A Cork in the Road

Jade hails from London, England, but has called Atlanta her home for most of her life. We talk about how she first became intrigued by wine while working as a flight attendant and taking a “Sky Sommelier” course that helped her inform Business Class customers about the wine selections on their flights. Faced with challenges of the pandemic, Jade left the airline industry and found herself working at a local Atlanta wine shop where she enjoyed taking a deeper dive into learning about wine. Since then, Jade has gotten her WSET Level 2 in Wines and is a Certified Specialist of Wine. She is currently studying for the WSET Level 3 exam and hopes to eventually sit for the WSET Diploma. In the future, Jade plans to work in wine education and events teaching wine to anyone interested. Her energy is contagious, and her love for learning is inspiring. You can connect with her @lowkeywinenerd on Instagram. Recorded June 5, 2022

This episode was recorded live in Atlanta while sitting across from and drinking wine with Maurizio Zanella of Ca’ del Bosco. He was born in 1956 in the Lombardy region of Italy, and his introduction to the world of wine came in the 1960s when his mother, Annamaria Clementi Zanella, acquired a small hillside property called “Ca’ del Bosc”. We talk a little bit about Italy's history of wine culture before his time and how a trip to the then "rustic" wineries of Burgundy inspired him to put his agricultural studies and what he learned in France into practice in his native Franciacorta. In 1968, he created Ca’ del Bosco, which today is the leading producer of Franciacorta. Zanella transformed what was a house in the chestnut woods of Lombardy into one of the country’s most modern wineries, becoming one of the leading figures in Italy’s wine renaissance. On air during his first ever trip to Atlanta, we taste and compare two of their wines and discuss their personalities, their oak profiles, and their nuances while also highlighting the importance of their strategic details at every stage of production. He believes in the power of innovation and is constantly striving for improvements toward excellence, and he also speaks to some of his personal goals for success of their wine in the U.S. market. You can visit www.cadelbosco.com/en to learn more about their story, practices, and portfolio. Recorded May 9, 2022 Episode sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard: https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines 

Henna Bakshi is a producer at HLN/CNN and an on-camera personality for everything food and wine. She was born and raised in New Delhi, India, and that is where Henna started developing a culinary interest. After rigorous cooking and understanding food flavors, she began her journey into wine study. Henna is WSET Level 2 certified and hopes to educate people about pairing wines with bold eastern flavors. We talk about how she recently hosted her first food and wine pop-up called, "Hands," where she cooked Mediterranean food and paired it with an assortment of ancient and old world wines. She also shares a few of her wine pairing tips as well as some insight on working with food and wine in the media. You can follow her updates and learn more about future pop-up events by following @hennabakshi on Instagram.

This inspiring and uplifting episode features Reggie Leonard, a wine student and Virginia wine enthusiast based in Charlottesville, Virginia. He currently leads career development at the University of Virginia's School of Data Science, but when he’s not coaching students or hosting events, Reggie is a regular on the Charlottesville arts, dining, tech, and wine scene. His discerning palate and accessible commentary have already opened doors to countless conversations-turned-collaborations. Reggie is a recipient of the inaugural cohort of Wine Unify, an educational program providing award opportunities for minority groups interested in or working in wine, through which he pursued a WSET Level 1 certification and earned his WSET Level 2 with Distinction shortly after. We talk about his wide array of experiences in the Virginia wine industry that have been pivotal moments in his wine education journey, and we discuss how he is working to combine his knowledge and passion toward a parallel career in the wine industry. We discuss the art of "paying attention" while developing your palate, and we highlight a few of the items on his "wine bucket list". Keep an ear out for a list of some fantastic Virginia wine recommendations at the end of the episode, and you can connect with him at @reggieleonard on Instagram to learn more about his goals for the industry. Recorded April 2022

This episode features Erin Mason, a former Atlanta resident who worked with Fifth Group Restaurants for 10 years where she started as a server, became a manager, and quickly moved into beverage programs. Less than two years after starting at South City Kitchen Midtown, she was offered the opportunity to open Ecco Buckhead with total autonomy over the beverage program. At the same time, she had completed her certification with the CMS, started traveling to supplement her wine education, and played an instrumental role in establishing the beverage program at South City Kitchen Avalon. On a trip to California's Central Coast in 2019, however, she was inspired to take a huge leap of faith - she left everything behind in Atlanta to work the 2019 California harvest with no plans to return. She later moved to Santa Barbara to open a bar with a friend from Atlanta. but not long into the pandemic, she started working for Angela Osborne at A Tribute to Grace and Magan Kunin at Kunin Wines. In 2021, she got connected with Ann Kraemer at Shake Ridge Ranch in the Sierra Foothills and joined her team for the harvest. She later worked in the Columbia River Gorge with Laura Brennan Bissel of Inconnu wines on her project up there, and Erin is now settling into a full season in the vineyard at Paicines Ranch in San Benito county. We talk about how wine studies have been kind of a wild ride, but how she is inspired by the current work at Paicines Ranch and is realizing that her trajectory into vineyard work isn't just through wine, but from a passion for farming that went unnurtured while she made her way through the restaurant world. You can connect with her on Instagram @mason_hearts_in_jars to learn more about her adventures and to source advice for ways to learn more about farming practices in the wine industry. Recorded April 2022

