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

Rod Keeling and Jan Schaefer of Keeling Schaefer Vineyards in Pearce, AZ. Keeling Schaefer Vineyards is located on Rock Creek at the base of the Chiricahua Mountains at about 5000 ft. elevation, about a 45-minute drive from downtown Willcox in southeastern Arizona. They are proving to be key players in the Arizona wine industry in their relatively short time on the playing field. Their wines have been received with both national recognition and local praise. Rod has also been an influential factor in the industry through his actions as the President of the Arizona Wine Growers Association, heading into his third term. Having been instrumental in changing the wine laws which allow the smaller boutique wineries to have more control to self distribute and consequentially reach higher profits, Rod has seen the intense growth in the industry that such legislation has helped to provide.

Rod and Jan have harnessed their unique and individual abilities to create really great wine. In talking with the team, it's clear that the success of their wines is due to the marriage of their strengths. As Rod explains it, he does most of the physical work, while Jan stays integral to the wine-making through her natural palate. "She's got a palate that's much better than mine. I can tell certain things about the wine. I can detect the flaws. I can tell whether it's good or bad. But I can't [pick up] the details she can." Rod credits the blending as the step that takes the wine to the next level, making a good wine great. Humbly, he basically says he's the physical labor and the chemist. His contribution is in growing the grapes, doing the crush and assisting the mechanical operations. He says, "I think a good wine-maker has to be a good wine drinker," and although he likes wine and accredits basic tasting skills to himself, he doesn't have the natural innate palate that he adoringly attributes to Jan. Not to say that the lines never cross, both partners are involved throughout the process, but Rod's passion is the numbers and Jan's talents are a key factor to the finish of the wine. It's obvious that they've transcended their romantic love to the love of wine-making.

It all began for Rod when he fortuitously tasted a glass of wine with a friend at PF Chang's in 1994. At that time in Arizona there were few wine bars, no real wine scene and even finding quality wines by the glass was difficult. His friend, Roger Egan, had worked in California through the 1970's, during the initial boom of the California wine industry, where he had met Mike Grgich. Knowing that Grgich had produced fine wine he recommended that Rod splurge for the $9 glass of the Grgich Hills Zinfandel. Rod was blown away. "Oh my God! I didn't know wine could taste like that . . . [it was] a big blockbuster Zin!" That's when he said to himself that he had to figure this out. How could wine taste like that and how could he learn to produce it? Previously, he felt that if he was going to drink wine it would be inexpensive because it was "just OK". White wine was fine because it was refreshing. But red wine, nothing had ever tasted like that glass of Zinfandel before. "But that got me going because I thought I could make it myself. I've got to try making this!" . . . plus he sheepishly admits that he really didn't want the pay the $9 per glass.

Our "little" company was incorporated under the laws of the State of California on October 15, 1991 by its principal founder Troy Paski. Having gained experience in satellite operations, and software debugging/development, the company was originally conceived with the intent of providing engineering services to the defense industry.

Troy Paski and the longest-tenured craft brewery owner in the Sacramento area, if he comes off as a little jaded when you ask him about hot new brewery in town or the latest double IPA with mango, grapefruit and pineapple.

However, as an avid home brewer since receiving a brewing "kit" for Christmas in 1991, and having a passion for truly great beer, Troy soon realized a much more lucrative growth opportunity emerging in the craft-brewing industry, and helped pursued the company to pursue that avenue for growth instead.On a cold wintry evening while sampling a very nice blueberry ale from Marin Brewing Company in November 1993, it was officially decided to focus the company's energy on commercially marketing our company's new flagship product, which up until then had been T.ROY's (nickname for Troy) home-brew specialty.

It took us six months of intensive labor finding the right investors, suppliers, and everything else, before we were able to get our flagship product on the market.In an attempt to carve out a niche in the growing microbrewery market, we decided to distinguish ourselves from the competition by providing the consumer with an easily identifiable package that was unlike anything previously seen in the industry (e.g., product separation…), along with a traditional style of beer (India Pale Ale – IPA) that had not been readily available to consumers for quite some time. We believe this style of beer tends to attract those consumers who are currently drinking hand-crafted pale ales, and who are looking for a more fuller-bodied "more mouth feel" type of beer to drink. This train of thought has proven to be an asset to our company, and has been clearly evident from the enthusiasm generated by consumers over our company's flagship product!!!

