3/15-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!

3/8-Michael Jordan visits with Leon Grice

Leon Grice - New Zealand Consulate-General

Leon has been New Zealand Consul General Los Angeles since June 2012. His career in the private sector as a business owner and entrepreneur was interrupted in 2009 when he was asked to establish the New Zealand 2011 Office which was responsible for the leverage and legacy programme delivered for Rugby World Cup 2011. 

That Office was established within Ministry of Economic Development working to Neville Harris, the Government’s lead official for the Rugby World Cup. The Office included, at peak, over 40 employees, government agency secondees and contractors and it successfully delivered the business engagement, showcase, festival and community engagement programmes for the Tournament.

Prior to that, Leon’s diverse business career has been in public affairs, marketing, overseas investment facilitation and start-up businesses. In 1995 he established one of 
Wellington’s leading public affairs and investor relations companies, Busby Ramshaw Grice Ltd. Leon assisted Canadian, US and Australian business to invest in New Zealand forestry, electricity generation and distribution and oil and gas industries.

In 2000 he established an entrepreneurial business that created a number of start-ups including the successful out-of-home digital media business Twenty4media Ltd. He has strong experience building new teams and restructuring companies and assisted Te Ohu Kai Moana (Maori Fisheries Commission) to create Aotearoa Fisheries Limited which now owns Sealords, Moana Pacific and Prepared Foods. Most recently he assisted the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority to build the new Christchurch Central Development Unit led by Warwick Isaacs.

Leon has a Bachelor Arts Honours (First Class) from Canterbury University in history, 
international relations and political science. He is married to Lisa and has two children, 
Conor and Frances.

3/01-Michael Horn fills in for Michael Jordan Broadcasting from The World of Pinot Noir Event

Welcome to the 13th Annual World of Pinot Noir!

Our mission is to bring Pinot Noir producers from the most exceptional and unique regions in the world together with Pinot Noir enthusiasts for a weekend of celebration and education on the shores of California's beautiful Central Coast.

Our annual event takes place the first full weekend in March and includes two days of in-depth Tasting seminars and excursions, Grand Tastings by the Sea (each with a unique roster of wineries), a featured Burgundy tasting and gourmet, locally-influenced lunches and dinners. These extraordinary food and wine extravaganzas will be hosted by participating wineries and feature an outstanding panel of sommeliers from across the U.S.

The World of Pinot Noir was established in 2001 by a small but dedicated group of winemakers from California’s South Central Coast. We are a non-profit 501 (c) (6) trade organization.

2/22-Michael Jordan is Live from the Dux in Tux Event

2013 Dux in Tux Event

The Anaheim Ducks will host the 13th annual Dux in Tux presented by Honda this Friday, Feb. 22 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Dedicated to raising funds for theAnaheim Ducks Foundation, the evening will feature some of Orange County’s most renowned chefs, each of whom has donated their time to the cause. Paired with an Anaheim Ducks “sous chef,” each chef will serve a table of 12 for a unique dining experience. With an expected attendance of over 300 guests, supporters of this sold-out event ($250 per plate) will enjoy an evening of stellar food and great company, while also learning about the primary program facilitated by the Anaheim Ducks Foundation: Ducks S.C.O.R.E. (Scholastic Curriculum of Recreation & Education). 

All local chefs featured at Dux in Tux have created a distinctive menu for their individual table (complete list of participants included below). A Ducks player will be paired with each chef to assist in meal preparation tableside for their guests. The evening will begin with a V.I.P. reception at 6 p.m., followed by a general reception at 6:30 p.m. and a seated dinner program at 7:30 p.m. During the dinner program co-emceed by Ducks television play-by-play announcer John Ahlers and Ducks television host Kent French, fifth-grade teacher Rachel Therrien of Graham Elementary School (Los Angeles) will be recognized for her selection as S.C.O.R.E. Captain. Each year, the S.C.O.R.E. Captain award is presented to a teacher or educator who exemplifies the mission of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation through his or her work within the S.C.O.R.E. program.

