A Cork in the Road

This episode features Tiffanie Barriere, a bartender, educator, mixologist, and Tastemakers of the South award-winner who spent 7 years as the beverage director of One Flew South in Atlanta aka the “Best Airport Bar in the World.”  This Louisiana-Texas native now based in Atlanta is the trustworthy mentor of some of the best bartenders and mixologists in the world with a goal of education, service and fun with every pour. As an independent bartender, she is known for creative and innovative cocktail menus for pop-dinners, hosting mixology classes around the nation, and connecting culinary and farm culture with spirits. As a leader, she is a member of the Tales of the Cocktail Grants Committee, the James Beard Beverage Advisory Board, and a member of the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier.  Being “The Drinking Coach” has taken her around the world and to demonstration stages of food and hospitality events such as the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Charleston Food & Wine Festival, BevCon, Tales of the Cocktail, Savannah Food & Wine Festival, Music to Your Mouth and more. As an author-contributor, Tiffanie’s cocktail recipes can be found in the Southern Foodway Alliance Guide to Cocktails by Jerry Slayter, Jubilee by Toni Tipton Martin, and Road Soda by Kara Newman. Her reputation as a public historian has opened doors for her to speak on panels at such venues as Fire, Flour & Fork, Southern Foodways Symposium, and the Soul Summit, and she has interpreted the cocktails of African American and women firsts in spirits at the James Beard House in New York City.  In 2020, Tiffanie was featured on Food Network's The Kitchen and received the Tales of the Cocktails Dame of the Year award. In 2021, she appeared on the cover photo of Imbibe Magazine for the Top 75 for Imbibe, became a judge for the L.A. Spirits Awards and Ascot Awards with Fred Minnick, spoke in Berlin for Bar Convent, and shared birthday cocktails with Hoda and Jenna on Today Show.  We met at dinner in Rome while visiting Italy with Hello Grappa to learn about this unique category of the wine and spirits industry, and we talk about our key takeaways from the trip and how we see our industries evolving in the future. You can follow her @thedrinkingcoach and visit www.thedrinkingcoach.com to learn more about her work. Recorded November 16, 2022 Photo credit: Gregory Miller This episode is sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard: https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines

This episode features Jacob Gragg, the Ca’ del Bosco & Portfolio Fine Wine Specialist based in Atlanta, GA. Considered the industry standard for Franciacorta (Lombardia), Ca’ del Bosco is of paramount importance to the Santa Margherita family of wines, serving as the example for unwavering commitment to purity and quality. Jacob’s quest for quality, desire to educate, and passion for the finer things in life led him to join the group in 2019, and he's been sharing the love for Franciacorta ever since. His journey in wine, however, began in Georgia many years ago. In 2009, he set the goal of passing the Master Sommelier exam and garnered experience most notably as the Sommelier at Aria Restaurant in Atlanta, and as Sommelier of The Georgian Room at the Cloister in Sea Island. After the intense restaurant experience, Jacob spent five years working as an ambassador for a renown Italian producer. He earned his Advanced Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers at the age of 24, making him one of the youngest to have achieved this certification. In addition, Jacob is a Certified Specialist of Wine, Certified Specialist of Spirits, and was named one of the Best New Sommeliers of 2012 by Wine & Spirits magazine and is the Founding President of the Southeastern Sommelier Society. We discuss the utility of blind tasting, what makes the Atlanta wine community so special, and what he sees for the future of the wine industry as a whole.  You can learn more about the wines he showcases by following @cadelbosco_official on social media or by reaching out to him via email J.gragg@SantaMargheritaUSA.com. Recorded October 26, 2022

This episode features Vas Sanchez, an actor, comedian, and wine sales rep based in Atlanta, GA. He is a 5-year veteran representing the Sour Grapes Wine portfolio, but he also has experience working in service at Empire State South and working in wine retail. Bringing his love for flavor and his chef skills to food pairing in the wine world, Vas has taken his passion for wine and made it his everyday hustle while also pursuing his love for acting and comedy. We talk about his wine philosophy at the end of the episode, and it left me feeling deeply inspired to think about the various ways in which wine continues to metaphorically reflect my own values and principles. We share a joy for hosting bottleshares with fellow wine professionals, and you will hear about his ultimate dream job for the future. You can follow @the_vas_sanchez_ on Instagram for updates about his shows and performances. Recorded October 25, 2022

