A Cork in the Road

This live audience episode features winemaker Blair Guthrie of Stewart Cellars located in Yountville of Napa Valley in California. We gathered at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA with 20 Atlanta wine professionals and friends of the wine industry thanks to Aaron Cooper of @trickingoffainteasy who conspired with Blair to create a memorable weekend showcasing the entire portfolio of Stewart wines around Atlanta. Aaron even surprised all of the guests with a luxury spread of delicious food at the end of the recording thanks to friends at Bovino After Dark, and essentially this turned into a pretty epic evening of wine-ing and dining with incredible people. You’ll hear a little bit about Blair’s upbringing in New Zealand, playing rugby, basketball, and cricket, while pursuing an interest in graphic design. He says that the skills he developed in those areas do contribute to his skills as a winemaker today with what he describes as an athlete’s competitiveness, a creative eye, and an artist’s enthusiasm for winemaking. He takes us back to stories from 2009 when we worked as a harvest intern at Paul Hobb’s Crossbarn in California, where he met his wife, Caroline Stewart. They now are running Stewart Cellars together, a multi-generational, family-owned and operated winery that has been producing premium-quality wines since its inception in 2000. We talk about their farming practices and philosophies as we taste through the wines with the audience, and we even open it up for a live Q&A at the end of the episode. Thank you to Aaron and Blair for dreaming this up, thank you Taylor at The Vine Club for hosting us, and thanks to everyone who joined us for this pretty epic evening celebrating the wine community in Atlanta. You can visit www.stewartcellars.com to learn more about these wines and follow @stewartcellars and @guthriefamilywines on Instagram.Recorded April 25, 2025-----------------Our presenting sponsor for May is The Monticello Wine Trail in Virginia. The Monticello Wine Trail proudly announces Monticello Wine Week, an immersive celebration of Virginia’s premier wine region, taking place from June 5-8, 2025. With events spanning Charlottesville, Nelson, Orange, and Greene counties, this annual series highlights the exceptional wines, winemakers, and vineyards that define the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA). Nestled in the heart of Virginia’s wine country, the Monticello Wine Trail is home to more than 40 acclaimed wineries, all within a short drive of Charlottesville, VA. Click HERE for info about all Monticello Wine Week events!“Monticello Wine Week is a time to celebrate the remarkable wines being produced in our region and to share the passion and dedication of our winemakers with both locals and visitors,” said Stephen Barnard, President of the Monticello Wine Trail and Winemaker at Keswick Vineyards.

This episode features a live audience conversation at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA with Sam Bilbro, the founder and winemaker for Idlewild WInes in California. Sam grew up hanging out in a winery converted from an old cow barn, walking vineyards, and tasting blends with his dad who founded Marietta Cellars. While ultimary continuing the family legacy, Sam definitely took some detours and explored other industries, but it was while he was working in the restaurant industry that he was exposed to wines from across the globe and was especially struck by the wines of Piedmont in italy. Founded in 2012, Sam’s creation, Idlewild Wines, focuses on making wines from Italian varities grown in Califonia by sourcing grapes from old vineyard sites across Sonoma and Mendocino. The wines we tasted during this live audience session were so thoughtful, and the wines offer nuanced deliciousness - which you’ll hear is a perfectly acceptaable tasting note. You can follow @idlewildwines on Instagram.Recorded April 16, 2025-------------Our presenting sponsor for April is Vinexpo America 2025, a premier international trade event heading to Miami for the first time ever on May 7-8, 2025 at Miami Beach Convention Center. Vinexpo America has long been the go-to destination for industry leaders—and now, its expansion to Miami will offer new opportunities for producers, importers, distributors, and hospitality professionals across North, Central, and South America. From fine wine tastings and cutting-edge spirits to trend-driven panel discussions and unmatched networking opportunities, Vinexpo America is where the business of wine and spirits thrives.⁠REGISTER HERE⁠ - Use code VAMERICA25 to claim your free badge!With 280+ exhibitors from 25 countries and more than 3,000 visitors from 40 countries, Vinexpo America 2025 will be a vital industry event for anyone looking to expand their network and discover the latest trends.