Will Clark readily admits that his passion in life is California Foothill wines. He retired from investment banking in the early 1990's, and with wife Jeanne, opened up his shop at 200 Main Street in Downieville. Jeanne runs the antiques and collectibles shop next door. "We came here to do what we really wanted to do," said Will. "People don't expect us to be here. But really, Downieville is the first town north of Nevada City where you can find good food, lodging – and major historical lore about the area." It all comes together in a mountain setting at the confluence of two rivers, with an enormous amount of Gold Country history. Will boasts a stock of around 50 wines. Here are some of my favorites from the tasting: 2006 Hatcher Cabernet Sauvignon, Sierra Foothills. Will believes this is his current best value in a Cabernet Sauvignon. The Hatcher winery is located in Murphys, Calaveras County, and they source most of their fruit from vineyards near Angels Camp. The fruit for this wine was sourced from the vineyard of Lori Kautz. Winemaker Matthew Hatcher has crafted this wine to have aromas of tropical fruit, volcanic minerality, anise and other exotic spices. Flavor is lush and ripe with flavors of melon, ginger, and spice, ending in a clean finish. Enjoy with spicy Asian foods, BBQ, lamb. 14.6% alcohol. $17.50/bottle at 49 Wines.

I was studying abroad, seated at a tiny café in Puebla, Mexico, when a cup of coffee changed my life. Time briefly slowed as I took in the richly layered taste of that cup, observing the energy, community and vivid conversation, all centered around a common love of coffee. At that moment, I realized that in some way, coffee would be an important part of my future.

From here, I journeyed to the plazas of southern Spain, where I became a student of café culture, in preparation for bringing the authentic experience to America. By 1997 I was the owner of a café in the U.S. The coffee I was sourcing from a regional roaster was the best to be found, but I knew I could do better. By the following year, I had purchased a coffee roaster and my first bag of unroasted green coffee beans, embarking on a lifelong quest. In the 17 years since, I have traveled across countries and continents in search of the most extraordinary coffees, innovative producers and complex flavors.

What began as an attempt to satisfy my own desire for superior coffee, soon became a mission to share the ultimate coffee experience, as I realized other sophisticated coffee lovers were seeking the same qualities I had discovered. With Demours, I am exploring cultures and expanding palates, focusing all my efforts on delivering to every person who tastes a cup of Café Privé Sélect their own life-changing coffee moment.

Jennifer A. Stone, founder of Demours Café Privé Sélect, is a Licensed Quality Grader by the Coffee Quality Institute as well as an internationally recognized coffee cupper and judge for the Cup of Excellence.

Andrew is the co-founder of Flytrippers. He is passionate about traveling the world but also, as a former management consultant, about the travel industry itself. An aviation lover, he aims to try as many different airlines as possible on his way to visiting every country in the world (current count: 34/193 Countries, 45/50 US States & 8/10 Canadian Provinces).

Flytrippers is an informative website that curates the best flight deals available everyday leaving from your city. We do all the research for you, so you no longer have to visit multiple websites and can now find all deals in one place. We make it easy for you to see all available dates for each deal and give you a direct link to book at the best price. In addition to these deals, we also offer many resources and share our expertise about ultra low-cost airlines so you can save on your next trips and more importantly, so you can travel more often!

When a young Jon McDaniel began his studies in politics and corporate law, his goal was "to take over the world, in a good way," he jokes. During a brief stint at a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., McDaniel realized the cutthroat political arena wasn't his scene. So when one of the firm's clients, a wine retailer, offered him a job, he dropped everything and reset his course.

In the dozen years since, McDaniel has tried his hand at almost every role in the industry, working in retail, export, distribution and even winemaking. In 2010, after beverage consulting for the World Cup in South Africa, he finally figured out where he fit most comfortably into the wine world: restaurants. McDaniel joined the team at Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Café in Santa Barbara, Calif., then was lured to the Midwest to work as manager and sommelier for the Purple Pig in Chicago.

Now 34 ("going on 85," he quips), McDaniel is the corporate beverage director for the newly renamed Gage Hospitality Group, which includes five Chicago-area restaurants: Acanto, the Gage, Beacon Tavern, Coda di Volpe and the Dawson. He also finds time to teach hospitality classes and make wine under his own label. Editorial assistant Lexi Williams caught up with McDaniel to check on his progress toward (wine) world domination.

• Family owned, led and managed business. When the whole family is involved to mold and solidify their ideals and pass them along through the generations, they have the possibility of advancing the family's ideals and reputation.

• Owning a vineyard. Almost, if not all of the multi-generational winemakers have their own vineyard with family members taking care of it with passion and commitment to ensure making great wines all the time.

• Farming is key. The conditions of the vineyard and truly knowing it is fundamental. A biologically balanced, healthy soil and farming is the foundation of a great and important wine.

• Great winemakers. A passionate, skilled winemaker involved with a burning desire to make great wine. Great winemakers create wines that have good balance, wines that are beautiful when young and becomes more elegant with age.

• Wines that are beautiful when they are young, then as they age a patina is developed without anything being removed from them. This is mastered by great winemakers and wine making families in the world.

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.

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