Peter Velleno was born and raised in San Francisco where he and his two older brothers were the fifth generation of their family to be born in the city. He attended the University of California at Davis. He took one class in the University’s renowned Food Science department and quickly changed his major from Chemical Engineering to Fermentation Science. After intensive study in winemaking, brewing science, microbiology and food engineering, he earned a BS in Fermentation Science; the only student in the 2003 UC Davis graduation ceremony to receive such a degree.
After graduation, he went to work for William Hill Winery in their laboratory. He quickly worked his way up to the Assistant Winemaker position where he specialized in Chardonnay production. He then worked for the ultra-premium small winery Hartwell Vineyards, where he worked hands-on to help craft some of the most highly regarded Cabernets in the Valley.
Peter’s career path took a sharp turn in 2008 when he joined Dario Sattui’s Castello di Amorosa as the Associate Winemaker. He was promoted to Winemaker in 2014, managing the production of Castello’s wines. He would tell you that making wine in a Castle is even more fun than it sounds.
Peter and his wife Lauren have lived in Napa since 2003. They enjoy playing tennis, biking, cooking, and spending time outdoors with their dog Nora. Peter and Lauren were blessed with their first child in mid-2009. Her name is Claire, and she is cute as can be! Their son, Tyler was born in 2012.
My name is Nadine Hays Pisani, the author of the best-selling series Happier Than A Billionaire. I used to be a chiropractor but decided that working ten hours in an office was not a whole lot of fun.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
"Two plane tickets, no plan, one dream," is often what I tell people. My husband and I really took a risk and sold everything (rather quickly) and moved to Costa Rica in 2007 with just a few suitcases and two pets. When I look back on that, I realize that doing it that way was probably the smartest thing we did. If we thought too much about it, we would probably have talked ourselves out of it!
The reasons we moved were simple: we wanted a happier life. Our life consisted of work, and more work, and sometimes even more work positioned on top of that. As a healthcare provider, I treated people in pain all day and it was very apparent to me that you can't bank time. Time is a thief and it will rob you of your healthy back and good knees. I didn't want to make this move when I was too old to enjoy it, so we bolted at thirty-seven years of age. My parents really let me have it. It was brutal.
My name is Nadine Hays Pisani, the author of the best-selling series Happier Than A Billionaire. I used to be a chiropractor but decided that working ten hours in an office was not a whole lot of fun.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
"Two plane tickets, no plan, one dream," is often what I tell people. My husband and I really took a risk and sold everything (rather quickly) and moved to Costa Rica in 2007 with just a few suitcases and two pets. When I look back on that, I realize that doing it that way was probably the smartest thing we did. If we thought too much about it, we would probably have talked ourselves out of it!
The reasons we moved were simple: we wanted a happier life. Our life consisted of work, and more work, and sometimes even more work positioned on top of that. As a healthcare provider, I treated people in pain all day and it was very apparent to me that you can't bank time. Time is a thief and it will rob you of your healthy back and good knees. I didn't want to make this move when I was too old to enjoy it, so we bolted at thirty-seven years of age. My parents really let me have it. It was brutal.
Chicago Steve Barkley has been making audiences laugh in comedy clubs, on cruise ships and for corporate clients for more than 40 years. With a high energy delivery punctuated with sound effects and an animated delivery style, Chicago Steve never fails to deliver big laughs while keeping his show corporate clean. Just read the reviews!
Talents
TV and Film Credits
HBO, A&E’s “Good Time Cafe”, “Comedy Express”, has appeared 5 times on the Showtime Comedy Club Network and was a featured performer in Michael Nesmith’s Grammy Award Winning video, “Elephant Parts”. Chicago Steve is also a $10,000 winner on ABC’s “America’s Funniest People”.
Chicago Steve has either opened for or toured with: Ray Charles, The Doobie Brothers, Michael Bolton, Gladys Knight, Chicago, Kenny Loggins, Neil Young, Herbie Hancock, The Righteous Brothers, Vince Gill, George Jones, Gregg Allman, David Crosby, Michael McDonald, Smokey Robinson, Keb Mo and many Mo!
