A Cork in the Road

In Episode 187, we explore the role of beverage programs in restaurant evaluations. Award entities can greatly impact the entire ecosystem of a restaurant and surrounding relationships, and an interesting conversation recently sparked among journalists, beverage professionals, and restaurants surrounding the forthcoming 2026 Atlanta’s “50 Best Restaurants” list. We spoke about this issue with not only the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) who is curating the list, but we also gathered insights from two journalists who have depth and breadth of expertise in food and beverage media. Henna Bakshi, formerly of CNN and Eater, is now the Senior Editor for Forbes Wine and was the initial spark for this dialogue. In our interview, she shares her passion for why food and beverages are both critical components of a comprehensive dining experience. Journalist Mike Jordan, formerly a reporter for the AJC, provides historical context for this type of dining evaluation process in Atlanta as well as shares his own perspective on whether to include beverage as a component in restaurant evaluations. Everyone on today’s show mentioned that this is an important conversation to have if we want to continue improving and elevating Atlanta’s dining scene within the context of other national and international dining standards of excellence. So, after listening to today’s show, we want to hear from you - tell us what you think should be included in restaurant rankings and award programs. How should beverages be considered as part of the scoring criteria? You can connect with Henna on Instagram at @hennabakshi and Mike on Instagram at @mikejordanatl. We look forward to the continued conversations and ideas as we celebrate the complex and beautiful world of food, beverage, and dining.

Recorded October 2026

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In Episode 186, Kelly and fellow Atlanta beverage professionals explore Korean rice wine with Alice Jun, founder and brewer of Brooklyn-based Hana Makgeolli. Recorded live at The Oenophile Institute in Atlanta, this conversation highlights makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine with deep cultural roots and growing relevance in the modern beverage landscape. Alice is the first domestic producer of traditional Korean rice wine in the U.S., and she uses organic rice and traditional brewing methods to create expressive, complex beverages that honor Korean brewing traditions while making the category accessible to a new generation of drinkers. For Kelly and several guests in the live audience, this was the first taste of makgeolli, making the conversation as much about discovery as it is about tradition. Alice also shares how makgeolli can work in culinary settings, from food pairings to restaurant beverage programs, and why this category deserves a place in the broader conversation about fermented beverages. A special thanks to our friends at Rive Gauche Wine Co. for connecting us with Alice and bringing Hana Makgeolli to Georgia. It’s an episode about tradition, technique, and what we discover when we expand our minds and palates. You can learn more about the portfolio by visiting www.hanamakgeolli.com and following @hanamakgeolli on Instagram.

Recorded September 25, 2026 LIVE at The Oenophile Institute

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What happens when the worlds of wine and sake overlap? In this live audience episode of A Cork in the Road at The Vine Club, Kelly sits down with Chris Johnson, the National Sales Director for World Sake Imports, to explore the craft, culture, and culinary possibilities of sake with a series of food pairing challenges. Named a Sake Samurai by the Young Brewers Association of Japan in 2013, Chris is also a Certified Sake Sommelier, a WSET Level 3 Sake Educator, and a longtime sake judge. Chris has spent nearly three decades working across the sake and restaurant industries, and now, with his portfolio newly launched in Georgia through Bon Vin Selections, he’s helping restaurants make sake more approachable and build better sake programs. Recorded with a live audience at The Vine Club in Atlanta, this conversation dives into sake’s sense of place, generations of brewing knowledge, and the similarities it shares with wine. And to put that knowledge to the test, Kelly challenges Chris to a series of spontaneous food pairings with deliciously unpredictable results. From iconic Japanese breweries and sake styles to practical ways to incorporate sake into beverage programs, this episode is a lively look at a category that deserves a bigger seat at the table. You can follow Chris at @thesakeninja on Instagram, and you can learn more about the sake portfolio at www.worldsake.com.

