A Cork in the Road

This episode features Nicole Alvarez, the head Sommelier and Beverage Director at The Alden in Chamblee, GA. She has been working in restaurants since she was 16, but she also recently graduated with her college degree in Political Science last December. Her current focus is to expand the wine list at The Alden to meet the variety and range of the culinary program. Her role includes everything from buying, tasting, staff training, wine list inventory and maintenance, and wine pairings. We talk about her approach to designing wine pairings, her relationships with her wine reps, and how her family and her community continuously inspire her to chase after all her goals and dreams. She will also leave you with some insight on finding ways to relieve some of the stress of working in the service industry, and we may inspire you to drink more Champagne and Nebbiolo going into the spring season. When she is not hitting the wine grind, she says she is an avid gamer, a runner, and a crafter. You can visit www.thealdenrestaurant.com to make a reservation to check out Nicole's wine list and tasting menu pairings, and you can find @the_alden_atl on Instagram.

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This episode is generously sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard:⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines⁠⁠⁠ - available for shipping to 11 states

This episode features Adam Venable, a Sales Consultant for Winebow based in Atlanta, GA. His family is from Columbus, GA, and he got into wine through working in restaurants (Houston’s, Two Urban Licks, Empire State South, The Spence) starting around 18 years old, with help from his father who had an interest and small collection of wines. We discuss the value of sales incentives while working in these types of roles, and you’ll hear about several trips that he’s been able to take based on his sales success in both restaurants and now in distribution. He mentions that visiting wineries for the first time and even working a harvest out in Napa Valley in 2011 only made him want to learn more about the industry - the realization that it involves a lot of hard work definitely didn’t scare him away from pursuing this career in wine. This is the first podcast episode, though, where there is a major *plot twist* because throughout the whole time that Adam has been developing his passion for wine, he’s also been writing and releasing his own music and touring across the country and working with some pretty high profile mentors, like Chuck D from Public Enemy. He even got to perform at Red Rocks in Colorado opening for Wu-Tang Clan and Big Boi from OutKast the same week he was onboarded at Winebow. He says that his goals for the future are to continue to merge his loves of wine and music, and he may even be performing in Seattle at a national Winebow event later in the summer of 2024. We make some serious podcast history with a live performance of his song about Barolo at the end of the episode. You can follow @mcobeah on Instagram to follow his wine and music adventures.

Recorded February 24, 2024

This episode features Norie Chinea, the Southeast Regional Manager for Laurent-Perrier Champagne. Norie is considered a specialist in the Champagne category, but she has more than 15 years of marketing and sales experience in the wine & spirits industry. Originally from Puerto Rico, her passion for wine has led her to earn certifications from the International Wine Guild and the Court of Master Sommeliers. In pursuing her real-world experience for French wines, she worked with winemakers at various wineries she represented in Alsace, Nantes, Montpellier, Bordeaux and most recently in Reims, where she had the opportunity to work with some of the top Champagne producers of our time. Now, as a Regional Manager for "LP", Norie is responsible for growing the brand’s business in her territory. She manages all commercial sales activities including customer and distributor relationships, marketing program execution and local brand activations. You can follow her adventures at @noriechinea on Instagram, and you can also follow @champagnelaurentperrier.

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This episode is generously sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard:⁠⁠ https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines⁠⁠ - available for shipping to your door in 11 states

This episode features Braxton Parr, the Supervising Video Producer at Wine Enthusiast. He manages the Wine Enthusiast video department and leads digital media strategy, so he plays a key role in filming, editing, and directing content that is published across Wine Enthusiast platforms. We talk about how his wine education has impacted his ability to generate content ideas, and we also talk about his creative process and what inspires him these days in the world of wine-related video production. Hailing from the greater area of Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, Parr grew up influenced by video and music production throughout his entire life. He has produced content for companies including Nike, Fiverr, TV One, and more. Prior to Wine Enthusiast, he held an esteemed role in directing political content for The White House and government officials. His primary career goal is to upligft and inspire others to pursue their dreams with whatever creative medium they see fit. Outside of his video production passion, Parr is a huge foodie with a love for tasting wine and creating cocktail recipes. You can follow @wineenthusast to see his featured work, and you can connect with him @braxtonzparr to see the content he is creating for his personal brand.

Recorded January 25, 2024

⁠⁠⁠⁠TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE⁠⁠⁠

This episode features Jane Lopes, an accomplished wine professional who was born in Napa, California and graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Renaissance literature and a love for food, wine, and spirits. After college, Jane began to pick up shifts at nationally acclaimed cocktail bar, The Violet Hour, and in August of 2011, Jane moved to Nashville to be the opening beverage director at The Catbird Seat. In 2013, Jane worked as a sommelier at Eleven Madison Park in NY, where she was part of the team that got the restaurant to number one on the San Pellegrino World's 50 Best List. In 2017, she was recruited to run the beverage program at Attica, widely considered Australia's best restaurant. In September of 2018, Jane passed the prestigious Master Sommelier exam, becoming the only woman in Australia to do so. Her first book, an educational and personal guide to the world of wine, was published in September of 2019. In 2020, Jane returned to the United States to start her own wine imports company with her husband, Jonathan Ross. Their newest book, How To Drink Australian: An Essential Modern Wine Book, offers insights on all aspects of Australian wine, including inside scoops, pressing concerns and current events in each region. We talk about why she feels so passionate about these wines, and she shares what excites her about being in the wine industry right now. You can follow @janeymaxine and @auswinelegends on Instagram, and you can visit www.janelopes.com to learn more about her work and www.legendaustraliacom to learn more about her import portfolio.

