A Cork in the Road

This episode featuring Sommelier Chris McLloyd is both inspiring and entertaining - he has such a joyful approach to wine exploration. After first working in the music industry, he gained experience serving at restaurants and ultimately decided to pursue a career in wine. With a combination of both formal and informal wine studies, he transitioned to the wine retail space where he still continues...

This episode featuring Sommelier Juan Cortés is one of a kind - it will give you a true look behind the wine into his incredible journey to becoming one of Atlanta's most talented wine professionals. Like a series of short stories, he will outline details of experiences that have shaped his perspective and work ethic from a very young age growing up in Colombia. Wine has always been woven into his...

Sarah Pierre, an Atlanta native, has been the owner of 3 Parks Wine Shop in Atlanta's Glenwood Park neighborhood since 2013. She moved into the wine world from restaurants and brings her expertise in hospitality and service to her wine shop. She laughs as she recalls the mixed emotions from that first day opening the doors and welcoming customers, but she also reflects fondly on how much their har...

This episode features Whitney Blue, wine educator of @winewithwhitney and sales rep for Prime Wine and Spirits based in Atlanta, GA. We talk about her experiences working in retail, restaurants, and distribution and how she continues to be drawn into the story aspect of the wine industry. She recalls taking a wine class during her senior year of college in Florida and how that sparked a deeper int...

This episode features Ahry Ko, the Corporate Beverage Director for Savi Provisions based in Atlanta, GA. She first moved to Atlanta for college at Emory University with her eyes set on attending law school, but she decided to pursue her passion for wine and has already established herself as a talented sommelier in the southeast market. We talk about all the ways she weaves her approach for academ...

Certified Sommelier Pepe Fundora grew up in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and his passion for helping people discover new wines lies at the core of all his work. His family owns and operates an Italian restaurant in Alpharetta, GA called Casa Nuova that is extremely connected to the local community. They are known not only for their incredible food and wine program, but also for their g...

Perrine Prieur grew up in France just a few miles from Chablis on her family's farm. Her connection to nature and vineyards started at a very young age, and her passion for food and wine continued to grow while studying culinary arts and hospitality. Upon graduating from Le Castel sommelier school, she moved to London to work in Michelin 3 star restaurant La Gavroche. Her wine career eventually to...

This episode features Katie Melchior, a French-speaking blogger and educator based in New York City, who is quickly becoming a leading voice in the digital wine world. She has a wealth of knowledge in French culture and is using her unique online platform to educate and inspire both wine novices and professionals to explore the deep connection between language and place. Using her additional exper...

This episode explores a slightly different aspect of the wine industry through the media lens of journalist and freelance lifestyle writer, Lia Picard. She is based in Atlanta and reports on food, spirits, travel, decor, and more for a wide variety of online and print publications such as The Washington Post, CNN Travel, Bon Appétit, Playboy, Zagat, Eater, and Atlanta Magazine. Some of her recent...

Sommelier Janeen Jason is one of the welcoming faces you see whenever you shop for wine at VinoTeca in the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta, but she's also a talented blind taster and a dedicated mentor for other young wine professionals. More than just a retail store, VinoTeca is also a venue for educational events and tastings that are designed to welcome everyone interested in taking their wi...

This episode takes us virtually to Chattanooga, TN for a visit with Mariano and Angelia Cebrián of Panoram Imports to talk about their portfolio of wines from Argentina. This husband-wife duo met in Georgia during college, but their import business brings Mariano's Argentine culture to the Southeast wine market through their connections with small, quality producers in Mendoza and Salta that they...

This international episode features Adeline Borra, a chef and wine instructor living in Beaune, France. She is creating unique wine and food experiences at her home in Burgundy as part of "Terroirs by Adeline" and is welcoming food and wine lovers from around the world for events and classes. She grew up in France with a distinguished family history in the wine business, but she also attended culi...

Sean Omar is the founder and owner of The Wine Guide in Atlanta, GA. He brings his passion for wine culture and world travels to his business of curating wine orders for his clients, hosting in-home tastings, and building partnerships with local wine shops. He studied abroad in Argentina and Spain during college, and he continues to weave his knowledge from those experiences into his wine educatio...