Featuring insights from the following guests in the audience:

Chelsea Young @winey.redhead

Stephanie Patrick @sugoisupergirl

Mona Allen @monas.table

Paige Plumblee @well_poured

Steven Meir @bonvinselections

Chef Paul Gutting @ryokou.atl

Recorded August 31, 2026

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What happens when a classically trained musician pursues a career in wine? For Emma Rubenstein, it means becoming a Certified Sommelier, Assistant General Manager at Atlanta’s Cooks & Soldiers, and a drummer in a Brazilian psych band. In Episode 184 of A Cork in the Road, Kelly sits down with Emma to explore her journey from studying sociology and music to more than a decade in Atlanta’s hospitality and wine scene. Emma brings a unique perspective to her career in wine, with a genuine passion for helping people feel more confident exploring what’s in their glass. When she’s not working at the restaurant, Emma can be found behind the drum kit with Atlanta’s Brazilian psych band Sad Fish, comfort-watching Star Trek and Vanderpump Rules, or hanging out with her two husky mixes and sassy tabby cat. This conversation also takes us beyond Atlanta, with stories from Emma’s recent travels through Spain and Portugal, including some unexpected twists and valuable life lessons. Plus, she gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at her return to the 2027 Sommlympics, including the process of choosing a team name. You can follow Emma on Instagram at @botrytits, and you can learn more about her wine program at @cooksatl and www.cooksandsoldiers.com.

Recorded August 30, 2026

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What happens when a professional basketball career collides with a passion for wine? For NBA player CJ McCollum, it looks a lot like owning a winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and continuing to study wine with the same curiosity and dedication he brings to the basketball court. In this live audience episode of A Cork in the Road, Kelly and a group of fellow Atlanta wine professionals sit down with CJ at The Vine Club in Atlanta for a conversation about the origins of McCollum Heritage 91 and the evolution into his estate-driven wines from McCollum Family Vineyard. CJ shares how wine became more than an interest, why he continues to pursue his wine education, and how he balances the worlds of professional basketball and winemaking. This episode explores what these two seemingly different worlds have in common: discipline, curiosity, and teamwork. You can keep an eye out for McCollum Family Vineyard wines on retail shelves and wine lists, and you can also follow @mccollumfamilyvineyard and @3jmccollum on Instagram.

Featuring insights from the following guests in the audience:

Taylor Sublett @thevineclubatl

Mike Jordan @mikejordanatl

Chelsea Young @winey.redhead

Randi Brady @diveresifiedwines

Jordan Alexandria @oenophileinstitute

Christine Fludd @revivalwine

Recorded August 1, 2026

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Episode 182 takes A Cork in the Road “on the road” to Walla Walla, Washington, for a special crossover episode with our friends at The Wine Makers podcast. Recorded during Blood of Gods Annual Merrymaking, an unforgettable festival celebrating the intersection of wine, art, music, and heavy metal, this episode explores what makes the event and the Walla Walla wine community so special. After nearly 15 years in wine, I can honestly say this was one of the best events I’ve attended. It is rooted in community, creativity, exploration, and a whole lot of joy. Huge thanks to Winery Sixteen 600 for bringing me into the fold by giving me the very fun assignment of writing a wine review for the Blood of Gods ‘zine with one instruction: don’t follow the rules. For this conversation, we all sit down with Stacy Buchanan, founder of Blood of Gods, and Brooke Delmas Robertson of Delmas Wines, who recently opened a tasting room in downtown Walla Walla. We talk about the origins of Blood of Gods, what’s happening in the Walla Walla wine scene, and the unlikely but delightful ways wine and heavy metal music can come together. It’s a conversation about wine, creativity, community, and finding joy in doing things a little differently. And yes, we talk about the wine, too, because the Delmas wines are absolutely stunning. Welcome to Walla Walla.