This episode features a conversation with Kevin OSullivan, the Director of Sales at Prime Wine & Spirits. He has almost 20 years of experience working in the Atlanta wine industry, so we take a walk down memory lane to discuss his "wine origin story" and what led to his passion for wine. He has a wealth of knowledge about being a sales consultant, so we talk about his approach to building relationships at all points within the supply chain. You’ll find out what he would be doing for wine if he wasn’t working in distrution, and you'll also hear a beautiful analysis of how wine relates to style and fashion. Kevin earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Language and Literature, which ultimately contributes to his passion for wine in more ways than one. Keep an ear out for his “Desert Island Champagne” selection that he reveals at the end of the episode, and you'll love the advice that he highlgihts for anyone starting out in the wine industry these days along with his encouragement for everyone to hone their voice in this business. You can follow @kevin_osulli_vin and @primewineandspiritsga on Instagram.Recorded March 23, 2025-------------Our presenting sponsor for April is Vinexpo America 2025, a premier international trade event heading to Miami for the first time ever on May 7-8, 2025 at Miami Beach Convention Center. Vinexpo America has long been the go-to destination for industry leaders—and now, its expansion to Miami will offer new opportunities for producers, importers, distributors, and hospitality professionals across North, Central, and South America. From fine wine tastings and cutting-edge spirits to trend-driven panel discussions and unmatched networking opportunities, Vinexpo America is where the business of wine and spirits thrives.REGISTER HERE - Use code VAMERICA25 to claim your free badge!With 280+ exhibitors from 25 countries and more than 3,000 visitors from 40 countries, Vinexpo America 2025 will be a vital industry event for anyone looking to expand their network and discover the latest trends.

This "bonus" episode was recorded live at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA the Tuesday evening before the annual High Museum Wine Auction. Our friends from WInery Sixteen 600 were in town, and we threw a "Tie Dye Before the High" bottleshare and vinyl party to celebrate a bunch of people who make the Atlanta wine industry community so special. We sat down with Sam Coturri from Winery Sixteen 600, one of the co-hosts of the Wine Makers Podcast; Eric Crane, the Director of Training for Empire Distributors; and Taylor Sublett, the owner of The Vine Club who has offered his club space for our live podcast recordings over the past couple of months. We recorded this show while drinking a magnum of 2019 Sixteen 600 Syrah, and in true wine makers podcast fashion, it will begin with a cold opening and proceed with no editing, so you’ll just have to jump right in and join us. We talk about the occasion that brought Sam and his mom and dad to Atlanta this time, and we listen to Eric and Sam debate over what the wines sound like...we also celerbate the fact that this is Taylor’s first ever podcast appearance. You can follow @grapeswithaview and @sixteen600 and @chauneuf and @thevineclubatl on Instagram.Recorded LIVE at The Vine Club on March 18, 2025

This episode features a live audience conversation recorded at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA with Christian Wylie, the Managing Director for Bodega Garzón in Uruguay. Christian is responsible for the entire winery and all aspects of its operations – production, winemaking, viticulture, marketing, sales management, hospitality, and tourism activities. He brings nearly 25 years of wine industry experience along with additional business management skills. Wylie has an impressive track record with family-owned and managed businesses, including senior leadership roles at Carolina Wine Brands in Chile and Establecimiento Juanicó from Uruguay. He holds an agricultural engineering degree with a specialization in fruiticulture and enology from the Catholic University of Chile. He also studied at the University of California at Davis, and completed a post-graduate senior management program at the ESE Business School in Chile. One of Wylie’s passions is traveling the globe. Bringing food, wine, and different cultures together is the epitome of his new role at Bodega Garzón as the winery leads the charge for the emerging Uruguayan wine industry. Christian was honored as ‘Wine Executive of the Year’ in Wine Enthusiast’s 2023 Wine Star Awards. This honor recognizes and celebrates the innovation of the individuals and companies that have significantly contributed to the success of the wine and alcohol beverage world. We enjoyed Albariños and Tannats during this recording session, and we hope it sparks your curiosity to learn more about what is happening for wine in Uruguay. You can follow @bodegagarzon on Instagram and visit www.bodegagarzon.com to plan your visit.Recorded February 24, 2025-------------Our presenting sponsor for March is Blenheim Vineyards in Charlottesville, VA. They ship to 40 states, and shipping is free on orders over $100, so you can enjoy Blenheim wines no matter where you are. Use code CORK10 for 10% off your purchase online or in person. Follow @BlenheimVineyards and visit www.blenheimvineyards.com to plan your visit!SHOP WINE & MERCH: https://shop.blenheimvineyards.com/Wines/All-Wines

