5/17-Michael Jordan talks with Alastair Mailing & Allen Balik

Alastair Mailing - Winemaker Villa Maria & Chairman of Pinot Noir 2013 Conference

Alastair Maling MW, has a winemaking career that has seen him travel many continents, gaining a wealth of experience with an impressive range of varietals. Born and raised in Hawkes Bay, Alastair completed a commerce degree at Lincoln University but was drawn to a career in winemaking. After working a vintage in Hungary, Alastair returned to New Zealand to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Oenology and Viticulture at Lincoln University in 1994, after which he worked a vintage at Esk Valley Estate in Hawkes Bay. Alastair then worked for Hugh Ryman Wines, overseeing winemaking projects in France, California and South Africa before spending six years as a winemaker for International Wine Services in the UK where he was responsible for managing winemaking projects in Europe and South America. In 2000 he passed the prestigious International Master of Wine Exam and in 2002, decided it was time to return to New Zealand. The position of Group Winemaker at Villa Maria provided the perfect opportunity.  In 2011 his responsibilities were extended into his current role of General Manager Winemaking and Viticulture. In November 2003,  Decanter Magazine named Alastair as one of the 'five to watch' when describing the new generation of New Zealand's winemakers.

Allen Balik - Co Chairman California Winemasters 2013

The 24th Annual Culinary Evening with the California Winemasters  Saturday, May 18th, 2013 6 PM at Warner Bros., "Midwest Street"

 THE EVENT IS SOLD OUT

A wine tasting extraordinaire and spectacular hors d’oeuvres dinner benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. One of WINE SPECTATOR’S “TOP TEN U.S. CHARITY WINE AUCTIONS” will be held on the "Midwest Street" backlot at Warner Bros. 

May 18, 2013 

Warner Bros. Studio  Gate 7 - Forest Lawn Drive Burbank, CA 91522

6:00PM- 10:30PM Tickets: $375 (Tax deductible portion is $250)

5/10-Michael Jordan talks to Judith Fabre McDonough & William S. Bloxsom-Carter

Judith Fabre McDonough - Mariposa Wines

For Judith Fabre McDonough, it's always been about fine wine and food. As a national sales representative for such famous brands as Petrossian Caviar, Caviar Star and Cipriani, Judith has explored the culinary and fine dining universe, learning to expertly pair great food with great wine and create memorable experiences. Now, as the newest fine wine wholesaler in Massachusetts, Judith has focused her love and passion for Italian wines, becoming the exclusive seller of offerings from small family-owned estates in Italy helping make their products available for the first time in the Eastern US. We specialize in handcrafted select elegant beautiful wines currently from five regions, small vineyards, and estates run by Italian familes. We offer some of the country's best examples of chardonnay, pinot grigio, fruili, prosecco, malvasisa, refosco, cabernet, barbera, barbaresco, primitvo and franciacorta previously unavailable in the US.

William S. Bloxsom-Carter - Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage, Playboy Mansion

Mr. William S. Bloxsom-Carter is the Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, California. He has been creating extraordinary food and exclusive wine offerings for Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion parties for over 26 years to 100,000 guests annually.

Chef Carter’s philosophy is to bring out the best flavors in food products from beginning to end with minimal intervention and uncompromising standards.

At the Playboy Mansion, Chef Carter has developed an internship/externship program with culinary schools nationwide. The program has garnered an exceptional reputation as the preeminent host facility for students. Additionally, Chef Carter is a recurring featured guest on numerous radio shows syndicated nationwide describing and promoting California wines and foods.

Chef Carter completed intensive studies with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company focusing on their Gold Standards of Hospitality Service to enhance the hospitality experience to all guests attending corporate and charity events at the Playboy Mansion. He initially studied at Florida Institute of Technology. He enhanced his education in hospitality related studies at UC Los Angeles Extension. Additionally, he has successfully completed UC Davis Extension classes in enology studies. He serves as a professional wine judge at competitions throughout California.

In June 1999, he received the PEI AWARD from Ms. Christie Hefner, former Chief Executive Officer of Playboy Enterprises. In April 2002, Chef Carter received the esteemed Auguste Escoffier Medal of Merit from the American Culinary Federation.

