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ISO The Good Life Show - Food, Wine, Travel & Lifestyle

Bio: Mike Wreyford, AKA Mike the Wine Guy, is a wine educator, writer, radio show host, and lifestyle expert. Mike is the host & producer of “The Good Life” Show, a popular radio talk show, on air since 2011. As one of the most “casually authentic” wine experts in the industry, Mike Wreyford, AKA “Mike the Wine Guy,” has blazed his own trails and made it his life’s passion to educate, inform and entertain his audience with his extensive knowledge and passion for wine, and the lifestyle that goes with it. His weekly radio program and podcast, “ISO the Good Life” has become a must-listen for travel conscious wine enthusiasts and curious foodies alike. With countless hours of Live Radio, and 1,000+ interviews, Mike’s show has earned a reputation for being informative, entertaining, and uniquely original. As a native Californian, Mike’s adventurous lifestyle and world travels have undoubtedly influenced his approach to wine and food. His dedication to bringing an “all of us” approach to his topics has earned him a loyal following of listeners who appreciate his ability to make even the most complex subjects accessible. In addition to his radio program, Mike is known for his involvement in charitable events and fundraisers, including the highly successful “World of Wine” tasting events which he has been instrumental in developing and hosting since 2011. Mike’s talent for uncovering the stories behind the wine and food he covers is unmatched. His loose yet thoroughly prepared style of interviewing guests allows him to dig deep and discover the true passion and journey of each guest. With his extensive network of contacts throughout California, the West Coast, and beyond, Mike is able to develop unique story ideas that captivate and inspire his audience. As a dedicated professional and wine expert, Mike Wreyford is undoubtedly a name to watch in the industry, and his commitment to bringing the best of wine and food to his audience is unwavering.
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Now displaying: Page 6
Apr 15, 2017

Hiya! I’m Heidi Siefkas (pronounced Seef-kas). Although I’m originally from small-town Wisconsin (you betcha), I hang my hat in South Florida. However, as an adventurer, I’m rarely home for long. In fact, you’re best bet is to find me in Cuba. Also I’m a speaker, the creator of the mantra Look Up, and author of three inspirational, non-fiction books When All Balls Drop, With New Eyes, and Cubicle to Cuba.

Heidi Siefkas was a happily married, globetrotting professional who seemingly had it all—until a tree limb in New York's Hudson River Valley struck her down, breaking her neck and leaving her unconscious. Suddenly, life as she knew it stopped. She lost her independence. She lost her career. She watched her marriage disintegrate as she confronted a trail of devastating lies about her husband's double life. She had lost all that mattered, but she was a survivor. She fought to restore her health, repair her broken heart, and rebuild herself. Along the way, she gained clarity about her core values, ultimately coming to a deeper understanding of what it means to have it all. Through down-to-earth, short vignettes, When All Balls Drop shows us how it's possible to look up in spite of pain, deceit, and loss. Heidi's memoir—rich with hope and humor—inspires anyone who's had to confront tragedy and reassess their life in the wake of life-altering events.

Heidi Siefkas lost her health, her career, and her marriage after she was struck by a one-thousand-pound tree branch. While she made great strides in her physical and emotional recovery in the months that followed—an arduous process that she chronicled in When All Balls Drop—Heidi wasn't content to merely survive her setbacks. The time was right to build a new life. One she could live on her own terms. But what would a redesigned life look like? In her quest for answers, Heidi returned to her childhood home in Wisconsin, dove into the South Florida dating scene, revisited old flames in New England, sold her first home, jumped out of a plane, and traveled alone to South America. Every leg of her journey provided a healthy dose of perspective. With New Eyes is full of mishaps and bold decisions, all seasoned with sassy humor. Through her signature down-to-earth vignettes, Heidi inspires you to conquer your fears, head for adventure, and become the captain of your own ship.

 

Apr 15, 2017

​​I was born and partly raised in a small town in Southern Italy and lived there for most of my younger years. My parents and our region in Southern Italy really helped me appreciate our food, culture and all its bounty. My dad was a produce merchant so our home was always filled with unsold deliciousness that always found its way to the table.  My dad had several specialties that he liked to showcase and my mom always had a delicious meal waiting for my sister and I for when we returned home from school. Food has always been very prominent in my household, just like any other Italian household. We discuss dinner while eating lunch and tomorrow’s lunch while enjoying dinner!!
 
We lived  in a small town built on traditions and customs that I still value today. I have fond memories of walking to church on Sunday mornings and smelling the delicious aromas coming from people’s homes. Sauces, meatballs, fried peppers and a fresh pot of brewing espresso always bring me back home. How funny it was to walk to church and be able to tell what everyone would be having for lunch that day! 

After our move to the States, we were able to travel back and forth during the summers and this process really allowed us to maintain our Italian way of life. We frequently brought back authentic Italian ingredients, particularly the dried spices such as oregano and rosemary.  Things haven't changed all that much now and we still travel back whenever possible. It's such a blessing to still have our home there and be able to go back and forth. And yes, we still bring some spices! Nothing like roasted potatoes with Italian rosemary or a tomato salad with real oregano! 
 
Today, I teach cooking at several local Adult Education Centers in the Boston area as well as private classes in clients’ homes or my own. I also lead, plan and organize culinary tours to Italy. I am convinced more people should have experiences like mine. Authentic meals, the best espresso a Euro can buy, and the joy that can only come from traveling to Italy. What a thrill it is for me to bring people back to my native land. On our tours we participate in regional cooking classes, walking culinary tours, wine tastings and cultural excursions. No foodie or food enthusiast should miss the tours as it's the best way to learn about the Italian culture, lifestyle and cuisine.

I am a proud member of the National Italian American Foundation, Italian Sons and Daughters of America and the National Organization of Italian American Women.  

Apr 15, 2017

I’ve spent the last year or so of my life traveling near and far (but mainly far) – all the time while employed by a massive Fortune 100 company. In the last year I made it to 27 countries – most for work, some for pleasure – armed only with the camera on my cracked iPhone 4S to record these incredible places, and a meager attempt at an Instagram account (follow me! @kurlington).

I’ve explored small wondrous villages in rural China, made it to the North Korean border, and driven through the mountains of Oman – white sand beaches in Abu Dhabi, rainforest hiking in Colombia, night clubs in Roppongi Hills of Tokyo, and even dove in the Red Sea in forgotten Saudi Arabia. In the same waking breath, I’ve stayed in a luxurious 5 star resort, and shared a dorm in a hostel with sand flies. Flown across the world 1st class, and two days later found myself on a 6 hour bumpy bus ride in the Guatemalan mountains with a Mayan woman on my lap. Presented in boardrooms, and been invited for tea under a dock. I live a life of dichotomy – of dual purpose – and would not have it any other way.

Apr 15, 2017

Hired by Jess Jackson in 1992 as Winemaker for some of our smaller and international vineyards, Randy was handed his most prestigious assignment in 1997 - Winemaster for Kendall-Jackson Winery.

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Randy became interested in wine during a three-year stay in Chile, while on sabbatical from college in the early 1970s. His stay inspired a cross-country trek through Chile's vast wine-growing regions. On his return to the United States, he entered Ohio State University to study crop production with a specialty in Viticulture and Enology and received his degree in 1975.

After six years as a vineyard manager and Winemaker in Ohio and upstate New York, Randy moved to California to become associate Winemaker at De Loach Vineyards in Sonoma County. He was promoted to Winemaker and Vice President in 1991. The wines produced during his tenure were consistent gold medal winners at wine competitions.

Mar 21, 2017

Kelsey Tonner is an experienced, global tour guide and founder of the Be a Better Guide Project, a movement that brings together tour guides and tour operators from around the world to learn from one another. His mission is to help anyone, anywhere, create extraordinary experiences for travelers.

With over ten years experience in the industry he has led trips in over fifteen different countries from Europe to the Americas and from Asia to North Africa. He has been a wilderness trip leader, a dog-sledding guide, a volunteer coordinator in an Inuit community and spent four years leading hiking, biking and multi-sport trips with Backroads Canada. He has visited over sixty countries and set foot on all seven continents.

In 2015 Kelsey was chosen from thousands as one of eight shortlisted guides for the Wanderlust World Guide Awards. With practical yet wisecracking advice, Kelsey inspires a global community of professional tour leaders and businesses to give people memories of a lifetime, and helps them earn more money while doing it.

His goal is to help you become one of the most engaging, inspired, and out-of-this-world tour leaders on the planet.

Lead Amazing Tours

A step-by-step system to give unforgettable experiences, get rave reviews and earn more customers. Everything you need to jump-start your tour or activity business. Read more:beabetterguide.com/about/

 
Mar 6, 2017

Julia Goldin will take up the job as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) as of January 1, 2015.

