A Cork in the Road

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

This episode features Randi Brady, creator of Diversified Vines and Taste the Playlist. She is a wine enthusiast originally from Harlem who is committed to bridging the gap between the gritty elements of hip-hop and the nuanced world of wine. She has spent the last three years creating her wine brand platform, but her most recent project is an event that allows guests to enjoy a curated playlist intently paired with fine wine. As a student of both hip-hop and wine, Randi has developed a unique perspective of interlacing the two. Influenced by her appetite for learning and passion, she decided to start on the WSET path in 2019 to advance her wine education. She currently holds a WSET 2 Award in Wines and is looking forward to starting the Champagne Master-Level program offered by Wine Scholar Guild. We talk about some of her favorite wine and music pairings - specifically a 2018 Vincent & Sophie Morey Bourgogne with 80s hip-hop! - and some of her guiding principles. You can follow her journey online @diversifiedvines and @tastetheplaylist, and you can visit www.diversifiedvines.com for her playlists and event updates. Recorded March 4, 2022

Kicking off a new season of wine stories from the Southeast, this episode features Matthew Conway - the owner, operator, and sommelier at The Tippling House in Charleston’s Elliotborough neighborhood. The Tippling House is an intimate wine bar set in a Charleston Single house, and the wine list is printed and dated every day highlighting a global selection of bottles produced by families that respect the land they farm and the history of their domaines. We talk about the goals of his wine program, why he allows all of the wines to be available by the half bottle, and how he sources from his personal cellar to create a list called “Matthew’s Stash”. He talks about how he strives to create a wine bar that caters to all wine lovers regardless of taste or budget. We chat about making the move to Charleston, South Carolina in March of 2020 after 17 years in New York City and 14 years as partner and beverage director at Restaurant Marc Forgione. Conway, a native Californian, moved to NYC in 2004 where he worked for the late Chef Gray Kunz at Café Gray in the Time Warner center from 2004-2007. In 2010, he took a short leave to work in the world-famous cellars of Taillevent in Paris, France. After returning in the fall of 2010, Restaurant Marc Forgione received one Michelin Star and shortly thereafter, Matthew became a certified coffee sommelier, was honored as one of Zagat’s “30 Under 30” in 2012 and named one of Star Chefs “Rising Star Sommeliers” of 2015. Matthew has consistently been a featured sommelier at several of the top wine events of the year including but not limited to La Paulée and La Fête du Champagne. Matthew now holds partnership at La Tablée which focuses on the Northern Rhône Valley, so we dive into what fascinates him most about this region. Since opening The Tippling House in October 2021, his team has received glowing coverage from Wine Spectator and Charleston City Paper. The Post & Courier also just named Matthew and his fiancé Carissa Hernandez a Charleston “Food and Beverage Power Couple” in February of 2022. Add The Tippling House to your list of must-visit wine destinations for your next trip to Charleston. You can visit www.thetipplinghousechs.com for more info, and you can follow @conbeazie and @tipplinghousechs on Instagram. Recorded March 2, 2022

Amanda Kimbrough is a lifelong Georgian who works in distribution for Avant Partir, a wine wholesale company selling primarily natural wine to restaurants and retailers. We talk about her journey in the wine industry and how she draws inspiration from her travels, her colleagues, and her connections in Atlanta. She’s known around town for bringing people together and advocating for the advancement of representation in the wine industry, so we chat about her insight on what makes Atlanta unique, why it's important to lower barriers to starting careers in wine, and what she thinks progress would look like in relation to gender and racial equity in the industry. You can follow her adventures at @amandabunbun on social media. Recorded December 19, 2021

Cate Hatch grew up in both Atlanta, Georgia, and Raleigh, North Carolina, and has always cherished the culture and food heritage of the American South. She is a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and a Certified Specialist of Wine since 2008. We talk about how she had the opportunity to work for and with some of the legends of southern cuisine: Scott Peacock at Watershed as a Dining Room Manager, with Kevin Gillespie at Woodfire Grill as Sommelier, and most recently, with Gina and Linton Hopkins, working her way up to Director of Operations, Leadership & Wine. In 2019, Hatch reunited with her former Woodfire Grill colleague, Joey Ward, to lead the highly anticipated restaurants Southern Belle and Georgia Boy, just months ahead of the pandemic. After a very exciting year and a half guiding the team through 2020’s strange times, we talk about what reopening Southern Belle & Georgia Boy in 2021 has been like with a renewed focus on the wine program and creative pairings. You can follow her adventures @cate_with_a_cee on social media, and you can visit www.southernbelleatl.com to learn more about the restaurants. Recorded November 16, 2021