Mar 9 – St. Stephen Vineyards

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Guy

My guest this week is Tim Edwards, owner and entrepreneur of St. Stephen vineyards.

In 1994, Edwards and his Chilean wife Claudia spent a year traveling 9,000 miles by Jeep from the United States to Chile, where they finally settled. They purchased land in the Colchagua Valley and founded St. Stephen Vineyards, dedicated to making quality wines made with organic grapes, to help advance efforts to protect the planet.

“We realized early on that the key to our success was to create a really great wine. Many of the best wines in the world come from Chile. The Colchagua Valley was named the ‘World’s Best Wine Region’ by Wine Enthusiast magazine. One of our wines has been rated at 90 points, and the other two are pending evaluation,” says Edwards.

A “cause marketing” organization, St. Stephen donates a significant portion of the profits for each bottle sold to helping environmental causes in the United States and Chile.

For more information about St. Stephen and to order wine, visit the company’s website at www.StStephen.cl for product and company updates follow on Facebook and twitter!

St. Stephen produces three hand-crafted organic wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménere and Malbec.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
We will be tasting all three of Tim’s Wines during the show!

2016 Am Malbec Reserva
Curicó Valley, Chile

Am means ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’ in the Mapuche language.  This is a lush Malbec from the Curicó Valley characterized by deep, purple red color with inky-blue hues; Ripe blackberry, plum, mocca and violet aromas combine with soft, juicy, dark plum, cherry flavors with hints of toffee, good acidity and a pleasant long finish.

 

 

 

 

2017 Oda al vino Carménere Reserva
Colchagua Valley, Chile

From the Pablo Neruda poem ‘Ode to Wine’ – This wine has a beautiful deep red violet color. It is a complex wine whose aromas of red fruits blend harmoniously with soft notes of spices, sour fruits and oak. The flavors reflect the character and terroir of Carménère: the refreshing influence of the Andes mountain range in winter, minimum rainfall during the growing season and hot summers. Tannins firm and pleasant offer an excellent balance of acidity, body and volume.

 

 

 

Oda al Vino Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva
Colchagua Valley, Chile

Also from the poem ‘Ode to Wine’ – A smooth and sophisticated wine. A beautiful intense purplish red color. A nose that reflects a higher percentage of ripe fruit and spices can be felt shortly after pouring, intensifying as the wine breathes. In its mouth, the velvety flavor of Cabernet opens to complement its impressive bouquet. Firm and pleasant tannins provide a medium body and a light volume.

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Mar 2 – Catalina Island FUN

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Guy

Winter, Spring or Summer there is great food, wine and fun on Santa Catalina Island!

Just returned from a great visit to Santa Catalina Island and want to share some of the FUN we had during our visit.  If you’re looking for an Island getaway that’s only 26 miles off the coast of Southern California, this is the place.  According to the song by the Four Preps from 1958, it’s only 26 miles and filled with Romance!  We had a great time on our short visit, stayed at fine hotels, enjoyed the all new Catalina Island Museum (www.catalinamuseum.org) checked out some of the top places to eat and enjoy wine.  And just as important learned a bunch of the interesting aspects and history of this year-round slice of paradise.

The Catalina Chambers of Commerce President and CEO Jim Luttjohann joins us first to talk about all the year-round activities in the quaint yet vibrant town of Avalon.  Jim took us on a golf cart (the primary means of transportation in this harbor town) tour of all the historic landmarks, vistas and interesting aspects of the Island. Jim’s knowledge of the Islands history and evolution is incredible! Visit the Chamber on-line and learn more.

Next up is Janet Flathers from Catalina Food Tours.  We spent an afternoon with Janet checking out several of the top food destinations in close proximity to the water in Avalon.  The choices are many and we were impressed with the selection of everything from fine gourmet to casual family restaurants.