Julia Goldin is 45 years old and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. Prior to joining the LEGO Group she was Global CMO of Revlon, and has previously worked and lived in Europe, Asia and the USA holding several senior global and regional marketing leadership roles in the Coca-Cola Company.

Mar 6, 2017

Igor Zukowiec was born in the small town of Ruciane-Nida, a quaint village nestled among the gorgeous lakes and forests of Masurian Lake District in Poland. While there, Igor immersed himself in the world of flavor pairings, for both food and beverages. His passion ultimately led to his career in catering, bar consulting and beverage styling after moving to New York in 2006.

Igor’s expertise grew along with his passion, and it wasn’t long before his work was featured in the New York Daily News in December of 2008. The article praised his cocktails created for Lola restaurant in SoHo. Igor went on to work on bar programs and cocktail recipe development for several establishments, such as Hakkasan, RedFarm, Decoy, La Mar and Barraca.

In 2009, Igor started building ALCHEMIQ Catering, a NYC-based company with quality hors d'oeuvres, finger food, cocktail catering and a bartender for hire service. After opening in 2010, the company gained clients such as Google, Jo Malone, Visionaire and Patron Spirits. The success of ALCHEMIQ Catering was recognized by a variety of critics, including Jay-Z’s blog Life+Times, which featured a video of Igor’s Grapefruit & Fire cocktail. Igor’s cocktails were also featured by several other prominent media outlets, including The Cooking Channel, Sirius XM Radio and The Daily Meal.

While building ALCHEMIQ Catering, Igor found a new skill in beverage styling for photography trough his photo shoots for the company’s website. Igor’s attention to detail and understanding of mixology made him an outstanding stylist, which was noticed by many photographers. Igor has worked on many photo shoots for brands, including Patron Spirits, Global Spirits, Compass Box Whisky and Palm Bay International.

Mar 6, 2017

Howard Hian is an award winning journalist, affiliated with the North American Travel Journalists Association and the International Travel Writers Alliance. He was a long-time member of the San Diego Hotel Motel Association and served as an allied representative on their Board of Directors. In 2012 he was the San Diego hotel industry’s Allied Person of the Year. He served as a panel member of the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Division. Hian writes a monthly travel feature for The Military Press, a California semi-monthly journal with print circulation of 100,000 and 500,000 – 650,000 views/month at their website. His column also appears online at Travel Savvy West, Real Travel Adventures and Roadtrips for Couples. He believes his secret to writing a good story is having an in-house proofreader and editor (his wife). 

Hian has been playing poker for six decades. Over the past few years he has played 13,000+ hands of Omaha High/Low and 14,000+ of Hold ‘Em in home games, computer simulations, online and in casinos. In February 2014, he launched an app, Poker Tutorial: Omaha 101 – Improve Your Game and/or Learn the Basics. The app was downloaded in over 40 countries around the world. Its updated version Poker Tutorial: Omaha 101 Plus An Insiders Guide To Reno is now available in the iTunes store. It was recently won Gold in the app category in the North American Travel Journalist Association’s 2015 competition.

Do and check his site on: http://www.travels-with-hian.com

Mar 6, 2017

Ellen is a grammar freak, a former freelance writer, and a founder and principal of Syntaxis, a communication skills training firm based in New York City. She has a B.A. in German from Harvard and an M.A. in comparative literature from UCLA. Ellen lives with her husband, Brandt Johnson, in a wildly polylingual apartment building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and can often be found walking or running around the city listening to language lessons.

I had studied German, Spanish, and French in school, but I wanted to go more global this time and add other language families. The initial plan of a year soon became two years, which eventually became three years, then four, then five, and which now stands at nearly eight years. The schedule has so far included 21 different languages involving a total of nine different alphabets and writing systems. No end in sight.

Through my blog here, I have chronicled linguistic adventures, some misadventures, and the mental and physical fallout of spending a lot of time outside one’s own alphabet and grammar. In 2013, I added a directory of learning-resource reviews for other people seeking to learn a new language or reinforce old skills. I continue to add to that.

Mostly now I wish to pay tribute to the joys of language learning, and to the extraordinary linguistic riches of my beloved adopted city and makeshift language-learning lab: New York.

I am often asked how I remember all these languages. I don’t! I forget tons. I study, forget, restudy, relearn, reforget, and so on. Doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t do this if it weren’t fun for me: I am a language hedonist! With each new language, my sense of the world, linguistic and otherwise, feels, well, larger. I treasure that.