5/3-Michael Horn & Paul Stern Fill in for Michael Jordan Live at the Livermore Festival

John Concannon - Concannon Vineyards

If they could speak, the rocks of Concannon Vineyard would tell a tale rich in history. When James Concannon planted his first vineyards and built the winery in 1883, he established Concannon as a founding family of California wine. Now, with four generations of family involvement, our landmark winery shows our enduring commitment to creating outstanding, award-winning wine.

Concannon Vineyard has a proud history of “Firsts.” Always an industry leader, Concannon is the first successful winery to be founded by an Irish immigrant. When James Concannon planted white Bordeaux cuttings in the late 1800s, we became one of the first wineries to make Bordeaux-style wines in California. In 1950, we hired thefirst professional, female winemaker, Katherine Vajda. In 1961, we introduced America’s First Petite Sirah, sparking a love affair with the variety. Our inaugural vintage was so well-received that we have produced it ever since, and it has become our highly regarded flagship wine. Shortly thereafter, Concannon’s role in the California Cabernet Sauvignon industry became truly historic! From the 1970’s onward, the famous “Concannon Clones 7, 8 & 11” provided the backbone of the huge expansion in Cabernet plantings in California’s premium wine regions as well as in many of Napa’s most prestigious vineyards. California Cabernet, the wine that primarily placed California on the world wine map, was built upon our Concannon Clone vines.

Concannon Vineyard will continue its pioneering role as we juxtapose modern technology with our treasured rocks and vines. To prepare for the next century, we have taken steps to restore and refresh, revitalize and re-root. We have restored our historic redwood tasting room, reusing materials and employing green design wherever possible. We have embraced sustainable vineyard practices and re-rooted historic clones in our estate vineyards. We utilize state-of-the-art technology in our winery to ensure quality. With a focus on renewable energy, we have installed solar panels on 80% of our winery’s roof. All of these efforts are designed with one goal in mind, to create extraordinary wines that would make James Concannon proud.

Double Barrel Wine Bar                                         
Double Barrel Wine Bar, which is over a year old, offers award-winning wine and tapas on par with what people expect in cosmopolitan cities like New York or San Francisco- but it is located smack dab in the middle of Downtown Livermore, amongst 53 other wineries in surrounding areas.“Our intention is really to create a warm and welcoming neighborhood vibe that has the best food and the best wine with a globalpalate,” says owner Kristin Armstrong. “We want our bar to be where people can come to relax, connect, and be with the ones they love. It really does become a more modern version of ‘Cheers. ’”

Everything on the tapas menu is made from fresh, locally grown farmers’ market ingredients. The menu is rotated every eight weeks, and a new selection for the fall debuted on Oct. 2. “Everything is made to order, by hand, including all our desserts and award-winning paella,” says Armstrong.

Double Barrel Wine Bar is in a 110-year-old historical building with a 150-seat capacity. Armstrong says that, “You really feel like you’re coming into a private tasting room at the top of a mountain, with a view of hills that resemble our beautiful Tri-Valley wine country.”

In addition to wine and food, Double Barrel Wine Bar also offers live music nightly ranging from jazz to acoustic artists. “People will spontaneously start playing our piano because they’re having such a good time,” says Armstrong. “The back patio is like being in an outdoor living room, earthy and artisan-inspired with fire pits- it’s very relaxing and unique.”  

Rachael Snedecor - Livermore Downtown               Livermore Downtown is committed to preserving Livermore's historic downtown district as the destination place for Livermore residents who want to eat, drink, shop, gather to meet neighbors, and enjoy cultural activities in their hometown.

Livermore Downtown is a member of the California Main Street Association. Backed by the National Historic Trust and the National Main Street Center, Main Street projects take a holistic approach towards economic development. By promoting historic preservation and downtown merchants, and supporting a coordinated approach to design and development, Main Street projects help towns preserve their past as they revitalize their economic and cultural present — they truly become vibrant hometowns that future generations can enjoy.

Livermore boasts a beautiful downtown area, steeped in history reflecting the cattle and wine industries that created a thriving community. We have a very eclectic selection of restaurants and retail shops offering everything from home decor to gift items, fine wines, and, of course western wear.

