Sep 5 – This Week’s Show

Posted on August 31, 2026 by Guy

My guest this week is Stu Lerner founder and principle, along with his wife Karen of The Lerner Project a botique winery making exceptional wines from Napa Valley.

Stu & Karen Lerner with winemaker Russell Bevan

Stu and Karen Lerner were in Wichita this week and I help put together a private tasting for a selection of wine lovers. These wines, vinted by winemaker Russell Bevan, are amazing! With meticlious care in selecting fruit from some of the fienst Napa vineyards, the judicious use of exceptional oak barrels by winemaker Bevan, these wines are a premium classic example of the quality wines from Napa Valley.

Proprietor Stu Lerner has spent the last four decades nurturing his deep appreciation for the great vineyards and wines of Napa Valley. He has shared his journey over the years with his wife, Karen, along with their friends and family. More recently, alongside winemaker and business partner Russell Bevan, the Lerners have turned their dream of their own Napa Valley winery into reality.

The portfolio of Lerner Project reflects Stu Lerner’s and Russell Bevan’s commitment to making the absolute best wine possible. As Russell likes to say about his partner, “The first thing Stu told me — it was so important — he said, ‘If I’m going to do this, the one thing we will never do is compromise on quality.’”

Follow the Lerner Project on Facebook & Instagram
These very small production wines may be acquired only through the wineries mailing list, Sign up today!

Later in the show I’ll be talking to Randy Miller, who with his wife Jody, produced the now famous movie “Bottle Shock.”  this movie helped spread the story of the Judgement of Paris in 1976.

We’ll be telling you about this years 50th Anniversary Celebration and how you can be a part of “The Judgement of Wichita” at Prarie Hill Vineyards Sunday September 20th. Get tickets NOW!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week: 
The 2025 Galactic Shepherd -perfect for HOT weather, available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on N. Rock Road
A white wine blend of Grenache Blanc & Chenin Blanc sourced from North an Lucas vineyard shows aromas of fresh pear, quince, and white peach lead the way, layered with hints of citrus blossom, chamomile, and a touch of wet stone. On the palate, bright acidity carries flavors of lemon curd, honeydew, and crisp apple, balanced by a subtle waxy texture and gentle salinity. The finish is clean and lingering, with notes of almond skin and soft herbal nuance. ABV 13.1%
COMPOSITION 65% Grenache Blanc, 35% Chenin Blanc
APPELATION Central Coast, California
VINEYARD North San Lucas
COOPERAGE Aged one month in stainless steel

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Aug 29 – Benziger Family Winery

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Guy

YES…we were both much younger

My guest this week is Chris Benziger from Benziger Family Wines.  Chris and I go way back…like 1988, when he was on one of his first ever functions pouring Benziger wines at the South Florida International Wine Event.

We’ll talk about the family, the history, and the evoulution of this great Sonoma Producer. Many things have changes, many of the family have retired, but several are still helping make this label a BIG success.

Of course we will talk about the many wines being produced, and there are a bunch.  We’ll touch on the family members still actively involved, and what the near future holds for Chris and the winery.  https://benziger.com/ 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2024 Spirit & Earth Chardonnay
Crafted from the coastal de Coelo Vineyard and shaped through biodynamic stewardship, this wine is offered in only 82 cases, making it as rare as it is expressive. Its blind-embossed Circle of Life label embodies our holistic vineyard philosophy, celebrating our commitment to biodynamic farming and winemaking while reflecting the wine’s bright, vibrant character. This wine captures the harmony between vineyard, vine, and winemaker, offering a pure expression of place, clarity, and balance.

The wine shows a light straw hue with touches of gold.On the nose, bright lemon zest and crisp apple take the lead, complemented by a subtle hint of citrus that adds lift and freshness. Medium-bodied with a gentle coastal minerality that supports the vibrant notes of lemon meringue. A round mouthfeel adds depth and texture, and the finish is lifted by a delicate pop of brioche. Order NOW!
81 cases, Biodynamic, 100% Chardonnay
Double Gold Medal-San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

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Aug 22 – Karen MacNeil

Posted on August 20, 2026 by Guy

My guest this week is Karen MacNeil, probably the busiest and most productive champion of wine in the world. 