This episode features a conversation focusing on community connections and craft beer with Jen Price, a beer educator, a Cicerone Certified Beer Server, and the author of The Chick’s Guide to Beer: 7 Simple Rules for the Beer Novice. Jen grew up in Decatur, GA, and her work is dedicated to fostering inclusivity, education, and meaningful connections through beer. As the co-founder of Craft Women Connect, she has created a space for women and beer professionals to learn, collaborate, and thrive within the industry. In 2020, Jen also launched Crafted for Action, an event and experience curation company that centers diversity, equity, and inclusion in the craft beverage space. This company is built on the pillars of craft, community, and culture, and we talk about some ways that these efforts have sparked conversations that extend beyond beer. Their flagship event, coming up this June in Atlanta, is the first craft beverage conference founded by a BIPOC woman, providing a platform for robust discussions and real solutions to drive progress in the industry. In 2025, they have expanded beyond beer to include all craft beverages including an entire track at this year's conference dedicated to wine. Through Crafted for Action, Jen continues to create impactful experiences that challenge the status quo and open doors for underrepresented voices in craft beverage. Outside of beer, Jen is an AICP-certified urban planner specializing in active living planning, community impact assessments, environmental justice, and stakeholder engagement. Her expertise in community-focused planning fuels her commitment to making beer spaces more welcoming and inclusive. You can visit www.craftedforaction.com for details and tickets to the upcoming conference, and you can follow @craftedforaction on Instagram.2025 Crafted for Action Tickets: https://craftedforaction.tix.page/Recorded February 19. 2025-------------This episode is generously sponsored by Blenheim Vineyards in Charlottesville, VA. They ship to 40 states, and shipping is free on orders over $100, so you can enjoy Blenheim wines no matter where you are. Use code CORK10 for 10% off your purchase online or in person. Follow @BlenheimVineyards and visit www.blenheimvineyards.com to plan your visit!SHOP WINE & MERCH: https://shop.blenheimvineyards.com/Wines/All-Wines------------Friday Uncorked! tickets (March 21, 2025): https://high.org/event/friday-uncorked-2025/

This episode features a conversation with Desiree Harrison-Brown, a wine educator, content creator, and entrepreneur based in Maryland dedicated to making wine approachable, engaging, and fun. She has built a dynamic career that blends education, storytelling, and community-building—proving that there’s no single path to becoming a wine professional. As the founder of WINO NOIRE, Desiree has created a platform that not only highlights Black and women-owned wine brands but also makes wine more inclusive and accessible to diverse audiences. She also runs The Wino Shop, an online boutique for modern wine lovers. Beyond entrepreneurship, she’s an instructor at Napa Valley Wine Academy, helping to bridge the gap between wine education and real-world enjoyment. Her expertise recently earned her recognition on Wine Enthusiast’s Future40 list, and she has collaborated with renowned brands such as Wines of Germany, Brown Estate, McBride Sisters, and Piper-Heidsieck. We talk about how she believes that wine is an experience—one that should be explored and enjoyed on your own terms, with a focus on discovery, community, and the simple joy of sharing a great glass. We also discuss her WSET Diploma journey and highlight what she has learned from visiting wine regions around the world. You can follow @winonoire and @thewinoshop on Instagram.Recorded February 16, 2025

