain location.  The original Hoffman Mountain Ranch Winery is considered to be the first modern commercial winery in Paso Robles.  Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou founded DAOU Winery 8 years ago, built their winery, and planted the mountain with mostly Bordeaux grape varieties.  In 2012, Daniel and Georges purchased the remaining 112 acres of Hoffman Ranch, and immediately began restoring the half century old redwood winery. As history repeats itself, Daniel and George are now receiving acclaim for their wines produced from this special vineyard and winery site.The historic cellar is now in use just in time for the 2013 harvest.  Please come and visit and help us celebrate the rebirth of this special location. Ribbon cutting ceremony begins, Sunday, October 20th at 10:00 AM 

Friday, September 27, 2013

9/27-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan speaks with Jim Striegel & David H Bova

Jim Striegel - Red Mare Wines
After working for four years as assistant winemaker at Paradigm for Heidi Barrett, one of the world’s renowned winemakers, Anne Vawter opened her winemaking consultancy with support and encouragement from Heidi, whose referrals now make up Anne’s client list. Shortly after, Anne began her own venture - Red Mare Wines.
An avid horse woman, Anne named her wine label in honor of her red mare, Paradigm, who was a bonus given to her during her time at Paradigm Winery. The inaugural release of Red Mare Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 vintage, sold out in just two months. In addition to her Cabernet Sauvignon, Anne also produces a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and will add a Sonoma Chardonnay in the 2011 vintage.
Red Mare Wines sources fruit meticulously from very small, well-respected vineyards throughout the Napa Valley, from a cool enclave of the Carneros to a hill top in Coombsville, and northward on the Valley floor in Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena.  Our 2011 Chardonnay hails from a choice location in the famed Russian River Valley of Sonoma.  We look for vineyards with unique qualities and distinctive character that will come together in the blending process to produce layered and beautifully balanced wines.

David H. Bova is a Partner and Vice President of Pebble Ridge Vineyards and Wine Estates, a
California vineyard and winery-holding company, which owns and operates Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. Presently, Pebble Ridge Vineyards & Wine Estates owns and operates three separate winery properties: Millbrook Winery in the Hudson River Region of New York; Villa Pillo Estate in Tuscany, Italy; Williams & Selyem in the Russian River Region of California; and five separate vineyard properties - Vista Verde Vineyard on California’s Central Coast, Millbrook Vineyard, Litton Estate Vineyard and Drake Road Vineyard for Williams Selyem winery in Sonoma County, California; and Villa Pillo Estate vineyard. Mr. Bova also acts as Vice President and General Manager of Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. 
David Bova and John Dyson founded Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in Dyson's Millbrook garage in 1983. Today, Mr. Bova is responsible for the overall vineyard and winery management at Millbrook, which remains the cornerstone of the Pebble Ridge wine group. He also maintains an advisory role in the management of Williams Selyem a winery in the Sonoma County Russian River Valley. 
Like Millbrook Vineyards & Winery itself, Mr. Bova’s history with wine is rooted in John Dyson’s  viticultural experiments from the early 1980’s. Mr. Bova would visit his sister, Kathe Dyson and her family at the old dairy farm where her husband John was working on converting the land into vinifera vineyards. Every Saturday morning, Dyson would invite him to help. Mr. Bova’s hobby soon grew into a full time business. 
Dyson was able to focus on his political life while still mentoring Mr. Bova to learn the business. Mr. Bova was also maintaining his day job at an ad agency, where he gained experience with marketing through their comprehensive training program. In 1981, Dyson and Mr. Bova established their winemaking company in Dyson’s home garage and called their company “Véraison Wine Cellars” after the French viticulture term meaning "the onset of ripening or the turning point" of the grape. Dyson and Mr. Bova thought Veraison Wine Cellars would be the “turning point” for the Hudson River Valley wine industry with their dedication to vinifera based wines. With Dyson actively continuing his storied career path in the political sector, he trusted Mr. Bova to run the vineyards and winery. Mr. Bova joined Millbrook Vineyards & Winery full time in 1986. 
Mr. Bova has always been on the consumer business track. He graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, with a B.A. in Business Administration in 1980, and attended Pace University in New York City for his Masters of Business Administration. Additionally, Mr. Bova worked for a trade and children’s publishing house as Vice President of Distribution and Warehousing. The back office skills he gained included guiding the transfer of the 1.2 million book inventory from the 100,000 square foot warehouse in Long Island to New Jersey without interrupting their business. Mr. Bova helped lead the New Jersey warehouse and played an integral role in contributing to the company’s success- a precedent he later paralleled at Millbrook.  M I L L B R O O K  www.millbrookwine.com  Millbrook Vineyards & Winery • 26 Wing Road • Millbrook, NY 12545 • (845) 677-8383 Fax: (845) 677-6186 

Friday, September 20, 2013

9/20-Michael Jordan talks with Larry Van Aalst & Mark Coleman

Larry Van Aalst - Sommelier, Equus Restaurant & Host What's Cookin on Wine: The Sonoma Wine Report
Larry Van Aalst is the Sommelier at the beautiful Equus Restaurant and hosts the "What's Cookin on Wine: The Sonoma Wine Report" live from our studios at the Fountain Grove Inn.