Featuring:

Brian Casey @sonomawinelover @winemakerspod

Brooke Delmas Robertson @delmaswines

Stacy Buchanan @bloodofgodszine

Jasmine Egan @jazegan @sixteen600

www.delmaswines.com

www.thewinemakerspodcast.com

Recorded July 18, 2026

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Episode 181 of A Cork in the Road welcomes Kiki Austin, Atlanta's acclaimed sake sommelier and the head sommelier at Michelin-starred Mujō. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Kiki's journey into sake began with a single drink after karate class and has since taken her from wine retail and fine dining to immersive travels throughout Japan, deepening her understanding of one of the world's most fascinating beverages. In this conversation, Kiki shares how sake is made, why it's so unique for food pairings, and how thoughtful hospitality can make guests feel more confident exploring it. We also discuss the artistry and pursuit of excellence in Michelin-starred dining in Atlanta, and she talks about her passion for increasing visibility for the sake industry as a whole. Whether you're already a sake enthusiast or simply sake-curious, this episode offers an engaging look at the people, culture, and craftsmanship behind every pour. You can follow @kiki.sipz and @mujoatl on Instagram, and visit www.mujoatl.com to learn more about their menu and experience.

Recorded July 20, 2026

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From the classroom to the wine bar, Bejay Osby has spent nearly two decades proving that education comes in many forms. In Episode 180 of A Cork in the Road, Kelly sits down with the longtime Atlanta educator and wine student to explore how his career as a school teacher has naturally complemented his lifelong passion for wine, hospitality, and community. Bejay reflects on the mentors, restaurants, and wine shops that shaped his journey through Atlanta's wine scene from his early days discovering Cru Beaujolais to working events with Brookhaven Wines and behind the bar at Chamblee & Vine. Together, Kelly and Bejay also celebrate their shared love of dining along Buford Highway, where his creative "No Sunday Scaries Supper Club" pairs thoughtfully selected wines with unforgettable meals, meaningful conversations, and new friendships. It's a nostalgic walk through Atlanta wine history, a celebration of lifelong learning, and a reminder that the best wine experiences are always about the people around the table.

Recorded April 26, 2026

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Episode 179 features an entertaining recording at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA with a live audience conversation and tasting hosted by Poppi Monroe, the U.S. Central Regional Sales Manager for Champagne Laurent-Perrier. Joined by a room full of women working throughout the Atlanta wine industry, Kelly sits down with Poppi to explore her fascinating career journey from acting in film and television to building a successful career in wine sales, brand development, and distributor management. Today, Poppi oversees six Southern states for one of Champagne's most celebrated houses, and she shares insights on leadership, relationship-building, navigating a competitive industry, and how experiences from previous careers continue to shape her approach to the wine business. Throughout the discussion, guests enjoy and react to a guided tasting of Laurent-Perrier Champagnes paired with caviar, courtesy of Arrivato Imports. Laurent-Perrier has been crafting fresh and elegant Champagnes for over 200 years. The House is family- and female-run plus fiercely independent. The energy from the audience brought synergistic curiosity, candor, and plenty of thoughtful insights, creating an atmosphere that sparked meaningful conversations about wine, career growth, and the experiences women encounter throughout the industry. Whether you're passionate about Champagne, interested in wine careers, or simply enjoy hearing stories from people making wine more human and accessible, this episode delivers an inspiring and engaging conversation from start to finish.

Special thanks to Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits for sponsoring this live audience recording and to Chris McLlyod for helping to make this whole tasting experience possible.

Recorded May 6, 2026

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What happens when the worlds of wine and golf collide? More than you might think. In Episode 178 of A Cork in the Road, we welcome two Virginia wine industry leaders - Stephen Barnard, the Winemaker for Keswick Vineyards, and Lance Lemon, the owner of Penny’s Wine Shop and Parallax Project Wines - for a lively and unexpected conversation about the parallels between the craft of wine and the game of golf. Recorded ahead of the 4th annual Monticello Wine Trail Winemakers Golf Tournament, this episode explores how both pursuits challenge us to keep learning, embrace imperfection, connect with nature and community, and find joy in the journey. From how a glass of wine might affect your golf swing to bigger conversations around wine tourism, collaboration, and creating memorable experiences, there is no shortage of entertaining insight. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire wine Q&A with both guests that delivers plenty of laughs and reveals the personalities behind the bottles. A special thank you to the Monticello Wine Trail for sponsoring this episode and empowering us to highlight the innovative ways Virginia’s wine community is bringing people together through shared experiences.

For more information about all of the 2026 Wine Week festivities, you can visit www.monticellowinetrail.com/taste-of

Recorded in June 2026 with generous suppport from our friends at the Monticello Wine Trail.

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