5/27-Encore Broadcast Michael Horn and Nicole Nielsen talk to Tobin James

Tobin James - Tobin James Cellars

Tobin (Toby) James grew up on a vineyard in Indiana, worked in a wine shop in Cincinnati and knew at the age of 18 that he would own a winery. He apprenticed at the Estrella River Winery, eventually being hired on full time and becoming their cellar master. From there, he headed to Eberle Winery to eventually make their wines with Gary Eberle.
When Peachy Canyon started, the owner needed a winemaker. A deal was struck so that Toby would become the founding winemaker and also have the opportunity to continue making Tobin James Cellars' wine at the same facility. The very first wine Toby made won a spot on the coveted "top 100" wines of the year with the Wine Spectator. Toby's reputation continued to grow, and in 1993 decided to build his own winery on highway 46 east of Paso Robles.

5/20-Michael Horn and Nicole Nielsen visit with Lars Ryssdal & Barbara Balik

Lars Ryssdal - General Manager, Ackerman Family Vineyard

As Ackerman Family Vineyard’s General Manager, Lars Ryssdal brings a robust history in winery brand management, wholesale beverage and restaurant trade experience to the team. Lars recently moved from the Seattle area where he was a fixture on the Northwest wine scene for over 25 years. His background as a wine educator and twice-certified sommelier brings extensive knowledge in establishing Ackerman Family Vineyards as a recognized boutique brand.

Most recently, he served as Brand Manager for Corliss Estates Winery in the Seattle area before joining Ackerman Family Vineyards. Lars helped facilitate the careers of many aspiring sommeliers with his heartfelt involvement with the Court of Master Sommeliers and Society of Wine Educators. He also served on the development team of Young’s Market Certification for Beverage Professionals program as the Fine Wine Manager for the Pacific Northwest Region. Prior to pursuing his passion for wine, Lars spent 10 years on the west coast in the radio and recording industries.

As a board member of the Pacific Northwest Wine Academy, the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute “Evening of Wine” and as Chef Sommelier of “Auction of Washington Wine”, Lars’ efforts have been recognized by Seattle Magazine, as well as The American Institute of Wine and Food. In 2011, Lars was honored by the State of Washington as the first “Ambassador of Wine” for the state.

Lars is a welcome addition to the Ackerman Family Vineyards team and will manage all aspects of sales operations, distribution, market branding and day-to-day administration.

Barbara Balik - California Winemasters                               The 24th Annual Culinary Evening with California Winemasters May 18th, 2013 at Warner Bros., "Midwest Street" - the Quintessential Any Town USA. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation funds more CF research than any other organization, and nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support. 

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States, and 70,000 people worldwide. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

When the Foundation was established in 1955, children with CF were not expected to live long enough to attend elementary school. Due in large part to the Foundation's aggressive investments in innovative research and comprehensive care, people with CF are now living into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Winemasters is one of the most important CFF fundraisers in the United States and one of the largest single-day charity wine auctions in the world, having raised almost $25 million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 23 years. “Adding tomorrows every day” expresses the mission - and results - of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s steadfast efforts to continue extending the length and quality of life for people with CF. For more information please visit the CF Foundation website .

5/13-Michael Horn and Nicole Nielsen talk with Frederick Dame

Frederick L. Dame, Master Sommelier

Frederick L. Dame, Master Sommelier brings an impressive blend of experience, expertise and enthusiasm to the world of wine and cuisine. He is the first American to have served as President of the Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide and assists restaurateurs and hoteliers in developing their wine programs in his role as Director of Prestige Accounts for Beam Wine Estates. He is currently the President of the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation.

Dame's ability to transmit his passionate interest in wine make him a natural teacher. One of just seventy-three Americans to have passed the Master Sommelier Examination, Dame was the first to successfully pass all three parts in a single year. This feat and his high score won him the coveted Krug Cup of the British Guild of Sommeliers in 1984. Dame founded the American Branch of The Court of Master Sommeliers in 1986 and has played an active role in the expansion of the Master Sommelier program throughout America since that time.

As Cellarmaster of The Sardine Factory in Monterey, California for twelve years, Dame created a wine list which won the Wine Spectator Grand Award. With the many wine events held in the brick and wine lined Wine Cellar, Dame turned The Sardine Factory into a wine destination restaurant of world renown. He is also active in the culinary arts serving as an Honorary Trustee of The American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of The American Culinary Federation. He was awarded the Antonin Careme Medal and was made a Supreme Knight of the Knights of the Vine in 2000. He has been elected to the prestigious National Restaurant Association College of Diplomates for 2004.

A sixth generation Californian, Dame graduated from Washington and Lee University with a degree in journalism and communications. A European trip after high school piqued his curiosity about wine and food. Since then, he has applied his considerable persuasive skills to the service and appreciation of fine wine.

5/6-Michael Horn and Nicole Nielsen visit with Wes Hagen

Wes Hagen  -  Winemaker, Clos Pepe Vineyards
Wes Hagen: Vineyard Manager, Winemaker.  Wes has run the show here at Clos Pepe since 1998.  He manages the vineyard and the crew, communicates with our producers and fine-tunes viticulture to suit the stylistic needs of their winemaking.  Involving himself in every aspect of the planting, growing, harvest, crush, fermentation, aging, bottling, shipping and marketing (jncluding the photography and text in the website), Wes is passionate about his life's goal -- producing and celebrating world-class Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  From 1997-98, Wes researched and wrote the petition that established the Santa Rita Hills American Viticultural Area with help from Bryan Babcock, Richard Sanford and other local wine personalities.  The 'Santa Rita Hills AVA' was approved in 2001, and the name was changed a few years later to 'Sta Rita Hills AVA'.  In his quest to promote the wines of Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Rita Hills in particular, Wes created and served as Director of the Santa Barbara County Fair Wine Competition from 2002 until 2004.  As a result of his hard work promoting the region and penning the AVA Petition, Wes was awarded the Central Coast Winegrower's Association 'Grower of the Year Award' for the 2001-2002 growing seasons.  Wes writes a bi-monthly column for WineMaker Magazine called 'Backyard Vines', and has written content for the L.A. Times Magazine, guest blogged for the Wine Spectator and ZesterDaily.com, articles for the Sommelier Journal,'Burgundy-Report', WestCoastWine.Net, VineSwinger.com and other small publications.  In his free time Wes consults on establihsing small vineyards (hillside Pinot Noir only), and has judged the L.A County Fair Wine Competition for eleven years, Riverside International for twelve, and the Long Beach Grand Cru for thirteen years. Wes also lectures on subjects such as the history of wine, backyard winegrowing, and general topics of viticulture and wine education.

Chris Taronto - Marketing Director at Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a cooperative marketing alliance made up of Paso Robles Wine Country wineries, vineyards and related businesses. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a 501c6 nonprofit organization operated under the guidance of a nine-member board of directors.