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.

3/29-Michael Jordan visits with Nancy Milby &

Nancy Milby - Executive Director Laguna Culinary Arts, Inc

Nancy Milby founded Laguna Culinary Arts in 2001 and watched it grow from a tiny school on PCH to a 4,000-square foot multi-faceted operation in Laguna Canyon that includes a home chef and professional chef program, a wine education program for both wine enthusiasts and professionals, full-service catering, a quaint café, cheese shop and wine shop, and a popular destination for private parties and corporate events. She is now thrilled to turn her baby over to long-time program director and Executive Chef Laurent Brazier. Nancy will remain involved with LCA, continuing the management of the wine program, travel program and special events. In her old life, as a tax partner at KPMG, Nancy was a Certified Public Accountant – now she's a certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, holds a Diploma in Wine & Spirits from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, London, and is a Certified Wine Specialist of the Society of Wine Educators. The LCA Wine Cellar reflects her wide interest in wine, featuring great value wines from all the major growing regions of the world.

Leslie Mead Renaud - Director of Winemaking, Foley Family Wines

Leslie Mead Renaud was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1965. Her father was an officer in the Navy, so the family moved around a fair bit during her early childhood. When Leslie was 10 her father was stationed in Honolulu, where he subsequently retired. After high school, she worked as a SCUBA diving instructor until she made the decision to return to the mainland and pursue her college degree.

Leslie graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources, with an emphasis in aquatic resource management. After school her appreciation for nature led to several years of working for the Forest Service in Oregon, hooting for spotted owls in the forests of Mt. Hood. Next she relocated to California where she worked as an urban forester with PG&E. Leslie’s career path took a significant turn when she applied for a position as a lab technician at Ironstone Vineyards in Calaveras County. She quickly realized the wine industry’s combination of science and artistry was perfectly suited to her own talents and interests.

Committing to a career in winemaking, Leslie moved to Sonoma County to be in the heart of the wine country. There she worked at Clos du Bois, Sonoma Creek Winery, and Hans Fahden Vineyards, adding to her knowledge base and honing her skills. She later moved to Santa Cruz and became the production manager at Bonny Doon Winery. In 2005 she joined Talley Vineyards as an enologist, quickly moving up to Assistant Winemaker, and then was promoted to Winemaker in January of 2007. She joined the Foley Wine Group in August of 2010, assuming her current duties as Winemaker for both Lincourt Vineyards and Foley Estate

Leslie is the Chairperson for the World of Pinot Noir, her second time serving in this capacity for the popular Central Coast event. She is constantly seeking to expand her knowledge of wines and winemaking, which has lead to her enrollment in the WSET Diploma Program. Leslie is a fan of the SF 49ers and Peter Gabriel, has sky dived (once), and loves to travel. She enjoys great food (both eating and cooking), extremely cold martinis, dogs (she has two at the moment), the outdoors, motorcycles, and convertibles.

Leslie and her husband Tim currently live in a hundred-year-old farmhouse on 40 acres of vegetable farmland in the Edna Valley.

3/22-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.

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!