I would love to see more Americans in particular, but also people around the world, enjoy the study of languages they did not grow up speaking.

A new language is a hand held out to one’s neighbor, an opener of doors, a new way to see, a mental tickle, a road to unmediated communication with strangers in other lands, access to the world’s news, a gesture of peace — really, language study can be anything you want to make of it.

Mar 6, 2017

Dirk Mueller's practice focuses on assisting clients with a wide range of finance, energy, and real estate development, acquisition, and disposition matters.

He represents lenders, investors, and developers in the financing, acquisition, disposition, development, leasing, and joint venture matters related to vineyards, wineries, office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, industrial parks, and residential projects.

Dirk advises energy industry clients on the development, acquisition, disposition, project financing, and operation of energy projects of all types, including solar, wind, geothermal, natural gas, landfill gas, and biomass projects, and has extensive experience assisting clients with drafting and negotiating shared facility agreements for the shared ownership and use of gen-tie, substation, and water facilities. His recent experience includes representing clients in connection with the development, acquisition, sale and/or financing of many of the largest solar energy projects constructed to date in the United States, including the first large-scale solar project approved to be built on tribal land in North America. 

Mar 6, 2017

Miners in the hey day of the 1850s picked and panned their way along the American River near Cool in search of gold. Today the region has discovered a new gold with much more ease in the hues of a pint full of ale.

Steve and Rochelle Robello opened Cool Beerwerks in the summer of 2013. Steve, a craft beer aficionado and home brewer, teamed with his wife Rochelle and her infectious smile, thought a brewery in a community named Cool would be, well, cool.

“We live in the coolest town in the coolest state,” Steve said explaining the marketability of the name of the community.

Cool Beerwerks was as much an educated business decision as an act inspired by the boom in craft beer for these big city-turned-country entrepreneurs.

Rochelle manages the brewery restaurant and Steve designs beer recipes while also running a machine shop in Auburn, AMC Manufacturing.

“I love the brewing process but I learned pretty quickly it requires a professional,” Steve said.

Cool Beerwerk’s Brewmaster Mike Sutherland hails from Lincoln’s Beerman’s Beerwerks Brewery. Sutherland has more than 12 years of brewing experience.

“I’m there when we mash and I’m there when we do the recipes. Mike’s brewing really good, clean beers,” Steve said.

Cool Beerwerks has a seven-barrel system and is currently producing 400 to 500 barrels a year.

“We are going to continually develop new styles and new flavors of our beers,” Steve said.

The two most popular beers at Cool Beerwerks are the Steampunk Ale and a honey wheat. The Steampunk Ale is an amber steam beer, the predominant style of beer enjoyed by the gold miners of California in the 1800s and early 1900s. Steampunk — an aesthetic subculture — also references the vintage industrial chic style of the brewery restaurant’s interior design.

The oatmeal stout is one of Rochelle’s favorites.

“It’s tall, dark and sexy. It’s delicious, creamy and has a touch of coffee flavor,” Rochelle said.

The Robellos plan to enter that beer in the California Exposition and State Fair’s commercial beer competition.

Other craft beer offerings at Cool Beerwerks include a blonde IPA, imperial blonde IPA, American Pale IPA, California Common, Scottish Ale and a guest brewery’s beer is also often part of the line-up.

In another sort of line-up, Cool Beerwerks hosts live bands nearly every weekend. Steve, who happens to play guitar in thrash metal group Dublin Death Patrol, designed the stage and the sound system at Cool Beerwerks.

“We’ve got a great stage and great bands. We made an extra effort to make it sound good here,” Steve said.

At Cool Beerwerks you’ll also find pool tables, dart boards and outdoor patio seating. The brewery has a full menu that will soon see the addition of gourmet burgers, fish and chips and more. One of the burgers Steve and Rochelle are excited about is sure to be hot, not only in popularity but with ghost pepper cheese, onion and jalapeño straws, and a spicy chipotle sauce.

Steve and Rochelle moved from the Bay Area to Greenwood more than 13 years ago where they have raised their two sons.

“Local people helped us build the business. They voted on our logo and our slogan: ‘That’s so cool’,” Rochelle said. “Cool Beerwerks is not bar-like and not restaurant-like but a place where everyone feels welcome.”