Last but not least I’ll be talking to Gail Fornasiere, director of Marketing and Public Relations for the magnificent Catalina Island Museum.  When I first visited Catalina in 2008 the Museum was located in the grand old Casino.  It was great then but today it’s in a new location, a new building and with expanded history and event space.  This should probably be recommended as your first stop on a tour of Catalina, you can get the lay of the land and a taste of the long history of ownership and uniqueness that is Santa Catalina.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Some fine award winning wines from the Jerry Mead New World International Wine Competition

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Feb 23 – This Show was pre-empted for WSU basketball and will now air on March 23rd!

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Guy

This show is all about Ederslie Farm with proprietor George Elder.

Elderslie Farm began in 2010 when George Elder and his sister, Alexis, resolved their wanderings and planted blackberries near the childhood home, just north of Wichita. Alexis began focusing on vegetables while George continued maintaining the brambles.

In 2011 George married Katharine who brought a history of rich culinary experience from her family and their travels to Europe. In 2012 casual outdoor dining began and the first formal meal was served outside. Five years later, breakfast and lunch on the patio at the Bramble Cafe is a summer tradition and formal dining is offered year-round in our three dining rooms on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Our multi-course dinners offer an authentic showcase of local produce with thoughtful wine pairings. Inside and out we have renovated and expanded to provide a lovely setting; the creative and beautiful dinners begin on the patio as weather permits, then move indoors to dining rooms furnished with black walnut from our Elderslie Woodworks. The evening is a Farm to Table experience rich in delight from the food to the decor to the excellent service.  Learn more and make plans to visit: www.eldersliefarm.com  Follow on Facebook & Twitter

…….

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
It’s surprise…tune in and enjoy 🙂

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Feb 16 Gordon Ens

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Guy

This is a little bit of a stretch but you can’t enjoy the Good Life if you are suffering from bodily inflammation!

My guest this week is one of my favorite wine friends Gordon Ens.  Not only has he grown his own grapes in a nifty little vineyard on his property in Flint Hills, but he has made some pretty great wine from those grapes.

Throughout his career, Gordon has been involved in clinical laboratory medicine, specializing in thrombosis, hemostasis and inflammation. This includes research and clinical laboratory testing, in-vitro diagnostic product support and pharmaceutical clinical trials. He now works to educate people on the utilization of laboratory testing in the diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of risk and the management of clinical disease states.

In 2009, Gordon, together with Dr. Barry Sears from ZoneLabs in Marblehead, MA, established Inflammatory Markers Laboratory in Marblehead, MA. Serving as the laboratory director, he increased his knowledge of the significance of chronic/cellular inflammation in chronic diseases and the aging process.

The role of chronic inflammation in chronic diseases and the aging process is becoming quite clear and this awareness is growing rapidly. As the CEO of Creative Clinical Concepts, Gordon is focused on educating healthcare practitioners and patients as to the appropriate utilization of laboratory testing in the diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of risk and the management of therapy in a cost-effective manner.

A simple urine test at his lab here in Wichita (you can do it all by mail) will establish a base-line of bodily inflammation and from that  a specific dose of aspirin can be proscribed.  Reducing inflamation can help prevent all manner of serious illnesses.  Now that’s The Good Life.
Learn more at www. chronicinflammationtest.com

In the second half Gordon and I talk about his vineyard, his winemaking experience and the wine of the week.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week
2016 Navigator Reserve Cabernet of Napa Valley
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot,t aged 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels. The wine shows dense color and a beautiful nose of blue and black fruit, licorice, graphite and subtle toast. On the palate it’s rich and balanced with black cherry, cassis, toasty oak and dark chocolate flavors. The mouthfeel is chewy and vibrant suggesting a good agability.

Available at Jacob Liquor Exchange East here in Wichita, tell them you heard about it from Good Life Guy!

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Feb 9 – HOT Sauce, Toffee & Port!

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Guy

Sparking Valentine’s Day Passion with HOT Sauce, Chocolate & Port!