This episode features Marvella Castaneda. She is a talented wine and art professional who is fairly new to Atlanta and is currently the Wine Director for Lazy Betty, a tasting menu restaurant where you can enjoy either a 6- or 8-course menu as well as the 6- or 8-course wine pairings specially designed for each menu. Since the culinary program at Lazy Betty is culture-diverse and ever-changing, Marvella designs the complimentary wine program to showcase wines from all over the world with the intention of exposing guests to new styles and regions. We talk about her recent trip to Washington wine country and how being in the wine growing region has elevated her appreciation for their wines. We also discuss our mutual love for the versatility of Port pairings and our appreciation for dessert wines. You can follow her adventures on social media @marvellacastaneda, and you can book your reservation to experience her wine pairings by visiting www.lazybettyatl.com. Recorded October 9, 2022 This episode is sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard: https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines

This is the finale episode of a 3-part mini series dedicated to all things Virginia Wine in partnership with The Veraison Project and Oenoverse initiatives. This episode features Chauncey Jenkins, a hospitality professional who passionately believes that diplomatic hospitality, immersive environments, and personal experience are at the core of connecting deeply across boundaries. He is a graduate of the Cornell School of Hospitality, and Chauncey has co-created and led luxury gathering spots, contemporary social clubs, and innovative restaurant concepts. He describes his work as always striving to provide an expansive suite of senses to create immersive environments for executive leadership summits and negotiation spaces. We talk about how he uses his unique skills to teach about building connection across divides, breaking through creative limitations to generate alternative solutions, and communicating empathetically to resonate with stakeholders for in-person, hybrid, and virtual audiences. You can learn more about his upcoming album release as well as his work with The Veraison Project by following his adventures @mrchancefischer on social media. Recorded October 5, 2022

This is the second episode of a 3-part mini series dedicated to all things Virginia Wine in partnership with The Veraison Project and Oenoverse initiatives. This episode features Lance Lemon, a Virginia native and a 2011 graduate of the University of Virginia. Lance double majored in Acting and Studio Art with a focus in Cinematography. Lance is an Actor at heart. He is also the Co-Founder of RichWine RVA and Co-Owner of Penny's - a Jackson Ward Wine spot located in the heart of Richmond. His interest in wine began when he moved to New York to continue his acting career and had the opportunity to bartend at Jean Georges ABC Cocina and Kitchen. Cocina soon led him to a role as a wine sales rep for Frederick Wildman and Sons, where Lance learned a tremendous amount about wine. He moved on to help curate, open, and manage two successful wine shops in BedStuy, Brooklyn: Wine - O and Liquid Assets. Lance is WSET level II certified and is advancing through the levels for the pure joy of it. We talk a lot about how he truly believes that "Knowledge is wealth" and how he is excited to be an integral part of the ever-growing wine scene in Richmond. He describes what it's like to be working part-time at Early Mountain Vineyards in production, learning the beautiful intricate craft of winemaking as a Cellar Technician. The RichWine Motto is "Good Wine. Good People. Good Time" - You can follow his adventures on social at @lancelemon and @richwinerva, and you can learn more about his wine retail business at www.richwineva.com. Recorded October 3, 2022

This is the first episode of a 3-part mini series dedicated to all things Virginia Wine in partnership with The Veraison Project and Oenoverse initiatives. We begin this episode with an introduction to these initiatives along with an overview of their upcoming outreach efforts.  The Oenoverse is an initiative dedicated to building diversity, inclusion, equity, and ownership, within the Virginia wine community. The goal is to significantly contribute to creating a more inclusive Virginia wine industry through focused outreach efforts to involve and include people from historically excluded and underrepresented communities. Leaders and wine enthusiasts within the BIPOC communities inform and lead the project’s outreach efforts, one of which is a series of tasting events led by featured wine professionals, Sommeliers, and wine enthusiasts. Through these community events and coordinated efforts, the goal is to reach a more diverse audience as well as encourage increased winery visitation and tourism of the area. You can learn more by connecting on social media @oenoverse. The Veraison Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit comprised of a volunteer group of Wine Industry Professionals also committed to making the wine industry a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive place. Their goal is to make wine education accessible to a more diverse audience by providing sponsorships to pursue WSET and sommelier certifications while also expanding access to mentoring and networking opportunities. You can find them online at @theveraisonproject. The goal of the Oenoverse and Veraison Project partnership is to present Virginia wine in comfortable, conversational, educational, and inclusive settings with the hope of attracting new consumers while also expanding the experiences offered to existing consumers. This team was recently awarded a grant from the Virginia Wine Marketing grant program to produce a series of Virginia wine events focused on creating a more inclusive and diverse industry and community.  The first of episode of the mini series features Tasha Durrett, a wine enthusiast and educator based in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Born and raised in Virginia wine country, she founded Black Women Who Wine in 2019. Black Women Who Wine is a group focused on increasing the visibility and participation of Black women in the wine industry and agritourism throughout the state. It holds monthly meetups, offering members opportunities for socializing and wine education. Tasha also offers private tastings and collaboration on events and wine tours. A writer and communicator, Tasha is a former journalist and currently a communications manager at the Southern Environmental Law Center where she helps bring attention and awareness to transportation and environmental justice issues throughout the South. She says that since a young age, she has been especially interested in land ownership and opportunities for such throughout the Southern region and how the history of the region has shaped the entire nation. Tasha is also currently a host for the 2022 Blenheim Vineyards’ Oenoverse wine club. You can connect with her on social media at @blackwomenwhowine. Recorded October 2, 2022