Mark Coleman - Area Sales Manager, Nomacorc
Mark Coleman joined Nomacorc in 2010 and is currently the area sales manager for the Americas. Mark is tasked with both continuing the strong growth and success of the North American market as well as managing Nomacorc’s presence in Latin America. Mark brings more than 16 years of international experience to the Nomacorc sales team. He began his  professional career as a NASD licensed investment securities advisor in San Francisco, California and eventually moved into the wine industry 
where he helped launch a natural cork distribution company with an 
Italian supplier. Most recently, Mark served as the director of global 
business development at Neocork Technologies. Married with 2 children, Mark enjoys quality family time, travel and recreational sports. He currently resides in Sonoma, California. 

Friday, September 13, 2013

9/13-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan speaks with Jim Striegel & David H Bova

Jim Striegel - Red Mare Wines
After working for four years as assistant winemaker at Paradigm for Heidi Barrett, one of the world’s renowned winemakers, Anne Vawter opened her winemaking consultancy with support and encouragement from Heidi, whose referrals now make up Anne’s client list. Shortly after, Anne began her own venture - Red Mare Wines.
An avid horse woman, Anne named her wine label in honor of her red mare, Paradigm, who was a bonus given to her during her time at Paradigm Winery. The inaugural release of Red Mare Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 vintage, sold out in just two months. In addition to her Cabernet Sauvignon, Anne also produces a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and will add a Sonoma Chardonnay in the 2011 vintage.
Red Mare Wines sources fruit meticulously from very small, well-respected vineyards throughout the Napa Valley, from a cool enclave of the Carneros to a hill top in Coombsville, and northward on the Valley floor in Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena.  Our 2011 Chardonnay hails from a choice location in the famed Russian River Valley of Sonoma.  We look for vineyards with unique qualities and distinctive character that will come together in the blending process to produce layered and beautifully balanced wines.

David H. Bova is a Partner and Vice President of Pebble Ridge Vineyards and Wine Estates, a
California vineyard and winery-holding company, which owns and operates Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. Presently, Pebble Ridge Vineyards & Wine Estates owns and operates three separate winery properties: Millbrook Winery in the Hudson River Region of New York; Villa Pillo Estate in Tuscany, Italy; Williams & Selyem in the Russian River Region of California; and five separate vineyard properties - Vista Verde Vineyard on California’s Central Coast, Millbrook Vineyard, Litton Estate Vineyard and Drake Road Vineyard for Williams Selyem winery in Sonoma County, California; and Villa Pillo Estate vineyard. Mr. Bova also acts as Vice President and General Manager of Millbrook Vineyards & Winery. 
David Bova and John Dyson founded Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in Dyson's Millbrook garage in 1983. Today, Mr. Bova is responsible for the overall vineyard and winery management at Millbrook, which remains the cornerstone of the Pebble Ridge wine group. He also maintains an advisory role in the management of Williams Selyem a winery in the Sonoma County Russian River Valley. 
Like Millbrook Vineyards & Winery itself, Mr. Bova’s history with wine is rooted in John Dyson’s  viticultural experiments from the early 1980’s. Mr. Bova would visit his sister, Kathe Dyson and her family at the old dairy farm where her husband John was working on converting the land into vinifera vineyards. Every Saturday morning, Dyson would invite him to help. Mr. Bova’s hobby soon grew into a full time business. 
Dyson was able to focus on his political life while still mentoring Mr. Bova to learn the business. Mr. Bova was also maintaining his day job at an ad agency, where he gained experience with marketing through their comprehensive training program. In 1981, Dyson and Mr. Bova established their winemaking company in Dyson’s home garage and called their company “Véraison Wine Cellars” after the French viticulture term meaning "the onset of ripening or the turning point" of the grape. Dyson and Mr. Bova thought Veraison Wine Cellars would be the “turning point” for the Hudson River Valley wine industry with their dedication to vinifera based wines. With Dyson actively continuing his storied career path in the political sector, he trusted Mr. Bova to run the vineyards and winery. Mr. Bova joined Millbrook Vineyards & Winery full time in 1986. 
Mr. Bova has always been on the consumer business track. He graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, with a B.A. in Business Administration in 1980, and attended Pace University in New York City for his Masters of Business Administration. Additionally, Mr. Bova worked for a trade and children’s publishing house as Vice President of Distribution and Warehousing. The back office skills he gained included guiding the transfer of the 1.2 million book inventory from the 100,000 square foot warehouse in Long Island to New Jersey without interrupting their business. Mr. Bova helped lead the New Jersey warehouse and played an integral role in contributing to the company’s success- a precedent he later paralleled at Millbrook.  M I L L B R O O K  www.millbrookwine.com  Millbrook Vineyards & Winery • 26 Wing Road • Millbrook, NY 12545 • (845) 677-8383 Fax: (845) 677-6186 

