Apr 24 – Midwest Winefest

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Guy

This week it’s all about the 15th Annual Midwest Winefest!  www.midwestwinefest.com

mwwf poster 2010

It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since the first Midwest Winefest at the Airport Hilton.  It was a great event and a first for Wichita.  So many wines, so little time indeed.  And it just keeps getting better.  Now, an evening event and still featuring a great selection of wines and local restaurants to entertain your taste buds.  Come and be a part of this fun event, I’ll be there with mic in hand as your Master of Ceremonies and also helping with the cooking demo.

I’ll be talking to Michelle Havercamp from Standard Beverage about all the festivities that go on at the Grand Tasting, some of the silent and live auctions packages and what this great event has meant to the Guadalupe Clinic and Health Foundation.

I’ll be talking to John Edgerly, one of our VIP wine guests from Trinchero Family Estates, about the wines that he will be pouring at the Grand Tasting.  John is one of many visiting guests representing their wines at the festival

Also talking to Chef Adam Courtney from the Seafood Shop about the cooking demo he’ll be doing.  I get to help…OK – watch, and offer wine suggestions to go with his creations.

We’ll finish up with a brief chat with David Merfeld, winemaker at Northstar winery in Walla Walla WA.  “Merf” will be in town May 11 for a spectacular wine dinner at the Hereford House at Terradyne Country Club.   For reservations or more info, call 316 733-7800

The Good Life Guy Wine of the Week…

2007 Trinchero Napa Meritage
Double Gold at the 2010 San Fran Chronicle wine competition!
Trinchero-Napa-Valley-Meritage-Lo-Res-Label-Shot“This is my favorite wine to make because, like having all the crayons in the box, it lets me paint the prettiest picture. Having an incredible arsenal of vineyards at my disposal enables me to make a wine with layers and layers of aromas and flavors. Cabernet is the backbone, Merlot contributes to the mid-palate and the aromatics, Petit Verdot adds color and floral aromatics, and Cabernet Franc elongates the finish.” —Mario Monticelli (Trinchero Napa Winemaker)

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Apr 17 – Randall Grahm – “Been Doon So Long”

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Guy

randall_grahmMy guest this week is Randall Grahm, winemaker extradinaire Rhone Ranger, 2010 Vintners Hall of Fame inductee, visionary California winemaker and founder of Bonny Doon Vineyards.   We’ll be chatting about his journey in wine, the wineries great success and growth, some of his wines, and his new book!  😉

Been doon so longThis eclectic collection at last brings to a wide audience the irreverent, zany voice of Randall Grahm.   An iconoclastic send-up of the wine industry and a celebration of unsung grape varieties, the book features, among other things, Grahm’s hilarious literary parodies–Joyce, Kafka, Pynchon, Salinger, and others–together with song lyrics, other snarky satires, poems, lectures, and more. Subtle undertones of gravitas with faint suggestions of earnestness lie beneath the humor, however, as Grahm passionately addresses the state of wine today: Where in wine does “greatness” truly repose? How might true originality in New World wines be found? Do New World winemakers have the integrity and courage to unreservedly embrace terroir? This trove includes a very personal take on Dante’s Inferno (Grahm’s own vision of Wine Hell) and a collection of tunes from the rock opera “Born to Rhône.” Other pieces offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Rhône Ranger wine movement and of Bonny Doon itself, told through the story of its adventurous wine labels. Been Doon So Long is a highly entertaining journey to find the “truth of all things that may be found in the unlikely medium of a wineglass.”

BDV logo colorGood Life Guy’s Wine of the Week…
The Wines of Bonny Doon!  www.bonnydoonvineyard.com

Stop by Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and get your Doon On

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April 10 – Joel Gott & Mario Andretti – Great Guys-Great Wines!

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Guy

joel gottI could use three hours this week, it’s all about exceptional wine with two great guests to talk to today; first up is Winemaker Joel Gott.  Joel is one of the busiest guys in the wine business!  He is one of the notorius “Three Thieves” along with Roger Scomenga and Charles Bieler.  The Thieves producer six different labels that showcase innovative packaging and great juice and reasonable price points.  The focus this morning will be on Joel’s own label; Joel Gott Wines – www.gottwines.com

joelgottwines

Gott produces a Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Cabernet – all of which are available locally and come highly reccomended by those who rate wines.  For me, I like them all but the Riesling is probably my favorite white wine of 2009.  Look for the 2008 vintage!

In the second half I’ll be speaking to racing legend and winery owner Mario Andretti.   

Not many have driven a race car better than Mario Andretti. He could make a bad car competitive and a competitive car victorious. He won the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, the Formula One World Championship and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. He won the Champ Car National Championship four times and was a three-time winner at Sebring. He won races in sports cars, sprint cars and stock cars – on ovals, road courses, drag strips, on dirt and on pavement. He won at virtually every level of racing since he arrived in America from his native Italy at age 15. He is a racing icon, considered by many to be the greatest race car driver in the history of the sport.

marioandrettiToday Mario is a successful businessman off the track and serves as spokesman, associate and friend to top executives around the world. His legacy continues with the Andretti Winery in Napa Valley, a petroleum business in California, several car dealerships, the Mario Andretti Racing School in Las Vegas, and the Andretti Indoor Karting and Games facility near Atlanta. Two coffee table books have been written about his life. And a documentary in the IMAX movie format plays worldwide.