Bailey McAlister is in the final year of her PhD in English at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and she is simultaneously pursuing an education in wine and sake. She has also been a writing teacher for almost a decade and a professional writer for the past two years. We talk about Bailey's dissertation, "Narratives of Cultural Taste and Community in the Post-2020 Wine Industry," which is exploring the effective communication and rhetorical practices of wine professionals. She has been collecting narratives of individuals shaping the future of cultural taste for the past few years, and she shares insightful highlights of the project up to this point - including a sneak peek of her findings. In all aspects of her education, pedagogy, and research, Bailey prioritizes community engagement and seeks to strengthen relationships between disciplines. These perspectives carry over into her wine career where she is known for creating and discussing unconventional pairings. Bailey believes that wine is essential and rhetorical, and her work aims to amplify voices and tell people's stories. You can follow her on Instagram at @mcalibai and find out ways to support her work at www.patreon.com/mcalibai. Recorded  September 26, 2022

This episode features Claudio Gallardo, the Sales Director for Perrine's Wine Shop. Claudio is originally from Quito, Ecuador but has lived in the US since the age of 12. Although his academic studies are in engineering, he talks about why his passion has always been customer service. Claudio has worked in sales for over two decades, cutting his teeth first at Limited Brands where he started as a part time stock associate and worked his way up Management. After having accomplished his goal in fashion sales, Claudio switched paths and moved onto wine and spirits distribution where he found the joy and love for wine. Working collaboratively with his wife, Perrine, and their small but mighty family of employees, Claudio oversees all aspects of sales, marketing, and customer experience for their wine shop locations in Atlanta. We talk a lot about how working for a growing company is a really beautiful experience because he gets to touch so many different aspects of it and watch them flourish. We also reflect on all the advancements they have made as a business throughout the pandemic to adjust to their customers' needs and to expand their online presence. As part of Perrine's ever-growing educational program, Claudio is also currently working on his Burgundy Master Level taught by the Wine Scholar Guild and is hopeful to finish by the end of this year. You can follow @perrineswine on social media, visit www.perrineswine.com to browse their wine selection, and you can always call the shop at 770-265-9795 to ask for Claudio. Recorded August 28, 2022 This episode is sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard: https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines

This episode features Elizabeth Dames, a passionate and engaging wine professional with over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry. She passed the first examination for the Diploma Certificate with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust with merit, passed her French Wine Scholar with highest honors, and recently sat for the Master Examination for the Court of Master Sommeliers. We talk about how much she loves to serve as a mentor for fellow wine professionals, and we also chat about her own journey ahead filled with a continuous pursuit of education. Her professional experience spans restaurants, hotels, catering, and private clubs, all of which has helped cultivate her unique breadth of knowledge for hospitality. She spent 6 years at Allegheny Country Club in Pittsburgh, PA as their Wine Director, and is now currently the Wine Director/Sommelier at Capital City Club in Atlanta, GA. Additionally, in 2018 she started her own wine consulting company called Wine Entwined in which she hosts virtual and in-person events, curates and manages private cellars, provides pairing and purchasing advice, and hosts private wine tours. In addition to her wine life, she is a mother of two, Otto Dames (8) and Blithe Dames (6), and wife to an amazing partner, Timm Dames. She says he is the reason she is able to pursue her passion for wine with full support! You can connect with her at @bitzdames on social media. Recorded August 22, 2022