This episode features a conversation with Kimber Warren, a wine educator and brand consultant based in Atlanta, GA who is also the founder of a forthcoming glassware company. She is originally from Savannah, GA but spent the past 15 years in New York City before returning to her family in Georgia and calling Atlanta home. She is a global marketer and works with creators, brands, and products to spearhead campaigns and programming that elevate both engagement and impact. Kimber is bringing her background from working in the tech industry and her experience in roles with entertainment giants such as Meta, Spotify, and Viacom now to the wine space. We talk about some of the skills she gained in her previous roles and highlight some of the projects that she was a part of and how she measured their impact and success. It was during her career path that she says she also discovered a passion for wine as it was part of business meetings, travels, and client dinners, so she has since earned several wine cetifications with support from The Roots Fund. To further connect with the Atlanta wine community, she is also a member of the Atlanta chapter of The Hue Society where she is continuing her studies. Keep an ear out for her advice for other fellow entrepreneurs at the end of the episode, You can follow @mrs_sip_somewine on social media platforms, and you can also connect with her on LinkedIn for a behind-the-scenes journey of building her business.Recorded February 14, 2025

This episode features a live audience conversation at The Oenophile Institute in Smyrna, GA with Laurent Noblet, the Director of Sales for USA & Canada for Henri Bourgeois Estates. He is based in Atlanta, GA but manages sales for three French wineries and one estate in New Zealand. In this current role, he researches and assigns distributors in new markets across the U.S. and is responsible for yearly sales plans, goals, and developing new business. Laurent, however, has been working with wine for 30 years and has held various positions in restaurants, retail, as well as wholsale – in the room we laughed that he basically has had all of our jobs at some point in his career. We talk about how the skills he acquired as a sommelier and working in other customer-facing roles have contributed to his skills in his current role, and he shares his insights about the U.S. market along with advice to all of us looking for ways to make an impact on the wine industry going forward. It was also so much fun to have our friends in the room for this tasting and cheese sampling session - we were joined by Jade Palmer from the forthcoming Madeira Park, Ryan Mullins from Winebow Distributors, and Chelsea Young from The Oenophile Institute. You can visit www.famillebourgeois-sancerre.com/en to learn more about these wines and follow @domainehenribourgeois on social media. Recorded LIVE at The Oenophile Institute on December 16, 2024

This episode features a conversation with George Staikos, the Founder and Educator of The Educated Grape, as well as a guest appearance from the 2024 Sommlympics "Star du Spectacle" award recipient, Marvella Castaneda. George serves as the Head of Education for the US Bureau for the Comité Champagne (CIVC), and they recently sponsored one of the Grand Prizes for the 2024 Sommlympics competition in Atlanta, GA, so we talk about what the trip to Champagne will entail for Sommlympian. George is a 35-year veteran of the wine and hospitality industry known for sharing his passion for wine appreciation. His company specializes in interactive education programs, events, and trips as well as sales consulting for 9 small, family-owned luxury wineries. Prior to his current roles, George held national sales positions for Napa and Sonoma wineries including Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Quintessa, and Ramey Wine Cellars. His national hospitality experience also encompasses food and beverage positions, such as sommelier and food and beverage director, from California, Miami, Washington DC, and New York, operating three AAA Five Diamond rated hotels. He serves as the national officer of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, a worldwide food and wine organization, serving as Grand Echanson (Wine Director) where he organizes the annual regional and national Jeunes Sommelier Competition for qualifying sommeliers under 30 years of age. Staikos is a graduate of Florida International University in Miami with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. He is married with three children and three granddaughters and resides in Erwinna, PA, an hour outside of Philadelphia. You can follow @educatedgrape on social media and visit www.theeducatedgrape.com to learn more about George's company, and you can visit www.champagne.fr/en to learn more about the CIVC. Recorded January 8, 2025