Friday, September 6, 2013

9/6-Michael Jordan visits with Jim Fox & Rich Aurilia

Jim Fox - Owner, Patine Cellars & Former LA King, NHL
James Charles Fox (born May 18, 1960) is a retired former professional ice hockey player who played nine seasons in the NHL, all for the Los Angeles Kings. In 1984–85, his best NHL season, he scored over a point a game, finishing with 30-53-83 in 79 games. A severe knee injury that occurred during a game against the Boston Bruins ended his career in 1990, but he still works in the Kings organization.
He has been a broadcaster for the Kings since 1990, partnered with Bob Miller on Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket.[1] He had the honor of being one of the speakers when Miller was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. Fox is well known for his creative way to end sentences, in which his voice goes higher for the final few words.On February 11, 2006, the Kings celebrated Jim Fox Day at Staples Center, to honor his twenty-five years with the franchise as a player and broadcaster.
About Patiné Cellars: Patiné is a boutique wine label specializing in single vineyard designated Pinot Noir. We are dedicated to producing world class wines that define power and grace.
Our initial 2011 vintage produced 150 cases from the coveted Gap’s Crown Vineyard which benefits from the cool ocean breezes of the Petaluma Gap within the Sonoma Coast Appellation. In 2012, we have added Sun Chase Vineyard to the lineup. The Sun Chase Vineyard overlooks Gap’s Crown Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain and sits at an elevation between 900 feet and 1200 feet.  We are thrilled and humbled to have talented winemaker Mike Smith at the helm of our endeavor.  Our initial vintage will be released in 2013.


Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. In 1992, Rich was selected by the Texas Rangers in the annual Major League Baseball draft and would go on to play for such teams as the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and the Cincinnati Reds. His baseball career would eventually bring him to San Francisco, where he played 11 seasons for the San Francisco Giants. He was honored in representing the Giants in the 2001 All Star Game in Seattle, Washington.

Rich worked for Comcast Sports Bay Area and played an active role throughout his career in San Francisco with the Bay Area Make a Wish Foundation. Living in the bay area and traveling to the wine country for so many years gave him a wonderful love and appreciation for fine wine. 

In addition to Red Stitch, Rich enjoys cooking many wonderful types of foods for family and friends - always sharing a favorite bottle of wine.  Rich currently resides in Phoenix Arizona with his two sons, Chaz and Gavin.

About Red Stitch Wine: Drawn together through a blind tasting group, our families (the Aurilias, Miceks and Roberts) have become close friends and devoted wine enthusiasts. Beginning in 2007, we have enjoyed incredible tastings in our homes and at our favorite restaurants across California and around the world. As our love for wine brought us closer together, our relationships across Napa and Sonoma grew deeper as well. After the 2008 baseball season ended for Rich and Dave, we started to lay the groundwork for our venture into the wine business. Enjoying one incredible tasting after another across the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, visits with Rolando Herrera of Mi Sueño Winery, and the story of his passion for the art of fine wine, led us to friendship and an ultimate partnership. Rolando’s knowledge and enthusiasm for Red Stitch gave us the opportunity to source incredible grapes from the Frog Tree Vineyard in the Coombsville region of Napa Valley for our first vintage of Red Stitch.

Since the formation of Red Stitch, all three couples have been intimately involved in the wine making process, and have worked closely with Rolando and the entire Mi Sueño family to craft a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec that would stand the test of time. This hands-on approach defines our group’s desire to be involved in all aspects of the winemaking process. We are especially excited to include the Malbec varietal in our 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon both due to the vintage’s outstanding characteristics and the fact that a fantastic Malbec tasting first brought our three families together in San Francisco.