Also as part of the dinner program, a live auction with not-to-be missed packages and experiences will be offered. With Kent French serving as the live auctioneer, supporters can bid on four tickets to the 2014 BCS Championship Game at the Rose Bowl, a Ducks Road Trip package for later this season, a three-month all-access San Manuel Level (club level at Honda Center) pass including tickets to all Ducks regular season and playoff games and concerts including Rihanna, Fleetwood Mac, Andrea Bocelli and a one-of-a-kind dinner for six hosted by Ducks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau and his wife, Crystal.

2/15-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.

2/8-Encore Broadcast Michael Jordan talks to Coby Parker & Tom Greenough

Coby Parker-Garcia - Winemaker, Claiborne & Churchill Winery

A native Californian, Coby Parker-Garcia was born and raised in San Luis Obispo. Growing up working in the family garden he realized his love for agriculture. After extensive trips to Europe and South America he knew the wine industry was his true calling. During his college days at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo he studied Agribusiness Marketing with a minor in Wine and Viticulture. While at Cal Poly, he worked on the campus vineyard learning the ins and outs of growing grapes. Not only did he spend time in the vineyard but also took an internship with a local winery. There his love for winemaking grew and pushed his passion for wine even further.

In 2004 the opportunity to work for Claiborne & Churchill came up. He took the responsibility as assistant winemaker. Under the guidence of Clay Thompson, he learned traditional European winemaking techniques that emphasized minimal manipulation of both fruit and wine. Wanting to continue his education further he took classes at the University of California Davis. This gave him insight to new an improved winemaking techniques. By 2007 Coby was promoted head winemaker for Claiborne & Churchill. Today he oversees the entire wine production, their estate vineyards, and works closely with numerous vineyard managers along the Central Coast.

Besides working for Claiborne & Churchill, Coby helpes his wife's family vineyard in the Russian River, AVA.

Tom Greenough - Winemaker, Saucelito Canyon Vineyard

Tom literally spent his first year in the vineyard, before his parents Bill and Nancy moved from their house in the canyon to a more c”onvenient location in Edna Valley. Tom would visit the vineyard regularly throughout his childhood, helping out during harvest and doing odd jobs for his father. He later attended St. Mary’s College of California in the Bay Area, where he studied history and excelled as a member of the crew rowing team. After graduation, he returned to the Central Coast—and to the vineyard, of course. He ascended to the position of winemaker in 2009. “This is where I am at home,” he says. “I’m like my father. I like working outside and getting dirty, and taking a hands-on approach to the winemaking. I am looking forward to trying new things while maintaining the family traditions that we have here.

2/01-Michael Jordan talks to Aaron Walker & Karyn Phillippsen

Aaron Walker - Winemaker Pali Wine Company
Our 2005, 2006 and 2007 wines were made by Brian Loring. Winemaker Aaron Walker (previously assistant winemaker under Loring), in conjunction with consulting winemaker Kenneth Juhasz combined efforts with the 2008 harvest. Walker and Juhasz are terroir specialists who strive to bring out the distinct characteristics of each of the sites we source for our fruit. 

As Winemaker for Pali Wine Co., Aaron Walker oversees all aspects of the winery’s Lompoc production facility. While Consulting Winemaker Kenneth Juhasz’ guidance ensures excellence in every step of production, Aaron is the primary caretaker for Pali’s line-up of wines. He’s a dedicated craftsman who is thrilled to be making wine from top vineyards and appellations on the West Coast.  

Karyn Phillippsen  -  Uncorked in Laguna Beach

Event ticket proceeds will benefit: CHOC Children’s Hospital.

Laguna Beach Uncorked! An International Wine & Food Fest on Saturday, March 9th, is the signature event of Laguna Beach a la Carte. The event will take place on the Festival of Arts grounds from 12:30pm-3:30pm. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit CHOC Children’s Hospital. Guests will enjoy an afternoon of live music, and tastings from 20+ Laguna Beach restaurants and 30 wineries from around the world.

Purchase a VIP ticket (200 tickets will be sold) and attend a 9:30am wine seminar with Michael A. Jordan, MS, CWE, “Sommelier for the People” and one of only 15 people in the world to hold both the Master Sommelier and the Certified Wine Educator Diplomas. VIP’s will also get early access at 11:30am to the event before the gates open to public.