Andretti banner

We’ll focus on Andretti Winery and the award winning Napa wines produced by the Andretti winemaking team!  www.andrettiwinery.com

The Good Life Guy “Wines of The Week”…

The wines of both my guests; Joel Gott & Mario Andretti

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April 3 – Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens, Signaterra Wines from Benziger

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Guy

crappy little kitchensIn her debut cookbook, my guest this week Jennifer Schaertl tackles the myths about gourmet cooking (you don’t need expensive cutlery and a gazillion ingredients!) and shows you how to make delectable meals despite the lack of counter space. Everything from appetizers and salads to soups and one-pot wonders to side dishes and entrees, and of course, dessert is included along with Jennifer’s tried-and-true advice for working with limited space, appliances, cookware, and ingredients all on a limited budget.

More than 130 Crappy Little Kitchen (CLK) recipes await you inside, plus:

  • Why a CLK can actually be an asset, not a liability
  • The must-haves for every CLK pantry
  • Crappy Kitchen Saboteurs: Pointless items that eat up small spaces
  • How to enhance the functionality of your CLK space—emphasizing  the surprising attributes of working in a small kitchen, plus space-saving ideas that help expand space and utility, allowing for the creation of the most complex dishes
  • How to double or triple the function of utensils to eliminate clutter and superfluous tools (toss your ungainly meat mallet and use your sauté pan as an effective meat tenderizer)
  • Swap It Skills: Replacing hard-to-find, gourmet ingredients with everyday items without sacrificing taste
  • How to cohabitate in Crappy Little Kitchens—Jennifer  tells readers how to share the tight space and avoid Crappy Little Casualties with chef-proven techniques she learned working in busy and cramped restaurant kitchens. Ways to create beautiful plating presentations with secretly guarded tricks of the trade
  • Chefology: culinary terms and ‘did you know this crap’ facts to awe guests and increase one’s culinary knowledge in fun and inspiring ways

Jennifer Schaertl studied culinary arts at El Centro in Dallas, where she received a technical education about cooking, food style, and preparation, as well as Old World knowledge about recipes and techniques. Jennifer’s first job inside a professional Crappy Little Kitchen (CLK) was actually that of a dishwasher, where she eventually worked her way up to sous chef. Since that humble beginning Jennifer has worked as a chef in four Dallas 4-star restaurants, all the while creating and documenting her own recipes both for her restaurant menus and her family gatherings. A native of Texas, Jennifer Schaertl now lives in Dallas working as an Executive Chef at the North Central Surgical Center. She has already completed the pilot episode of the television series Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens. To view this episode and join her monthly mailing list “The Crappy Little Newsletter,” visit www.crappylittlekitchens.com. From here you can also see her latest press, and get recipes, and CLK tips.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:  From the Benziger Family…
2006 Signaterra Three Blocks

06threeblocksredA Bordeaux blend comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (64%) > and Merlot (34%) from the Sonoma Valley AVA. Carefully sourced from three specific blocks in three specific vineyards  (Gordenker, Stone Farm and Sunny Slope), the 2006 Three Blocks is produced with certified organic grapes. This wine offers rich aromas of dark chocolate and cigar that give way to layered flavors of currant, plum and coffee. The wine has a firm mid-palate and round, soft tannins which we think you will enjoy.

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Mar 27 – Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Andy Beckstoffer, The Sum red wine

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Guy

pb wineFirst up is Dave Bernahl, co-founder of the 3rd Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine event April 8 -11.  We’ll tell you all about this spectacular food and wine extravaganza, the location couldn’t be better, and the list of celebrity chef/winemaker attendees is amazing. 

Hosted on one of the most pristine strips of coastline in the world, Pebble Beach Food & Wine celebrates 60 celebrity chefs and 250 wineeries during this unforgettable four-day event.  Internationally acclaimed wineries and chefs come together with California’s regional superstars to create an unbelievable series of luxurious luncheons, delectable dinners, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and one of the most decadent grand tastings in the country.  www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com   866 907-Food for more info

In the second half, I’ll be talking to Andy Beckstoffer CEO of Beckstoffer Vineyards and 2010 Vintners Hall of Fame inductee.

andy beckstofferAndy Beckstoffer came to Napa as a corporate executive in 1969, after earning an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Recognizing the potential for growth in premium wines, he started a farming company which he eventually purchased in 1973. Beckstoffer Vineyards has grown to be the largest vineyard owner, farming group, and winegrape seller in the Napa Valley and the North Coast, delivering grapes to more than 100 of the state’s most famous wineries. Andy Beckstoffer developed a formula for paying growers based on the finished wine value, thus reducing the incentive for excessive yield and focusing growers on quality. He has played a major role in preserving agriculture in the Napa Valley and has contributed to efforts to restore the Napa River.  www.beckstoffervineyards.com

The Good Life Guy Wine of the Week:
2007 “The Sum” Cabernet based blended red wine produced by Tuck Beckstoffer, Andy’s son.

the sum labelThis amazingly well endowed profoundly rich red wine must be smelled and tasted to be believed. The color is a rich, deep purple garnet and gives but a small hint as to what’s inside.
The nose gives off soaring and wonderfully focused aromas of ripe stone fruit, vanilla, cherries, cedar cigar box, blackberries and cinnamon. In the mouth, there are layers upon layers of broad, sweet opulent fruit balanced by firm tannins, great acidity and oak.

This BIG red wine is available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road!

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