 

Mar 6, 2017

As chef and owner of The Girl Can Cook, Chef Candace Conley offers recreational cooking classes at her newly renovated studio and catering kitchen, she shows people with all skill levels how to fearlessly cook in her kitchen and transition that technique and mindset over to their own daily lives.  Coming from a long line of talented home cooks, Chef Candace has developed a self-taught culinary style that positions her as the only chef personality and entrepreneur in Tulsa who does what she does.

“Cooking without a Parachute” and “Stupid, Easy and Delicious” are a few of the common phrases that have evolved from her no-fuss, non-intimidating, FUN approach to teaching others how to cook at home.

The mission is simple: to teach people how to cook at home…and enjoy it.

Chef Candace has been recognized throughout the years with People’s Choice Awards and other industry accolades. Her philanthropic spirit has landed her at countless events providing clever demonstrations and spreads for many of the community’s nonprofit organizations.

Mar 6, 2017
Christian O'Kuinghttons is the brilliant sommelier there.  Following is some insight to his wine philosophy.
 
“In the evolution of the American palate for wine styles, we are moving from simplicity to complexity,” he said, and what’s going on in the American wine scene now is being guided by this generation of millennials.  “They are looking for a depth of characteristics.  They like a fruity wine with a long finish, and have a “more the merrier” attitude about flavor and aroma in a wine.”
 
Since 1996, Christian has been developing the impressive wine list.  “That work has been like a ladder reaching up and up, and that is consistent with my temperament as I reach toward a joyful wine experience,” he said.  “Our wine program receives awards all the time.   We believe in 8 ounce pours, so that two glasses of different wines are generally sufficient to take a diner through a great wine experience with his meal. “

Christian searches for wines that come from small producers of beautiful grapes.  “I meet winemakers and walk their vineyards.  The winery that produces between 150 and 300 cases is of most interest to me,” he said.  We tasted four such wines.
Evolution White, from Oregon, vintage 2011-2012. This is a blend of 9 different grapes: Pinot Grigio, White Riesling, Muscat, Gewurtztraminer, Muller-Thurgau, Semillon, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner and Chardonnay.  It has a lush tropical yet crisp finish, and some flintiness.  Taste is of dried fruits, like apricot.  12 percent alcohol.
Mar 6, 2017

Open any bottle of Brian Carter Cellars wine and you’ll discover both an inspiration and a story. Our handcrafted wines reflect classic elegance and the centuries-old tradition found in true European-style blends. Balanced and well-rounded, each wine speaks anew to the art of blending and showcases Brian’s personal passion for making exemplary European-style blends from Washington State’s unique terroir.

Just as an artist ponders each color possibility, winemaker Brian Carter deliberates long and hard over his broad palette of grape varietals, blending around the edges to create an inspired new world representation of each European-style he makes. Brian didn’t set out to be a blender. His art grew out of science and agriculture, and in fact, one wasn’t possible without the other. Since coming to Washington State in 1980, Brian has been at the forefront of the Washington wine industry. By encouraging growers to plant different varietals, he influenced both the quantity and quality of Washington State varietals, and tremendous improvements in the industry. In turn he was able to develop the concept for Brian Carter Cellars and his passion for blending.

Mar 6, 2017

Violet’s passion for wine began at an early age, as she literally grew up accompanying her father, Vintners Hall of Fame inductee Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, in the vineyards and cellar. She spent her summers at the winery, doing everything from bottling line work to laboratory analysis and working in the tasting room.

Attending the University of California, Davis, Violet earned a BA in music while taking classes in biology, chemistry, and enology.  After graduation, she returned home to Grgich Hills to continue her education in the wine business, learning about daily operations of the winery from her father, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich. She received her Master of Music in harpsichord at Indiana University, and then joined the winery fulltime in 1988. She’s now responsible for daily management of the winery, as well as sales and marketing. She says that she has the ideal job: “I believe that wine is part of a healthy, happy and long life. Wine brings people together and makes them happy, which makes my job extraordinarily fulfilling.”

Involved with every aspect of the wine business, Violet enjoys wearing many different hats, often at the same time.  She explains, “My dad insisted that in order to lead the winery I needed to work at every single position, starting at the bottom.” Violet continues to enjoy learning something new each day and following her grandfather’s and father’s philosophy of “Every day do something just a little better.”