Our Annual Wine Country Festival, Certified Farmer's Market, Holiday Parade, and Downtown Halloween Carnival bring people to the center of town year round to celebrate the bounties of our agricultural heritage and spirit of our community.

4/26-Michael Jordan visits with Jeff Garguilo & David Duncan

Jeff Garguilo - Gargiulo Vineyards 
As a lifetime farmer, Jeff Gargiulo has always been passionate about the land and agricultural, and today that passion is focused on the joys of grape growing and fine wine making. 30 years ago though, he and his wife Valerie only dreamed of one day building a premier wine estate. That dream took shape in the early 1980s when Jeff and Valerie and their young family traveled to Napa Valley to visit Valerie's cousins, Barney and Belle Rhodes. Napa Valley icons, Barney and Belle Rhodes had been in the Napa Valley since the late 1960s growing grapes in Rutherford at Bella Oaks Vineyard. Jeff and Valerie were inspired by their cousin’s Napa Valley lifestyle and confident that with their help and Jeff’s agricultural knowledge they would make some of the finest wines in the world. Twelve years later and with countless hours of coaching from Barney and Belle, Jeff and Valerie purchased their first vineyard in Oakville, Napa Valley, Money Road Ranch in 1992. Seven years later they purchased their second Oakville property, 575 ovx.
From the beginning, the Gargiulo’s committed themselves to creating a world class Cabernet Sauvignon wine estate. From his years spent farming, Jeff Gargiulo, knew that if he didn't start with the very best land, he could never expect to grow the best grapes. For this reason, the Gargiulo's chose Oakville to establish their namesake winery. Then, like today, Oakville was considered to be amongst the preeminent places to grow Cabernet Sauvignon in the world. The very first vintage of Gargiulo Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon was 2000, and since then Gargiulo Vineyards has quietly taken its place among the most highly regarded Cabernet Sauvignon producers in Napa Valley. Not ones to rest on their laurels, Jeff, Valerie, daughter, April and the entire Gargiulo Vineyards’ team continue to strive to make Gargiulo wines the most pure and breathtaking expressions of their two esteemed Oakville vineyards.

David Duncan - Silver Oak Winery
After selecting Daniel Baron to succeed him as winemaker in 1994, Justin sold his share of Silver Oak to the Duncan family in 2001. The family continues to carry Ray and Justin’s vision forward, with Ray’s son Tim serving as Executive Vice President managing sales and marketing strategy, and his son David serving as the winery’s President and CEO, overseeing production and operations. In 2006, when a fire devastated Bonny’s Chai, which had been the physical and emotional anchor of the Oakville property, the Duncan family took the opportunity to start fresh, this time using their 35 years of experience to build the ideal winery for producing Silver Oak’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The new winery was open for harvest in 2008. More than anything, it is a symbol of the tradition of excellence and continuous improvement established by Silver Oak’s founders many years ago.

4/19-Michael Jordan talks to Judith Fabre McDonough & Larry Hyde

Judith Fabre McDonough - Mariposa Wines
For Judith Fabre McDonough, it's always been about fine wine and food. As a national sales representative for such famous brands as Petrossian Caviar, Caviar Star and Cipriani, Judith has explored the culinary and fine dining universe, learning to expertly pair great food with great wine and create memorable experiences.

Now, as the newest fine wine wholesaler in Massachusetts, Judith has focused her love and passion for Italian wines, becoming the exclusive seller of offerings from small family-owned estates in Italy helping make their products available for the first time in the Eastern US. 

Larry Hyde - Larry Hyde & Sons Winery
In 1979, Larry Hyde began planting vineyards on the pasture land in Carneros that would become Hyde Vineyards. Larry’s work experience at various vineyards and wineries and travels through the North Coast region led him to this site, with ideal East facing slopes, gentle sun exposure and cool coastal influence. His experimental attitude and pioneer spirit has brought about one of the most unique vineyards in the area. With a great diversity of clonal selections, experiments in vine row orientation, and rootstalk trials which span over 33 years on what is now nearly 200 acres.

4/12-Michael Jordan talks with David Hunt & Mia Martinez

David Hunt - Hunt Cellars

It started over 20 years ago as a fantasy: living on a lush beautiful vineyard, producing your own style of favorite premium varietal wines that are well received and appreciated by those who have discovered the wines and shared them amongst friends.