Karen MacNeil is one of the foremost wine experts in the United States. She is the author of the award-winning book, The Wine Bible, recognized as “the most comprehensive and authoritative book on wine written by an American author.”

Karen’s articles on wine and food have been published in more than 50 magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, Food and Wine, U.S.A. Today, Elle, Cooking Light, and Town & Country. Karen has also brought her style and love of wine to television-first as the wine correspondent for NBC’s Today Show, and later as the Emmy-award winning host of the PBS television series Wine, Food & Friends with Karen MacNeil. In 2006 her companion book, Wine, Food & Friends, was released.

With her team at Karen MacNeil & Company, Karen creates and consults on one-of-a-kind wine experiences, seminars, and programs for corporate clients, businesses and individuals. Some recent past clients include: Lexus, Merrill Lynch, Disney, General Electric, UBS, World Presidents Organization, Sunset Magazine, Singapore Airlines, and Mattel (who, in recognition, designed a wine-glass-holding Barbie look-alike after Karen!)

An educator at heart, Karen is the creator and Chairman of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley. The multi-million dollar center with its advanced wine curriculum and state-of-the art wine sensory classrooms has been called the “Harvard of Wine Education.”

In a full page profile in 2004, TIME magazine named Karen “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” She holds an Advanced Certified Wine Professional Degree.  www.karenmacneil.com

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2021 Tobias Formation Cabernet Sauvignon
FORMATION, crafted by the Formans, showcases the finest lots from our estate vineyards each year, resulting in this exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon blend. A rich, garnet-colored wine with a ruby core, it captivates with aromas of ripe raspberry, black cassis, hints of mocha, and plums. On the palate, medium, well-integrated tannins intertwine with flavors of red and black currant, red cherry, plum, violet, and vanilla. This crowd-pleaser offers abundant delights to explore. ABV14.2%

Perched above the fog of Napa Valley, Dawn & Toby Forman reside and hand-farm 16 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon on their Howell Mountain estate. It is with generations of knowledge in farming and winemaking, they craft the TOBIAS wine collection from their family estate vineyards spanning Napa, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties. Learn more: www.tobiasvineyards.com

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Aug 1 – This Week’s Show

Posted on July 26, 2026 by Guy

Two great recorded shows shows while a get a new knee

 

August  1st – Executive Eats 
My guest this week is Adam Kingl with his new book Executive Eats – The Cookbook for a Better Working Life.

Are you looking for greater focus in your work and life? Do you find your mind wandering while trying to concentrate on daily tasks – whether at the office or at home? From sustained energy to improved focus and mood, each chapter in EXECUTIVE EATS pairs the latest nutritional research with practical culinary applications, offering readers scientifically backed recipes designed to address the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives.

Whether you need a morning boost, an afternoon pick-me-up or a calming meal after a stressful day, you will have a deeper understanding of why certain foods can enhance your mental and physical states. This is more than just a collection of recipes; it’s a tool to help you make mindful, informed decisions about your diet. Blending culinary expertise with scientific rigor, EXECUTIVE EATS equips you with the knowledge and recipes to nourish both your body and mind. Get a copy NOW!

Author, keynote speaker, educator and adviser Adam Kingl is the author of the books Next Generation Leadership and Sparking Success, the latter shortlisted for the Business Book Awards. He explores what business can learn from the creative arts, including culinary art, in enhancing innovation, creativity, adaptability and inspiration. Adam is Adjunct Faculty at the University College London School of Management, Hult Ashridge, affiliate faculty at London Business School, the Hanken-Stockholm Schools of Economics, the Moller Institute at the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London. Previously, Adam was the Executive Director of Thought Leadership and Learning Solutions for London Business School for almost a decade. He works with diverse companies and delivers keynotes around the world. Adam trained at Le Cordon Bleu in California and cooked in an Italian trattoria. He holds degrees from London Business School, UCLA and Yale. He lives in London.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Something FUN from Jacob Liquor Exchange on N. Rock Road: ______________________________________________________________

August 8th – A House in the Lebanese Mountains
I’ll be chatting with Sarah Trad from Lebanon

An Invitation into a World of Levantine Hospitality, Memory, and Slow Living

In A House in the Lebanese Mountains: Recipes & Stories from Beit Trad, Sarah Trad opens the doors to a singular place—and a way of life—that feels both timeless and urgently relevant.