Mar 4, 2017

I am AKA The City Doctor as an international expert in quality of life places and how they matter to us living our best lives. As part of my work around the world, I regularly discuss the importance of place, travel, and place experiences along the way (such as in the growing industry of “culinary tourism” where you travel specifically to eat). My first book, “Place Match: The City Doctor’s Guide to Finding Where You Belong” was released late last year. The book is basically a dating and marriage guide to finding your right place match by comparing the journey to find the right partner to the journey to finding the right place. I would love to come on your show to talk as a guest. I am a 2 time TEDx talker and a former radio talk show host myself so I know how to be engaging and interesting to your audience even if I’m discussing the science of place and the role it plays in our lives.

I’m a globally-recognized, award-winning expert in the field of placemaking: quality of life places and why they matter to living our best lives. I have held leadership and advisory roles in some of the most ground-breaking and innovative placemaking projects. I am a two-time TEDx speaker on place and have been featured widely in the press, including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, NPR, LA Times, The Atlantic, and CBS News, to name a few. My newly-released book, “Place Match: The City Doctor’s Guide to Finding Where You Belong” (ISBN 978-0-9966038-3-6) is available through my website: www.city-doctor.com and Amazon. You can find out more about me at www.city-doctor.com and Facebook.com/Dr.Katherine.Loflin. You can also google me to learn more.

Mar 4, 2017

The vision for Crosby Roamann began in New York City in 2006. Husband and wife, Sean and Juliana McBride started making wine in Tribeca in 2006 – merely a barrel of grapes they purchased from one of Napa’s most well known <img class="size-full wp-image-12629 alignright" src="http://mikethewineguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Crosby-Roamann-Wine.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />vineyard managers, Andy Beckstoffer. Bitten by the bug Sean moved to the valley and started making wine at White Rock Vineyards – which is where he learned much of the hands on process of wine making. Their first commercial release dates from 2007. They started selling this release in 2010 and with this increased commitment, both Sean and and Juliana moved to the valley and now live here full time.

Sean first discovered his interest in wine while working in college stocking a wine shop. His “aha moment”, as he describes it was over a bottle of Ridge 1995 Zinfandel from Paso Robles. While working at this wine shop he developed a new found passion for wine and became a voracious reader of wine literature and tried to learn as much as he could about the industry. How it is made, why it taste differently and so forth. The enjoyment of drinking wine became ancillary.

The focus of Crosby Roamann’s wines are on single vineyard single appellation hand-crafted wines. They work with local independent growers and currently source fruit from more than 10 vineyards – all in Napa. Often times they will hear from friends and other growers of a select vineyard that needs a home for its fruit; they are not opposed to making wine from the vineyard for just a single vintage or if there is a chance for a longer term agreement, they may add a particular vineyard into their annual portfolio.

Sean is highly interested in the terroir of Napa and what makes each region within the valley unique. Generally, can you taste the differences between Rutherford and neighboring Oakville? Is the “Rutherford Dust” an aspect that is completely unique to this sub appellation? Some of their wines explore these terroir differences – especially neat are wines he makes from grapes grown so close to each other but in different soils and even differences in mini microclimates.

Mar 4, 2017

Michael Green as wine consultant to Gourmet Magazine for over 20 years

Michael's expertise in the world of food and drink are unrivaled. He is a highly sought-after personality at corporate events and on national television, with numerous appearances on MSNBC, CNN, The Today Show, and The Food Network.

He is the creator and host of the web series The Wine Hero and serves at as the food, drink and travel consultant to Departures Magazine.

Let Michael harness the power of wine to build unforgettable experiences for your business with carefully curated food and wine experiences, wine country tours, and private concierge services.

Looking to bring something different to a short evening with coworkers, an extended corporate retreat, a high-level meeting, or an employee incentive program? Michael’s extensive knowledge will ignite your audience! His close relationships with wineries, restaurants, and world-renowned chefs will provide you with all of the resources you need to create an event that will resonate for years to come.

When working with Michael, you will not only receive his services as a food and drink expert; you will receive a detail-oriented and research-based strategy for your entire event. Michael and his team will craft resonating experiences, exciting wine pairings, detailed travel plans, sensible event strategies, and carefully chosen entertainment programs that will flow seamlessly and effortlessly. They work to ensure that the only thing you have to focus on is enjoying yourself.

With a winning combination of wine, experiential marketing, and theater, Michael creates a perfect experience that will always leave you, your colleagues, and clients wanting more.

Mar 4, 2017

Chris Specialises in FAST THERAPY a unique blend of therapy for Phobia Removal, Decreasing Fear and Anxiety and Boosting Self Esteem and Confidence. 