My guess this Saturday is Vice President of SouthernAirs Judith Re’.  Her and her husband John Morgan are the proprietors of SouthernAirs.com specializing in regional cuisine, culture and the sauce on top.  Chocolate and Roses are always good Valentines Day gifts, but snazzy and tasty hot sauce is an even better gift for both of you!

SouthernAirs, the company that celebrates Southern-themed cuisine and culture, released two new hot sauce trios for Valentine’s Day – Hot Boyfriend & Girlfriend with Extra Heat, and Hot Husband & Wife with Extra Heat.  The all-natural hot sauce 3-packs are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and may have other healthy attributes as well.

“Our hot sauce trios are the ideal couples’ gifts,” said SouthernAirs president John Morgan. “They bring passion to the table all year around.”  The SouthernAirs hot sauce 3-packs contain various combinations of cayenne, habanero and serrano peppers with heat levels from mild to extra hot, plus vinegar and spices.

Morgan cited a 2017 University of Vermont medical study that found hot chili pepper consumption is associated with a 13% lower mortality rate, and that the principal hot pepper component capsaicin may defend against heart disease.  “If hot sauce is good for your heart, it may be good for love, also,” Morgan said.  “SouthernAirs hot sauces aim to be the ideal condiment for those special occasions.”

Company co-founder Judith Re’ described the individual hot sauces:

  • HOT WIFE Hot Sauce ®, “named after your favorite gal,” is a Rojo-style red sauce containing cayenne chiles registering 4/10 on our heat scale.
  • HOT HUSBAND Hot Sauce ®, which “finishes with a handsome burn,” is a reliable Sriracha-style sauce registering 4/10 on our heat scale.
  • HOT GIRLFRIEND Hot Sauce ®, “offering the right amount of sweet and heat in every drop,” is a combination of habaneros and chiles paired with mangos and pineapples. A great addition to margaritas! Registers 4/10 on our heat scale.
  • HOT BOYFRIEND Hot Sauce ® “is a lot more than just eye candy,” featuring a trio of smoked jalapeños, cayenne chiles and habaneros that add up to a sizzling 8/10 on our heat scale.
  • EXTRA HEAT Hot Sauce, making up the third bottle in each trio, is a garlic serrano sauce with a lime kick, measuring a toasty 7/10 on our heat scale.

SouthernAirs offers a full line of Southern-themed sauces, jams and other condiments, including sweet bourbon glaze, cinnamon pear jam, Carolina barbecue sauce, apple hickory barbecue sauce and FROG jam.  Products are available on Amazon, on the SouthernAirs website www.southernairs.com, and at selected stores.

In the second half I hope to be speaking with Andrew Chmielewski who is Disrupting the Candy Industry, One Piece of Toffee at a Time.

I like to think of Dave’s Sweet Tooth as the Microsoft of the candy industry. Whereas Bill Gates and Paul Allen started their business in a garage, Andrew Chmielewski started his, in his parent’s kitchen. From there, both have become masters in their fields.

Dave, as in the company’s namesake, a retired Detroit Fire Fighter had always loved to cook and bake. Feeding the firehouse perfected his skills, and when he started making his toffee, the response was unlike anything he had ever seen. Dave’s son, Andrew, now 31, recognized the perfect storm and decided to take the homemade heavenly treat out of his childhood home and share it with the world!

Andrew’s rise to titan of toffee began in 2011 and includes a calculated web of tireless work, perfectly bizarre flavor combinations, due diligence and continued education in his craft and industry, and trade missions to Beijing with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
NV Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port
Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port displays aromas of raisined berry fruit, sugared dates, chocolate, caramel and orange peel. The wine’s rich, lush, grapy flavors also evoke raisin, cocoa, coffee and toffee. This delicious, fortified wine is perfect on its own or as an accompaniment to chocolate, chocolate, chocolate…don’t like chocolate? Try it with Stilton cheese and toasted walnuts. ABV19%

This was one of the top scorers in my WSU Port Class last Monday and a proverbial favorite of mine!

 

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