He has appeared with: Jerry Seinfeld, Milton Berle, Gallagher, Dana Carvey, Sid Ceasar, Danny Thomas, Whoopie Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, Robin Williams, Timothy Leary, Gary Shandling, Bruce “Baby Man” Baum, Father Guido Sarducci, Pat Paulson, Will Durst, Bobby Slayton, Jay Leno, Kevin Pollack, and Paul Rodriguez.
Clubs Casinos & Cruise Ships
Clubs: The Punchline Sacramento, San Francisco and Concord CA, Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Columbia SC & Charlotte NC. The Funny Bone Omaha NE, St Louis MO, Columbus OH & Des Moines IA. Harvey’s Comedy Club Portland OR, The Comedy Underground Seattle WA, Stanford’s Comedy House Kansas City MO, The Comedy Corner West alm Beach FL, Rooster T Feathers Sunnyvale CA, Cobb’s Pub San Francisco CA, The Comedy Gallery Minneapolis MN, Broad Ripple Comedy Club Indianapolis IN, Honolulu Comedy Club and Outer Island Tour, Honolulu HI, Guam Comedy Tour, Guam
Casinos: Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Reno & Laughlin NV. & North Kansas MO. Casino Magic Biloxi MS, Red Lion Casino Elko NV, The Sands Reno NV, Claridge House Casino Atlantic City NJ
Cruise Ships: Royal Caribbean & Holland America
Chicago Steve Barkley has been making audiences laugh in comedy clubs, on cruise ships and for corporate clients for more than 40 years. With a high energy delivery punctuated with sound effects and an animated delivery style, Chicago Steve never fails to deliver big laughs while keeping his show corporate clean. Just read the reviews!
Talents
TV and Film Credits
HBO, A&E’s “Good Time Cafe”, “Comedy Express”, has appeared 5 times on the Showtime Comedy Club Network and was a featured performer in Michael Nesmith’s Grammy Award Winning video, “Elephant Parts”. Chicago Steve is also a $10,000 winner on ABC’s “America’s Funniest People”.
Chicago Steve has either opened for or toured with: Ray Charles, The Doobie Brothers, Michael Bolton, Gladys Knight, Chicago, Kenny Loggins, Neil Young, Herbie Hancock, The Righteous Brothers, Vince Gill, George Jones, Gregg Allman, David Crosby, Michael McDonald, Smokey Robinson, Keb Mo and many Mo!
He has appeared with: Jerry Seinfeld, Milton Berle, Gallagher, Dana Carvey, Sid Ceasar, Danny Thomas, Whoopie Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, Robin Williams, Timothy Leary, Gary Shandling, Bruce “Baby Man” Baum, Father Guido Sarducci, Pat Paulson, Will Durst, Bobby Slayton, Jay Leno, Kevin Pollack, and Paul Rodriguez.
Clubs Casinos & Cruise Ships
Clubs: The Punchline Sacramento, San Francisco and Concord CA, Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Columbia SC & Charlotte NC. The Funny Bone Omaha NE, St Louis MO, Columbus OH & Des Moines IA. Harvey’s Comedy Club Portland OR, The Comedy Underground Seattle WA, Stanford’s Comedy House Kansas City MO, The Comedy Corner West alm Beach FL, Rooster T Feathers Sunnyvale CA, Cobb’s Pub San Francisco CA, The Comedy Gallery Minneapolis MN, Broad Ripple Comedy Club Indianapolis IN, Honolulu Comedy Club and Outer Island Tour, Honolulu HI, Guam Comedy Tour, Guam
Casinos: Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Reno & Laughlin NV. & North Kansas MO. Casino Magic Biloxi MS, Red Lion Casino Elko NV, The Sands Reno NV, Claridge House Casino Atlantic City NJ
Cruise Ships: Royal Caribbean & Holland America
Jordan Kivelstadt, Founder of Free Flow Wines talks with Mike Wreyford about Wines on Tap.