This episode takes us to Greenville, SC to talk with Alex Lopez, a wine educator at the North Carolina Wine Academy who is preparing to attend the Burgundy School of Business MBA program in Wine and Spirits Management this fall. He says that he first fell in love with wine long before he could partake in a bottle by reading wine atlases with an eye to the history of vineyards and terroir. Earning a Bachelor's in History from Gettysburg College has created a solid foundation for his further studies in wine, so he describes a few interesting stories of historical events from wine growing regions. Also building upon his family's career background in the ski town hospitality industry of both Jackson Hole and Park City, he is excited for the future of wine ahead to combine his various interests and skills. He has already passed 5 wine certification exams in 2021, and he will be expanding his knowledge in Burgundy this fall. You can bookmark his blog at www.drinkswithalexlopez.com and you can check out his work on social media by finding @drinkswithalexlopez on Instagram. Recorded April 2, 2022

This episode features Peter Poulos, a wine and hospitality professional whose path in wine began while in Athens, GA attending The University of Georgia. He says that his wine curiosity while serving in restaurants led to further experimentation. He moved to Atlanta after college to pursue his first passion of dance, but while juggling auditions and rehearsals, Peter was also a member of the team at Veni Vidi Vici where he was introduced to obscure grapes, higher price points, and often overlooked Italian regions. After seven years with that company, Peter opened a Pilates studio, where he was named "best instructor" 4 years in a row by popular vote in Creative Loafing. To make ends meet, Peter accepted a position with Concentrics group at their flagship restaurant, One Midtown Kitchen, where he was surrounded by wine once again and was able to take his wine education more seriously. He recalls, however, that leading a new team at The Spence with advanced sommelier Justin Amick was the role that would ultimately change his life. Justin held a wine tasting group on Mondays, and one night after a few too many glasses of Assyrtiko, Peter registered for his level one and two Court of Master Sommelier exams. We talk about how he successfully passed both exams in one weekend. He later became the beverage director/sommelier at Parrish in Inman Park of Atlanta where he created new cocktails and restyled their wine list for 3 years. We talk about what it's been like to move from restaurants to retail because Peter has been the lead buyer at Highland Fine Wine now for 4 years, and his commitment to hospitality is more one-on-one with customers as he guides them to the perfect bottle for any occasion. He is still dancing more than ever while also continuing his wine education with Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) level 3, looking onward to diploma certification. Most recently, Peter participated in Atlanta's annual "Somm Smackdown" blind tasting competition...and won the whole thing! Peter loves to use his knowledge to educate others while still learning himself, so he challenges me to a live blind tasting at the end of the episode. His future plans include dancing his way through life, drinking wine along the way. You can follow his adventures on Instagram @petedrinkswine and check out www.highlandfinewine.com to learn more about his work. Recorded March 21, 2022

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Kelly Hawkins moved to Atlanta in 1994 to complete his last years of high school. Moving on to pursue an engineering degree at then Southern Polytechnic University in Marietta, Ga, Kelly always knew that he would eventually leave the 20-year career that he fostered in telecom to pursue something that was more suited to his passions for culture and gastronomy.  As a solo entrepreneur in the tech industry with limited knowledge of the difficult to penetrate alcohol industry, Kelly found the confidence to join longtime friend and luxury spirits veteran, Donae Burston on a journey to build La Fête Wine Co.  Overseeing brand development for the now global luxury wine label, Kelly understands that real life experiences play a very important role in the authenticity of a brand's message. Their flagship wine, La Fête du Rosé, is the first entirely black-owned rose from St. Tropez in the South of France and was also the fastest growing luxury rosé of 2021. We talk about his travels from city to city visiting some of the world’s most iconic hotels and restaurants. He is a connoisseur of lifestyle. Whether it be luxury travel destinations, fine menswear, watches, cigars and of course great wine, Kelly Hawkins is what you would call a tastemaker. You can follow his adventures @kelly_the_guy on Instagram, and you can learn more about the wines by visiting www.lafeterose.com. Recorded March 21, 2022

Eduardo Porto Carreiro moved to Atlanta in 2017 after spending five years in New York City and previously ten years in Los Angeles. He first joined the Rocket Farm team as a Beverage Manager overseeing JCT, Marcel, and The Optimist in Atlanta and also became the Beverage Director for the restaurant’s independent concepts. Having studied Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University followed by an extensive career in both wine retail and fine dining programs, he brings an enthusiasm for sharing the stories of winemakers, farmers, craft distillers, and small brewers to his current role in the Southeast. He believes the greatest skill needed to excel as a sommelier is listening to guests so that you can provide a positive, warm, and unforgettable experience. We talk about the Atlanta wine community and how he emphasizes the importance of wine education opportunities for his staff. He talks about how acting as a catalyst for creativity and integrity in the beverage programs keeps him focused and inspired. We also dive into the concept of wine “fluency” as a continuous pursuit of education and communication in the wine industry. You can follow @_educardo_pc on instragram for his insights, and you can visit www.rocketfarmrestaurants.comto learn about the restaurant group. Recorded March 10, 2022

This episode features Alli and Bertus van Zyl, the dynamic duo behind the bright, fresh wines of Belong Wine Co. that they launched in 2017. Their portfolio celebrates their adventures, explorations, their love and respect for one another, and their community and land. These minimal intervention wines are energetic and have a zest for life that's simply captivating - just like their makers. Their production is focused on the El Dorado County region of the Sierra Foothills. As proud members of Climate Neutral and 1% for the Planet, Alli and Bertus are passionate about making Belong Wine Co. a company for good and are excited to continue their efforts to leave their land better than they found it. We talk about from where they drew inspiration for the label, the artwork, and the wines. We also talk about what makes the Mourvèdre grape so intriguing as a backbone for this project – and why it pairs so perfectly with South African Biltong! Bertus is from Cape Town, South Africa and studied viticulture and enology at the University of Stellenbosch. He is also the winemaker for James Cole, Tank Garage, and T-Vine. You can visit www.belongwines.com to learn more about their Belong Co. wines, and you can follow @belongwineco to stay up to date with all events, news, and releases. Recorded March 7, 2022