7/26-Michael Jordan talks with Norm Yost

Norm Yost - Proprietor/Winemaker, Flying Goat Cellars

Norm Yost graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies in 1981. When his college roommate graduated from the winemaking program with a job and Norm didn’t have one, he morphed from a beer drinking football player into a winemaking craftsman. During his 30+ vintages in the industry, Norm worked for diverse wineries in cool climate regions, from Oregon’s Willamette Valley to the Russian River in Sonoma County and finally Santa Barbara County. He attributes his vast experience in the industry to the success of Flying Goat Cellars, which he launched in 2000. As the proprietor of his own business, Norm enjoys the freedom to focus on his passion for making vineyard designated Pinot Noir and sparkling wine. Half of Norm’s winemaking career has now been in Santa Barbara County, where he celebrates working with Central Coast fruit. He is currently president of World of Pinot Noir; formerly a board member of Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance and Santa Barbara County Vintners Association and winemaking instructor at Allan Hancock College.

Our Story

Two pygmy goats, Never and Epernay, inspired Norm to name his winery Flying Goat Cellars.

The goats were his pets and lawnmowers and came to be a source of entertainment and enjoyment, with their unrestrained spiral loops, flipper turns and straight-legged leaps. When pondering a name for his new wines and brand, Norm wanted to project fun, enjoyment, and happiness. While many people put their own name or their children’s name on their label or vineyard, Norm’s playful spirit opted to name it after his kids. His kids, of course, were those two pygmy goat pets, who had always inspired him and made him laugh.

The winery was “launched” with this same spirit of enthusiasm and Flying Goat Cellars was born.

Cool Climate, California Central Coast Vineyards

Pinot Noir is all about “place.” When grown with care (and patience!) and treated well at the winery, this grape will express a vineyard and region like no other varietal. We are fortunate to work with very dedicated and passionate vineyard owners and growers who farm Pinot Noir to showcase “place.”

7/19-Michael Jordan talks with Robin Kelly O'Connor & Michael Rossi

Robin Kelley O’Connor - Wine Educator & International Wine Judge                                                                                     

A leading wine educator, international wine judge, wine writer, and sommelier, Robin Kelley O’Connor recently joined Italian Wine Merchants (IWM), where he’ll be adding his thirty years of experience, authority and passion to seminars, dinner events, sales, offerings and wine education. In addition. Mr. O’Connor was previously Lead Specialist & Head of Wine, Americas for Christie’s Auction House. He is a Christie’s trained charity auctioneer. Prior to Christie’s, he was Director of Sales and Education for Manhattan wine and spirits retailer Sherry-Lehmann, winner of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2010 Wine Retailer of the Year Award. Preceding Sherry-Lehmann, he was Trade Liaison and director of trade and consumer education in the Americas for the Bordeaux Wine Bureau (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) for 20 years. Robin holds Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE) certifications from the Society of Wine Educators and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certified Sommelier exam. O'Connor served as president of the Society of Wine Educators from 2003-2007, is on the board of directors of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food, and has been a regular panelist at the Food and Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen for 20 years. As a popular wine educator and spokesperson, he has conducted over 2,500 seminars; written for the Trenton Times, Santé Magazine, Wine & Spirit; and served as senior editor for Kevin Zraly’s Complete Wine Course 25th Anniversary Edition. For over a year during 2008-2009 he traveled around the world with Kevin visiting over 20 Countries, 80 wine regions, and 500 appellations and tasted more than 7,000 wines. Among his many professional honors, Mr. O’Connor bears the distinction of induction into the wine world’s most prestigious institutions, including the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc- des Graves et de Sauternes-Barsac, the Jurade de Saint-Emilion and Les Hospitaliers de Pomerol.



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!

7/12-Michael Jordan visits with Ken Nichols & Raj Patel

Ken Nicholas - General Manager   

& Raj Patel - Owner, Patel Napa Valley

Our limited production of PATEL wines are allocated and sold first to those on our mailing list, followed by selected fine wine retailers around the US as well as several distinguished restaurants. Our mailing list continues to grow by word of mouth endorsements from our loyal clients.

We will release our 2010 Red Wine  and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon for sale on March 1st, 2013. Mailing List clients can log on to our secure web site to purchase your allocation after release date.

If you would like to add your name to our mailing list, please visit our "Mailing List" page and provide the requested information. Each mailing list client is ranked on the date of your first request to be added to our mailing list.  Please note, we only send a few emails each year reminding our clients when your allocation is available for purchase and when the wine ships.

Once again, thank you for your continued enthusiastic support of our wines. Our goal is simple: strive to produce the best wines from Napa Valley's finest vineyards.

Take care, and please enjoy our wines responsibly with family and friends.

7/5-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan talks with David Strada & Laurent Michit

David Strada - Wines of New Zealand
New Zealand is a land like no other. New Zealand wine is an experience like no other. Our special combination of soil, climate and water, our innovative pioneering spirit and our commitment to quality all come together to deliver pure, intense and diverse experiences. In every glass of New Zealand Wine is a world of pure discovery.

Laurent Michit - Sommelier/Director of French Imports & Education, Uncorked in Laguna Beach

Enjoy an afternoon of chef demos, live music, seminars and tastings from 25 Laguna Beach restaurants, 25 wineries from around the world, a local brewery and sake producers. Participating restaurants include: 230 Forest Avenue, Beach House, Broadway by Amar Santana, Claes Ovation, The Deck, Dizz's As Is, Eva's Caribbean Kitchen, French 75, House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer, Katsuya, K'ya Bistro Bar, Laguna Culinary Arts, Las Brisas, Mosaic Bar & Grille at Montage, Mozambique Steakhouse, Nirvana Grille, Royal Hawaiian, Sapphire Restaurant & Pantry, Splashes Restaurant, Starfish Laguna, Sundried Tomato, Tabu Grill, Three Seventy Common Kitchen + Drink, Tommy Bahama and Watermarc Restaurant.

Wineries include: Axel, Beacon Hill, Belasco de Baquedano, Bernardus, Boekenhoutskloof, Chateau Montelena, Domaine Serene, Fairview, Famille Perrin, Frank Family Vineyard, Fuedo Maccari, Hedges Family Estate, La Playa, Louis Michel & Fils, Marqués de Murrieta, Michele Chiarlo, Neil Ellis, Tenute di Nozzole, Penfolds, Retour, Thompkin Cellars, Tres Sabores, Vincent Delaporte. Beer tastings provided by Cismontane Brewing Company.

Purchase a VIP ticket (150 tickets will be sold) and gain entry at 10 a.m. to a seminar with Peter Neptune, Orange County's first Master Sommelier, and his take on what makes a great wine. Neptune is one of only 104 individuals in North America to hold the wine industry’s most prestigious title. VIP experience is sponsored by Rohl.

Laguna Beach a la Carte – A Food & Wine Experience is presented by the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau and takes place March 8 -11, 2012. Official Sponsors include: HÔM Sotheby’s International Realty, Laguna Beach Independent, Laguna Beach Magazine, Verterra, Union Bank, Fiji Water, Waste Management, Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot and Dining Out.

Ticket Admission:

General Admission: $75; $95 if purchased at the door day of event

Groups of 20+ will receive 15% off of General Admission tickets

Wristband distribution begins at 12:30pm. Doors will open at 1:00pm.

VIP Admission: $125 (limited to 150 tickets)

Wristband distribution begins at 9:30am. Entrance to Peter Neptune wine seminar at 10:00am. Early entrance to Laguna Beach Uncorked! begins at 12noon.

VIP attendees will receive a complimentary Laguna Beach burlap tote bag and receive free parking.