Over the past 10 years, Chris has built up a reputation as a highly motivational coach, helping clients to overcome their fears and to achieve their goals. Chris creates individual client focus sessions and works with clients from all walks of life from Company Directors to Parents and Teenagers.

Chris created Fast Therapy. He have took the best from a range of therapy disciplines including NLP, Hypnotherapy, Solution Focus, Positive Psychology and Life Coaching and made it relevant  to overcoming Phobias and Fears, Increasing Confidence and Reducing Anxiety.

The days of having hundreds of hours of therapy to overcome one issues are gone. Behavioral Neuroscience Studies and advancements in therapy disciplines have empowered Fast Therapy Therapist, to get quick long-lasting results.

Are you ready to overcome your issue? How does your current situation make you feel? What part of your life is really frustrating you? Are you determined to make a change?

If yes, then Fast Therapy is for you.

Feb 25, 2017

Martha Miller is a former retail executive who had been downsized twice, and decided to take life into her own hands. She and her husband quit their “secure” jobs to move overseas, complete an education, experience another culture, and change the course of their lives. Martha began writing about the new life she was living in Italy, eventually becoming a frequent contributor to Wanted in Rome, an English-language magazine. Her work has also appeared in GoNOMAD.com, Transitions Abroad, Go World Travel, International Living, LifeinItaly.com, Family Circle, Parents, The Christian Science Monitor and The Writer. Her personal essays and syndicated columns, Living Greenly and Living Online, have been published in regional publications across the United States.

Feb 25, 2017

Dave has worked in travel and tourism for 20 years in many countries around the world. For the past 8 years, Dave has been based back in his home country of New Zealand working in a Senior Management role for Air New Zealand and Les Mills International. After a brief break from the tourism industry, Dave jumped at the opportunity to lead an exciting new start-up business that will show case New Zealand, and enable people to explore the country in the best possible way – cruising in a motorhome.

Mighway is raising the bar on peer-to-peer platforms, offering owners the freedom of being completely hands off during the rental process,” said Dave Simmons, CEO of Mighway—which is owned by TH2, a new joint venture between Tourism Holdings Limited (thl), the world’s largest RV rental and sales operator with 30 years of experience in the industry; and Thor Industries—manufacturers of the renowned Airstream and Jayco RV brands.

“As RV peer-to-peer platforms came on the market, we noticed a huge gap in service and protection options, which was a huge barrier for potential owners and renters,” said Simmons. “We created Mighway to break this barrier, drawing on our extensive experience and partnerships to offer unrivalled premium support, storage and insurance options. As far as we know, no one else is doing this, so it’s a game changer for peer-to-peer platforms in general, not just RVs.”

Although owners can be hands-on if they want, the Mighway Managed option takes away the burden of everything from vetting and dealing with customers to cleaning, vehicle handover, repairs, emergency road service and insurance claims. Owned by the largest commercial rental operator and largest manufacturer, Mighway leverages their relationships with dealers to access to space to store vehicles in professional facilities at a much lower cost than owners can find on their own.

“We recommend RV owners take advantage of our free listings now, so they can be ready for the lucrative spring and summer travel season,” Simmons said. “With Mighway, owners can bank on their RV but hang on to their valuable free time and peace of mind. Our competitors can’t offer this level of service and flexibility.”

Learn more at www.mighway.com.

Feb 25, 2017

Travelzoo’s Senior Editor Gabe Saglie is a leading expert on travel deals, travel tips and trends. He has appeared on dozens of highly-rated national and local news programs including CNN, NBC's Today Show, CNBC's On the Money, ABCNewsNow and Meredith Corporation’s Better TV, as well as numerous affiliate stations in major markets around the country including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami and many others. Gabe has uncovered hundreds of valuable travel deals and has become an authority on topics such as tips for finding great travel deals, family travel, golf getaways, culinary vacations, cruises, island adventures, gaming vacations and ski getaways.

Gabe’s extensive journalistic background began as a news writer and field producer for KGTV, the ABC affiliate in San Diego, and subsequently as a producer on the 5pm News at KEYT, the ABC affiliate in Santa Barbara. Shortly after, he was promoted to anchor and weathercaster for KEY News This Morning and executive producer and anchor of the popular Coastal Business Report. During Gabe’s career as an anchor, he has interviewed many prominent people including renowned culinary personality Wolfgang Puck, Fleetwood Mac drummer and founder, Mick Fleetwood, Olympic Gold Medalist Peggy Flemming, comedians John Cleese and Dennis Miller and Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron.

