6/27-Michael Horn talks to Tracy Cervellone & David Hirsch

Tracy Cervellone -  CWE Wilson Daniels

Tracy is a native of Colorado. She has been employed in the wholesale wine business throughout California and the southwestern United States for over 25 years. Her love affair with the Paso Robles AVA and its wines dates back to the 1980’s. A Certified Wine Educator (C.W.E.) since 2005, she also holds the Advanced Certificate with Distinction from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET).  She resides in southern California with her husband, Michael.  Tracy is an avid free diver, horiculturist, history, literature, philosophy and muscle car buff. She has published another year-2007 literary work, “Mommy Nation: the Decline of Dignity, Common Sense and Self Reliance in our Everyday Lives.” Tracy also writes a regular national column for Dining Out magazine. 


David Hirsch - Winemaker Hirsch Winery

BUG:Bought property in 1978; planted Old Vineyard to pinot noir and Riesling in 1980. Quit day job 1987 to develop vineyards: 44 acres planted 1990-1996; 25 acres planted 2002-03. Responsible for reminding everyone ad nauseamour goal always to focus on the site; that important developments are fruits of mistakes made with a serious attitude; and to never forget that we don’t know what we don’t know.


Hirsch Vineyards was established in 1980 on a ridge overlooking the ocean at Fort Ross, Sonoma County. It was the first vineyard in the region planted to the production of premium pinot noir. From the start all efforts have been on the growing of fruit that makes wines profoundly characteristic of the site vintage after vintage. Time is our most valuable asset, and as only time can judge a wine to be a valid expression of its site, we have focused our vision on the long term. To this end we have dedicated ourselves to live and work on site in order to discover by farming and, more recently, winemaking, a valid philosophy of viticulture that will harmonize our inputs with the constantly changing effects of a dramatic geology and problematic climate.

6/20-Michael Horn visits with Steve McIntyre & Rudi Bauer

Steve McIntyre - Winegrower and Winemaker at McIntyre Vineyards

Steve McIntyre stands out, even among the unique personalities of the Santa Lucia Highlands. He is a rare combination of grower and winemaker, having earned degrees in both viticulture and enology. After years as a winemaker at Smith & Hook, he purchased a neighboring estate in 1987 that was to become McIntyre Vineyards. Along with consulting winemaker Byron Kosuge, he has been able with his own McIntyre label to bridge the traditional disconnect between grower and vintner - employing a minimalist approach, allowing the vineyards true character and terroir to shine through in the finished wine.


The McIntyre Family


Through three decades, the McIntyre family has been setting the standard for winegrowing on the Central Coast and in Monterey County. Steve McIntyre graduated with a Masters degree in Enology from CSU Fresno ("Initially I studied music – but I found out I didn’t have any talent!")  He has planted and managed vineyards for numerous wineries including Galante, Smith & Hook, Mondavi, Joseph Phelps and Bonny Doon. Steve met his future wife and partner Kim in high school, Steve and Kim’s vineyard management company, Monterey Pacific, has grown grapes for such prestigious wineries as Williams Selyem, Morgan, Artesa, Jordan, Bernardus, MacRostie, and Marilyn Remark to name a few. As managing partners in the Monterey Wine Company, they have produced wines for Bonny Doon, Caymus, Hess Collection, Hahn Estates, and many others.


Their own McIntyre Vineyards was founded in 1987, with Steve’s purchase of eighty acres in the Santa Lucia Highlands. With all of his acquired experience, it was only natural that he should begin making wines under the family name and label. The first, limited McIntyre wines debuted with the 2005 vintage, combining Steve’s dedication to his craft, his passion for the land, and his love of art and music . As Steve puts it, “Musicians are servants to other people’s emotions, giving folks pleasure. With our family of wines, we strive to create something sensual, like music, which brings joy and inspiration and is an artistic statement of our vineyard.”


Steve and Kim McIntyre, daughters Kristen and Kassandra and son Matthew reside in Monterey County, along with Petrus, Jura, and Quintessa, their Bernese Mountain Dogs.





Rudi Bauer - Winemaker At Quartz Reef New Zealand
Named after New Zealand’s largest quartz rock deposit that underlies the company’s vineyards at Bendigo, Central Otago, Quartz Reef wines exhibit a symphony of flavours that capture attention and entertain, so that you forget everything else.

• The only southern hemisphere winemaker awarded nomination for International Winemaker of the Year at the ‘Oscars of Wine’, the prestigious Der Feinschmecker Wine Awards.
• Awarded Winemaker of the Year at the New Zealand National Wine Awards 2010.
• Awarded Winemaker of the Year at the New Zealand National Wine Awards 1999.
• The only Central Otago Winemaker ever to have been awarded this distinction and honour twice.
• A far-sighted Pioneer of the outstanding world-recognised Central Otago Viticultural Region of southern New Zealand.