Clarke Anderson is a talented sommelier serving as beverage manager for Ford Fry’s restaurants, such as King + Duke, St. Cecilia, and No. 246 in Decatur. He has a wealth of experience working in restaurants and traveling for wine, and he capitalizes on his passion for hospitality and wine education in his current role. We chatted about how he got started in his wine career by picking up a book at...

Eric Miller is the son of Bob and Jane Miller, the owners of Yonah Mountain Vineyards in Cleveland, GA. He is the General Manager of the winery business, and he shared a lot of interesting insight about winery management when I visited the family's home on the North Georgia property for an afternoon chat. We talked about the past, present, and future of Georgia wine. You can find him in the tastin...

Bob and Jane Miller are the owners of Yonah Mountain Vineyards in Cleveland, GA. I sat down with them for a chat in their beautiful North Georgia home to learn about how they started their vineyard and what makes them unique. When they bought the property, they didn't even plan on planting a vineyard - but now they are putting Georgia wine country on the map with their California-style varietals a...

Nancy Waldeck is a chef, cookbook author, public speaker, and wine specialist. She leads and delivers more than 100 events and classes per year in Atlanta and beyond. Calling herself a "Healthy Chef Partyologist" and serving as an Emory University certified health coach, she thrives at the intersection of health, food, and wine. She is sharing her knowledge with students and clients, and she loves...

Dana Gurela is the owner of Deep Roots Wine Market and Tasting Room located in historic downtown Roswell, GA. She is a California Wine Appellation Specialist and has passed her WSET Level 2 exam. Her shop hosts special events and workshops that allow people to explore all that California has to offer right in the heart of Georgia. With experience working out in the Bay Area, she is bringing her pa...

Travis Green is the winemaker at Atlanta's City Winery. He is a huge supporter of the Georgia wine industry, and he is making many wines from Georgia-grown grapes right in the heart of an urban environment. Born and raised in the North Georgia mountains, he is bringing his enthusiasm and terrior-driven expertise to his winemaking with appreciation for what Georgia is able to produce. Learn more ab...

Faielle Stocco is Partner and Bar Manager of East Atlanta Village's Banshee, but she is no stranger to the ATL food and beverage scene. With a true passion for all things wine, she is in charge of designing the restaurant's selection with an eye for both quality and variety. She gained experience working for several restaurants in Atlanta before diving into this business, and it's exciting to see...

Tyler Barnes is the co-founder of Accent Cellars located two minutes from downtown Dahlonega, GA. He and his brother-in-law are sourcing grapes from farms in Georgia, California, and Texas to craft their wines that they sell from their tasting room. He is enthusiastic about the future of North Georgia's wine country, and he brings a contagious energy to the industry. You can learn more about their...

A familiar and friendly face of the Atlanta wine scene, Tim Willard is the Eastern Regional Sales Manager for Charlotte-based importer, European Cellars. He is a passionate wine educator who also has experience working in the high-end restaurant industry. He has completed the Advanced Sommelier course through the Court of Master Sommeliers and loves to use his wine knowledge as a way to meet new p...

Bringing a new portfolio to Atlanta's wine scene, Emmanuel Faure was born and raised in the Rhône Valley of Southern France. He began working in restaurants as a teenager with many talented chefs before discovering a career in wine. After spending time as a sommelier in Los Angeles, he moved his family to Georgia where he has now started his own wine distribution company, One On Wine. Find out mor...

Melissa Davis, formerly the beverage director at Staplehouse, was named Atlanta's 2018 "Rising Star Sommelier" by Star Chefs. She was born in Oklahoma but has been an Atlanta resident for many years and got her start by working in tea, coffee, and food service before moving into wine. Having been involved with the beverage programs at many of Atlanta's fine dining restaurants, she loves to focus o...

For a slightly different perspective on wine in the Southeast, I caught up with Mara Davis, a leading voice for Atlanta's food and dining scene. She is a radio personality, a brand ambassador, and a co-host for Atlanta Eats. She is well-known for her insight on Atlanta's restaurants and has hosted events for Taste of Atlanta among many other emcee appearances. We chatted about food trends and bad...