Now, drive along the scenic Highway 46 West, about three miles west of the 101 Fwy at Oakdale Road, you will find this dream has become reality for David Hunt, Winemaker and owner of Hunt Cellars, a winery committed to producing “Memorable Wines”. We believe that great wines leave indelible impressions when poured with wonderful meals and great friends and scintillating conversations. Hunt Cellars was founded on the philosophy of producing wines that you will look forward to simply sipping by a cozy fireplace or pairing with your favorite meals to enhance that special event or moment in time.

When The Hunt Family decided to pursue their dream they were uncertain where they would choose to build their vineyard. The Hunts spent exhaustive days and weekends traveling to various premium wine regions from Oregon, Washington, and throughout the State of California. They finally narrowed their decision down to the Central coast to San Luis Obispo County. Paso Robles was selected because of its rich diversity in soils, superb growing climate and unique styles of wine making along with the spirit of graciousness and traditional American values.

Mia Martinez - PaQui Tequila

PaQui Tequila is made by Tequila lovers for Tequila lovers. It combines the most flavorful and drinkable characteristics of any Tequila we know. It has a distinct agave flavor that encompasses a variety of complex and extremely pleasing notes that dance on the palate. Like the finest of wines, PaQui Tequila has a beautiful spectrum of flavors that emer

ge throughout the entire tasting experience. Remarkably, given all the full bodied flavor, PaQui Tequila has one of the smoothest and cleanest finishes that we have ever tasted in any Tequila, at any price.

PaQui Tequila is the only Tequila made with our own process of "Selective Distillation". We actually separate the heart of the distillation into many different components as it is being distilled off the pot still. Our Master Distiller then analyzes each component for superior taste, aroma, and smoothness, and only uses the components that will produce the most superior Tequila, while discarding the rest. This is a very expensive and time consuming process, but it is one that we feel any knowledgeable and enthusiastic Tequila lover will appreciate!

4/5-Michael Jordan talks to Justin Baldwin & Jeff Stewart

Justin Baldwin - Justin Vineyards & Winery Founder

Former investment and international banker Justin Baldwin founded JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery in 1981 when he purchased 160 acres west of Paso Robles on California's Central Coast and planted his estate vineyards.

Since its inception, Justin has focused his efforts on producing world class Bordeaux style blends from the estate vineyards for the JUSTIN label. Justin is a pioneer in producing this style of wine on the Central Coast and his efforts have been rewarded with past and present vintages earning 90+ points by the major wine trade publications. More encompassing recognition has come from awards such as the Grand Sweepstakes award winner, Best of class, Best of Region, the coveted Pichon Lalande trophy for "World's Best Blended Red Wine" and Wine Spectators Top 10 Wines of the World. Vintages have received numerous accolades by capturing Decanter Magazine's "4 Stars", Restaurant Wine's "3 Forks" and Connoisseurs Guide's" 3 Puffs". Justin has consistently earned the praise of the wine press with recognition from the likes of Robert M. Parker Jr. naming Justin Baldwin one of his "Wine Heroes of the Year" and the "Star of Paso Robles", the James Beard Foundations "Great American Winemaker Award", Quarterly Review of Wine's "Top 3 Cabernet Producers of the Year", and Wine Enthusiast's "Top Cabernet and Blended Wine Producers List" for seven years running.

Food and JUSTIN wines go together. In fact, JUSTIN is the only winery on California’s Central Coast to retain a full-time chef whose kitchen works daily to pair acclaimed JUSTIN wines with fresh seasonal and vineyard grown offerings. Justin is an active participant in the wine world. He is a frequent panelist at prominent food and wine events worldwide, is a board member of the Family Winemakers of California, board member of the Wine Institute, board member of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, vice-chair Paso Robles AVA committee, co-founder of the West Side Grand Crew, the Far out Wineries of Paso Robles and The Wellness Community Central Coast. For his contributions Justin has been named the Paso Robles Wine Industry person of the year and has been made a Commandeur d’ Honneur De L’Ordre Du Bontemps Du Medoc.

Jeff Stewart - Winemaker Hartford Family Winery

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.