Gabe has a Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA and a Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from USC Los Angeles.

Not only is Gabe well versed in journalism he also brings a wealth of knowledge to his reports through his personal travel experiences. He is a Chilean native born in Norway to active, globetrotting parents. He has traveled to over 20 countries and is fluent in three languages, Spanish, French and English. Gabe’s travel experiences allow him to be one of the industry’s foremost consumer travel advocates.

Feb 25, 2017

Experience Sonoma Valley, California, the destination marketing organization for Sonoma Valley, today announced its new Executive Director, Tim Zahner, who will take the reigns on August 20.

“We [the board] spent a lot of time searching for the right candidate to lead the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau,” said board President Hunt Bailie. “Sonoma Valley is a world-class place to visit with a great local community, and we needed to find someone who understands who we are at our core, while also having the skills to promote the incredible experiences, businesses, organizations and events we have here. Tim is the perfect fit.”

Zahner was most recently the Chief Operating Officer of Sonoma County Tourism, after serving as the Interim CEO and as the Chief Marketing Officer of Sonoma County Tourism for more than 10 years. During the October 2017 wildfires he led SCT’s immediate response from the hospitality industry as well as the “open for business” messaging in the months following. Zahner has experience in communications and marketing, organizational development and strategy, having been part of Sonoma County Tourism’s growth from a $3 million to an $8.5 million marketing and sales organization.

Some of the programs he was integral in rolling out include off-season promotions, a robust content and video strategy, public relations programs and a community engagement program that worked with stakeholder groups to address tourism issues.

“I look forward to working with the entire Sonoma Valley community as we create a sustainable hospitality economy,” Zahner said. “Sonoma Valley is a community of farmers, artisans and families that attracts visitors from around the world. I am ready to join with the staff and board at Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau to continue their good work and look forward to working with the community to benefit Sonoma Valley.”

Feb 25, 2017

Lisa Niver is a travel expert, writer, artist, entrepreneur, and on-camera host who has explored 96 countries. Niver has established a following through her written and video content, garnering over one million video views on YouTube, Amazon Fire Tv and Roku.

Niver is the founder of a top 100 travel blog, We Said Go Travel, that reaches more than 200,000 annually and is in the top 1/8 of the top 1% of all sites in the United States. In her tri-annual international travel writing competitions, she has published nearly 2000 writers from 75 countries.

She was invited to the United Nations as a Champions of Humanity ambassador, to the red carpet at the Oscars with United Airlines and to New Orleans for a project with American Express and Starwood Hotels. Her recent stories include Dutch designer villas for Luxury Magazine, interviewing Fabien Cousteau for Delta Sky, skiing with the blind for Sierra and scuba diving in the Solomon Islands for Smithsonian.

She also contributes to USA Today, Wharton Business Magazine, the Jewish Journal and is verified on Twitter. Niver was a 2012 nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and a 2014 nominee for the Charles Bronfman Prize.

Feb 11, 2017

J.P. Bary is a New York based lawyer and financial advisor who enjoys unraveling complicated issues. One of the issues that's fascinated him over the years is why people find it so difficult to get comfortable with wine. Part of the problem seems to be that with any subject as complicated as wine, the gap between what experts and ordinary consumers know is so great that it's hard for them to communicate with each other. Other wine buffs often told J.P. that the people who had been most helpful to them in learning about wine had been members of their families, friends and other non-experts. So he began talking to people to find out what they found most confusing about wine and what helped them the most once they learned it.

As it turned out, there was a significant disparty between what professionals are trained to say and what people find it most useful to know. After years of discussions and observations, J.P. identified a number of key mistakes that a majority of wine consumers make repeatedly. He also took careful notes on the numerous disparities between what wine professionals mean and what those who haven't become immersed in the lore and language of wine understand. The Persistent Observer's Guide to Wine shows people how to avoid these mistakes, understand what the pro's are trying to say and become proficient much more quickly. Rather than concentrating only on teaching readers more about wine, the book focuses on what they most need to know (or forget) about their own interactions with wine, so they can get the most out of every wine experience.

In his own explorations of wine, J.P. has benefitted from being part of a family involved in making, distributing and marketing wine for centuries. He's travelled widely in the world's wine regions and counts many growers, winemakers, importers, distributors and retailers among his friends. An avid reader of books, articles and blogs on wine, he conducted extensive interviews with wine consumers at all levels in order to find out what they need to hear that hasn't already been said.

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