6/13-Michael Horn talks with Becky Zelinski & Luis Ribeiro

Becky Zelinski - First Crush Winemaking
First Crush is owned by Becky Zelinski and Lowell Zelinski, Ph.D. The couple also own Precision Ag Consulting -- a vineyard management company in Paso Robles and have been working with Paso Robles vineyards since 2003.

Becky Zelinski is a former journalist, photographer and event planner. She has more than 20 years experience in business administration and marketing. She heads up the marketing and event planning for First Crush and is the assistant winemaker. Becky also helps manage and markets their vineyard management company, and plans educational meetings and events for it. It is her photography from the First Crush 2008 maiden winemaking experience that helped inspire the First Crush concept.

Becky’s wine knowledge is self-taught. She has attended classes on winemaking, viticulture and wine appreciation, and essentially learned “by doing” by working with winemakers and growers in the industry.

Lowell Zelinski is a soil-plant-water relations specialist with nearly 30 years of experience in agriculture production. He consults on and manages vineyards for several Paso Robles growers. He has also worked as a University of California extension agent, taught at four California State University campuses and managed operations for two large agriculture companies. He is the viticulturist for First Crush and helps Becky with the scientific components of the winemaking process.

Luis Ribeiro - Enoforum Wines in Évora, Portugal

ENOFORUM is a commercial company created in the end of 2004 by a group of grape-growers and its wineries from Alentejo Region, a prestigious wine Region in the South of Portugal. The head office of Enoforum it’s located in the charming city of Évora – classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site – in the heart of Alentejo Region.

With more than a half century of skilled wine production, and after having succeeded in reaching a prominent position in the Portuguese domestic market, this grape-growers decided to create ENOFORUM, a commercial company focus in the international wine markets.

Counting with the know-how and expertise of its shareholders and a sophisticated group of wineries, ENOFORUM therefore possesses the scale, resources and professionalism to fully satisfy international customer needs.

Through its own brands, ENOFORUM exports worldwide the strength of the Wines of Alentejo – Portugal.

6/06-Michael Horn talks to Chris Slaughter & Steve Andrews of Slow Living Radio

Chris Slaughter - Executive Director of the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association

Chris Slaughter is the newly appointed Executive Director of the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association and their West Coast July event, THE CHARDONNAY SYMPOSIUM. July 22-23, SMVWINES presents THE CHARDONNAY SYMPOSIUM, an insightful weekend of education and explor

ation designed to enlighten wine consumers, industry professionals, and media on West Coast wine-producing regions and wine making styles and their effects on America’s favorite wine.

Friday, July 22, join winemaker Steve Rasmussen and proprietor Doug Circle on a tour of Sierra Madre Vineyard exploring their eight different clones of Chardonnay specifically matched to each block within the vineyard. Barrel samples and finished wines highlighting the diversity of Chardonnay selections and rootstock material will be presented and tasted with experts in Chardonnay growing and winemaking. Friday night, Sierra Madre Vineyards celebrates their 40th anniversary at THE CHARDONNAY SYMPOSIUM welcome feast featuring delicious Santa Maria style barbecue paired with Sierra Madre’s award winning Chardonnays.

July 23, Saturday’s premier, full-day event begins with two morning educational sessions at Bien Nacido Vineyards and Tantara Winery, featuring distinguished panels of celebrity and winemaker panels headlined by two of the foremost wine experts in the industry, Wine Enthusiast Columnist Steve Heimoff and The Wine Bible author Karen MacNeil. Full-day attendees are invited to Au Bon Climat/Qupe Winery for a gourmet luncheon featuring the Santa Maria Valley’s finest cuisine. The relaxed environment will provide an ideal time to sip wine and further discuss the nuances of Chardonnay with some of the Symposium’s presenters and keynote speakers.

The Grand Chardonnay Tasting takes place on Saturday afternoon at the beautiful Byron Vineyard and Winery. This expanded tasting will afford guests the opportunity to sample world class Chardonnays from 60 Washington, Oregon, Sonoma and California Central Coast wineries, and pair them with fine cuisine provided by local restaurants and caterers.

For tickets and more information about THE CHARDONNAY SYMPOSIUM go to www.thechardonnaysymposium.comor email info@thechardonnaysymposium.com.

Michael Horn Talks with Steve Andrews, Host of Slow Living Radio!

Slow Living radio is dedicated to those who want reclaim their time, breathe out and get back to realliving. They want to inspire and challenge you. Why not tap the brakes, reconsider your priorities, and get back to a place where life is more fun and rewarding? Slow Living simply means taking the time to experience your days instead of counting them. Each week they present you with engaging guests and topics. Food, wine, travel, health & fitness, home design, greener living, entertainment, cool events... so sit back and enjoy the ride in the pursuit of endless discoveries.

The show is broadcast each week to 11 million homes coast-to-coast through the CRN Digital Talk Affiliate Network. Hopefully, one of those homes is yours. If not, you can always catch the broadcast on your iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Palm, or other Windows Mobile device, or online at web radio CRNTalk.com.