Set high in the hills above Beirut, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Beit Trad is more than a home: it is a sanctuary shaped by memory, resilience, and the enduring art of hospitality. Through evocative storytelling, transporting photography, and deeply personal recipes, Trad offers readers an intimate look inside her family’s eighteenth-century Lebanese house, transformed into a boutique guesthouse where generosity, beauty, and food are inseparable. As seen throughout the book, from sun-dappled terraces wrapped in vines to long tables set for leisurely meals, Beit Trad embodies a philosophy of living that prioritizes connection, ritual, and warmth.

Get your copy NOW!

A Different Story of the Middle East
At a time when Lebanon and the broader region are often defined by headlines of conflict and crisis, A House in the Lebanese Mountains offers a powerful counter-narrative: one of douceur de vivre, cultural richness, and enduring joy.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2019 Chateau Musar Red Blend
A world renowned wine from Lebanon
An equal blend of Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan. The 2019 vintage is dark, broody and spicy and blood red in colour. The aromas are blueberry, cranberry and blackcurrant with black olives and a touch of cloves, these follow through to the palate with added cherries, plum and spice. There is also a note of black pepper and it finishes with a good level of acidity and fine integrated tannins. It is a well balanced wine, mature and ready for drinking upon it’s release at 7 years of age and has excellent ageing potential.

 

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Jul 25 – Wood Hat Spirits

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Guy

This weeks show I’ll be talking to Gary Hinegardner, founder of Wood Hat Spirits in Missouri.

The company produces bourbon, corn whiskey and a short list of cordials. Everything that goes into making Wood Hat Spirits comes from Missouri, from the corn to the barrels for aging.

Located in New Florence, Missouri, Wood Hat Spirits is a craft “field-to-glass” distillery renowned for its focus on heirloom corn varieties and environmentally-friendly distillation. Founded by Gary Hinegardner, the operation is famous for being one of the only wood-fired distilleries in the United States, utilizing scrap wood from a local barrel stave mill for heat. 

Wood Hat distinguishes itself through several unique elements:

  • Heirloom Corn: Instead of standard yellow commodity corn, Hinegardner (a former agronomist) grows and sources unique varieties like Hopi blue corn, Bloody Butcher red corn, and their proprietary Orange #8.
  • The “Green” Process: The distillery relies on an oil-transfer, wood-fired boiler, and geothermal/ambient cooling, producing a notably small carbon footprint. 
  • The Wood Hats: True to its name, Hinegardner—a skilled woodturner—whittles and carves realistic, paper-thin wood hats on a lathe, which are worn by him and displayed in the tasting room. 
  • Location: You can find the distillery at 489 Booneslick Road, New Florence, MO, just off Interstate 70 (Exit 175).

Good Life Guy’s  Spirits of the week:
I’ll be tasting some of Gary’s fine handy work!  I have several of his products in-studio with me.  Craft whiskey made with care.

 

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2024 DNA Vineyards Russian River Chardonnay
Bright citrus zest and crisp Asian pear, complemented by subtle brioche notes. On the palate, delicate fruit unfolds with clarity, framed by fresh, lively acidity. Gentle oak adds warmth and texture without masking the wine’s natural brightness. An elegant finish leaves a clean, lingering impression of harmonious balance, the hallmark of Russian River Valley Chardonnay. ABV14.6%
North Coast Wine Challange 97 – Sunset International 97

What steal…$26 at jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Rd.

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