Recorded December 18, 2023

⁠⁠⁠TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE⁠⁠

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This episode is generously sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard:⁠⁠ https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines⁠⁠

This episode features Dannielle Thomas, a wine sales and events professional and a WSET L3 candidate currently working at Dom Beijos wine shop in Atlanta, GA. Prior to wine, for over a decade, Danielle was working in the human rights and humanitarian sector with a focus on women's health, social and political power, and child advocacy, so we talk about how her wine journey now intertwines and overlaps with these types of interests.

While her life is filled with wine, food, travel, and community-building, her grounding is in her advocacy, love of sci-fi books and film, and with her family especially her curious and bright 5-year-old child. You can follow @dazzlingdestinia and @giw_getintowine for her insights on Instagram.

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This episode is generously sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard:⁠ https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines⁠ - now shipping to 11 states!

This episode features Francis Coligado, the Beverage Director for Nooshe Jan Group which currently consists of both locations of Del Bar and Bibi. Francis has worked in the service industry for close to 17 years and bartended for 15 of those years while obtaining a business degree from GCSU and a law degree from Florida Coastal Law School in Jacksonville, FL. He worked at Rumi’s Kitchen when he moved to Atlanta, and that is where he met Fares, the owner/CEO of Nooshe Jan Group. After leaving Rumi’s in 2018, he worked at Cooks & Soldiers before joining the team to open Del Bar in 2020. We talk about the aspects of management that he really enjoys and how he is continuously learning new skills every day while also fostering creativity among his team and prioritizing not only physical health but also mental wellbeing. They recently received recognition in Atlanta’s first Michelin Guide, so we explore how this might impact the beverage program scene here in Atlanta going forward. And while known widely and nationally recognized for their cocktail program, I have always been impressed by their wine list, so it was fun to talk with Francis about his process for designing a menu that complements and highlights their Persian dishes and such a wide variety of herbs and spices. We speak a similar language when it comes to flavors, textures, and the concept of balance. A cocktail specialist’s palate is trained to notice nuances in similar ways to those of us who study wine, so I loved hearing Francis tell me how be approaches making cocktail recommendations to someone who typically drinks wine. You can follow @delbaratl and @foligado23 on social media to learn more about his work.

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Recorded November 27, 2023

⁠TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features an in-person conversation with winemaker Pepe Raventós recorded live in Atlanta, GA. He is the 21st generation of the family to work the same land since 1497 in Spain, and Pepe is passionate about the world of wine and viticulture. Raventós i Blanc, his family’s winery, was actually the very first appointment I booked for my itinerary when I visited Spain in September - I wanted to better understand Spanish sparkling wine, and Pepe’s family offers a point of reference known around the world. We start by discussing his family’s history, but it leads us into a discussion about his experiences being part of the family business for the past 20 years and how he is envisioning an innovative future as well as pursuing his newest project that has a clear respect for sustainability, organic agriculture, the recovery of abandoned vineyards, and the protection of biodiversity called Can Sumoi. Thank you to Steeven Meir of Bon Vin Selections for bringing these wines to Atlanta and for making this interview possible. You can follow @cansumoi and @raventosiblanc on Instagram to learn more about Pepe's wines and winemaking practices.

Recorded October 22, 2023

(transcript coming soon)

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This episode is generously sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard:⁠ https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines⁠. Check out the 2023 ⁠Holiday Offering⁠ - now shipping to 11 states!

This episode features Eric S. Crane, the Director of Training for Empire Distributors, Inc. He’s been active in booze education for the last 20 years, and he says he fills his days learning and talking about fermented and distilled things. You’ll hear great ideas and a lot of wise advice as we discuss a wide variety of topics ranging from the current scope of wine education to his favorite concert and wine pairings. In his spare time he writes fan fiction about his dogs, watches stupid movies, cuts his own hair, and listens to music. And he drinks a lot of Riesling because he says he's basic like that. You can follow him @chauneuf on social media.

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This episode is generously sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard: https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines. Check out the 2023 Holiday Offering - now shipping to 11 states!

This episode features Lindsey Fragalle, a wine consultant and retail sales specialist who has worked in the wine industry for almost seven years. She started her wine journey while living for a brief time in California where she worked at two wineries in the Bay Area. Since moving back to Atlanta in early 2019, she has worked at a small, local wine shop in Brookhaven, GA called Brookhaven Wines. In this role, she helps all types of consumers pick out wines, she teaches educational classes, and she leads private tastings on and off-site. You'll hear why Lindsey loves bringing people together through wine and why she focuses on making wine more approachable to everyone, no matter their skill level or budget-- she truly believes everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy good wine. We geek out about her recent work trip to Germany, and we talk about how her time living in California has impacted her ability to speak about wines in the shop. We also recap a recent trip to Burgundy where she visited a former podcast guest’s cellars in the heart of Beaune. You can follow @sommbody_to_love and @brookhavenwines on Instagram to learn more about her adventures and the upcoming events at the shop.

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Recorded October 8, 2023

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE