A Cork in the Road

This episode features Steffini Bethea, owner of Purple Corkscrew Wine Shop and Tasting Room located in Avondale Estates. Steffini is a wife and mother of two who back 2012 saw a need for a shop that sold carefully chosen, high quality wines within Atlanta. In addition to her WSET wine certification, she also holds a degree in Biology from the University of Houston which has served as a backbone to her studies in viticulture. Her most important role at Purple Corkscrew is that of Chief Curator of wines serving as the purveyor of small, boutique, award-winning wines. Her expertise has attracted winemakers from all corners of the globe to visit the shop, and Steffini is also well-traveled for wine both domestically and internationally. Alongside other wine aficionados, she has explored regions such as Rhone Valley, various regions in Spain, Walla Walla Valley in Washington, and small vineyards in Oregon. She has also volunteered at harvest in efforts to expand her knowledge of the winemaking process. She believes it is key to know where the grapes come from and how they are pressed and fermented to make the magic that she sells in every bottle. You can follow @purplecorkscrewwine on social media and check out www.purplsecorkscrew.com for all information about their tastings and events.

Recorded September 19, 2023

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

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features Jordan Smelt, the wine director and co-owner of Lucian Books & Wine in Buckhead, Atlanta. Originally from Tampa, Jordan has called Atlanta home for over two decades and during that time has worked at some of the best restaurants in the city, including Cakes & Ale, Holeman & Finch, and Restaurant Eugene. He also served as the General Manager of Rive Gauche Wine Co., a wine distribution company that launched in 2019. Jordan operates Lucian with his wife Katie Barringer, and they live in Buckhead with their three pets, Maxwell, Phoebe, and Ms. P. He talks about how the concept came to be and what inspired them to combine these two passions. He also speaks to how he felt those first couple days of opening as well as what excites him about the future of the Atlanta wine industry. We discuss his process for building the Lucian wine list that releases every two months, and it sounds like the November/December list is going to be extra special this year. You can follow @lucianbooksandwine on social media and sign up for their newsletter or book a reservation by visiting www.lucianbooksandwine.com.

Recorded August 21, 2023

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TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features Hailey Culmone, a Certified Sommelier in Atlanta, GA who works in wine distribution and hosts private tasting events. She grew up working in restaurants, but it wasn't until a 6-month trip abroad between undergraduate and graduate school working on a coffee farm led her to fall deeper in love with wine. We talk about how she started to notice the nuances of both coffee and wine, the similarities, and the importance of place. Upon her return to Atlanta, she worked at East Pole Coffee Co. and simultaneously returned to Cooks & Soldiers to continue her wine education. She began hosting wine classes at her home and later started a business designing in-home tastings and wine events for private clients. We talk about the experience of recently taking the Certified Sommelier Exam, how she designs her in-home classes to make learning about wine accessible to anyone, and her passion for equipping people with the knowledge to navigate the vast world of wine. You can follow her @somm.where on Instagram and learn more about her classes by visiting www.haileyculmone.com.

Recorded August 18, 2023

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

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features Anthony Panzica, the Beverage Director of The Porchetta Group based in Atlanta, GA. He overseas the beverage programs at all of the restaurants that are part of this Italian-focused restaurant group rooted in values of community, culture, and family. We talk about his early experiences with food in his family, his approach to wine pairings, and his fascination with Vermouth. We also reminisce about some of the recent collaborations we’ve done together that have been rooted in uplifting our fellow restaurant and hospitality industry professionals. He also has a deep passion for holistic health practices, working out, and helping people heal from issues they have suffered from chronically. Balancing food and wine with a healthy lifestyle is one of his priorities, so keep an ear out for some of his guiding principles near the end of the show. On his time away from the restaurants, he gives his wife and kids as much time as he can. His energy for always striving to learn more about something or learn something new is infectious. You can follow him @thatmanant as well as find his work featured at the restaurant group's social media: @whitebullatl, @porchettagroup, @alicioysterbar, @granaatl, and @bastoneatl.

Recorded August 8, 2023

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TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features Laura Brown Unterstein, a passionate wine professional combining the expertise of her years as an American Sign Language Interpreter with her verve for the wine world. She is currently the national sales manager for Maysara Winery, as well as the cofounder of Uncorked Access, an organization making the wine industry more accessible to the d/Deaf community. She has been recognized for her work in the industry by Wine Enthusiast as a 40 Under 40 Tastemaker, on the 2023 Imbibe 75 list, and holds her WSET Level 3 Award in wines. We talk about life in Nashville, we dive deep into her love of Oregon wines, and we explore ways in which the wine community can become more accessible and inclusive. Laura lives in Nashville with her husband, and is a devoted dog mom to their two pups, with a human baby girl on the way this fall. You can follow her @wine.language.interpreter on Instagram and learn more about ASL wine education, advocacy, and access by following @uncorked_access.

Recorded July 14, 2023

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

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features Kelly of A Cork in the Road as a guest on The Wine Makers Podcast with Brian Casey, Sam Coturri, Bart Hansen, and host John Myers recorded live at the Sixteen 600 tasting house in Sonoma County in February 2023.

We (Kelly and Ryan) have been big fans of their show and their wines for awhile, so being on their show was an honor. It was an incredible opportunity to sit down and talk about everything from early days working in Virginia wine country to college studies at Michigan State, and we even somehow ended up talking about discus. Of course there’s also a lot of love for the Atlanta wine community and some shout outs, so we hope you enjoy tuning in and make sure to follow The Wine Makers Podcast if you don’t already because these guys will always make you feel connected to what’s happening in Sonoma wine no matter where you are in the world.

Thank you @winemakerspod @grapeswithaview @dane_cellars @sonomawinelover @myerssonoma and @sixteen600 - looking forward to cheersing together again sometime soon!

This episode is a “first” in the podcast’s history because we had not one, not two, but six microphones set up for this live recording in Atlanta, GA. It is also our first roundtable discussion format for the show. We sat down with 5 Italian wine producers that were visiting Atlanta as part of a tour with The Sorting Table, an importer who distributes their producers' wines to wholesalers throughout the United States. The following participants will briefly introduce themselves at the beginning of the episode:

We popped a bottle of Champagne and talked about their work in their respective regions but also discussed what they enjoy about visiting the United States, what common goals they share right now, and how they are each navigating the balance of honoring tradition while also keeping a watchful eye on the future with a modern perspective.

Recorded June 12, 2023 LIVE at Prime Wine & Spirits of Georgia

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This episode was made possible thanks to generous support from Kevin OSullivan of Prime Wine & Spirits of Georgia and Lisa Stewart of The Sorting Table.

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features Sommelier Jason Wilfore, the recent champion of our "Unusual Suspects" Blind Tasting Competition here in Atlanta, GA. He was born and raised in Schenectady, NY and got his start working in the restaurant business as a server and singer at Romano's Macaroni Grill. He later worked at Provence in Guilderland, NY which focused more on traditional French and Mediterranean cuisine that also sparked his interested in wine and beverage followed by working at Grappa '72, another local upscale family-owned restaurant that focused on Northern and Southern Italian cuisine. He moved to Atlanta in 2016 and started working at South City Kitchen in Vinings as a server and bartender. He says that as his curiosity for beverage grew, his beverage manager suggested looking into the Introductory and Certified Courses and Exams with the Court of Master Sommeliers, and the Certified Specialist of Wine certification with the Society of Wine Educators. He passed both the CSW and Certified exams in 2019, and he transferred to Ecco in Midtown where he was able to merge his French/Italian/Mediterranean experiences and start building some knowledge in Spanish cuisine and beverage. After eventually getting promoted to Beverage Manager, he started learning the business/logistical aspects of a beverage program. We talk about his move to Marcel, which meant a shift from a management position to be able to work at a fine dining restaurant with an extensive wine program and continue his development while working with and learning from the sommelier. Currently, Jason is working as a sommelier at Mujo, and we talk about the unique setting in which he is now applying his wine knowledge and creativity. The second half of the episode is devoted to debriefing about the blind tasting competition - Jason walks us through his thought process and strategy for each of his calls, and the dialogue is both entertaining and educational. You can follow @wilforejay on Instagram and find him on Twitch at SommJay.

Recorded June 9, 2023

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

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features our live audience in-person recording with winemaker Filipa Pato from Portugal. Thanks to Bon Vin Selections, we set up this recording at Dom Beijos in Kirkwood, a wine shop that specializes in showcasing Portuguese wines in the heart of Atlanta. Her passion for the indigenous grape varieties of the Bairrada appellation of Portugal is what led her to start her own project in 2001. She works with a total of 12 hectares of vineyards utilizing biodynamic farming practices and minimal-intervention winemaking. Alongside her husband, she says they produce "vinhos autênticos sem maquilagem" – Authentic Wines Without Makeup. We opened some sparkling wine, said cheers to the crowd, and then talked about this focus on and passion for indigenous Portuguese varieties. One in particular, the Baga grape, has become the cornerstone of her work in the region, and we talk about how she adjusts her farming and her approach to winemaking that allows for these grapes with strong Portuguese identity to truly shine. We also have a surprise mic visit from her husband, Belgian sommelier and restaurateur William Wouters, who was the former head chef for the Belgian national Soccer team during the World Cup in Brazil. He shares some insight on what it’s like to visit them in Portugal and how he approaches wine pairing in the kitchen with these native grape varieties. Their collaboration and teamwork is inspiring, and they bring such a joy to exploring the world of wine during their travels. Filipa has a background as a Chemical engineer, but she then refined her winemaker skills doing harvests in Bordeaux, Mendoza, Argentina, and Australia as well as learning alongside her father, Luis Pato, who made his first wine in 1980 showcasing pure Baga with exceptional quality and catching the attention and intrigue from the broader wine industry. Together, Filipa and William share all their experiences: the love for food and wine, encounters with great wine growers, sommeliers and wine lovers from all over the world, and the magical, inexhaustible culture of the world of wine. Today, Ois do Bairro is the center of their wine universe. You can follow @filipa_pato on Instagram learn more about their wines by visiting www.patowouters.com.

Recorded June 1, 2023 LIVE at Dom Beijos

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This episode was made possible by Bon Vin Selections and former podcast guest, Steven Meir, along with generous support from Melissa and Justin of Dom Beijos who provided the perfect recording space for this live audience event.

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE

This episode features Jill Davis, the Hospitality & Events Manager for DuMOL Winery where she brings the DuMOL story to life for guests at the winery and on the road. Jill grew up outside of Atlanta and went to college at Georgia Tech, and now her unmatched enthusiasm for and knowledge of wine allow her to engage with novices and experts alike. Prior to joining DuMOL, Jill spent several years leading beverage programs for restaurants and hotels, predominantly with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, as well as several harvests working in the cellar at Failla Wines in California. As a lifelong learner, she recently sat for the Master Sommelier Theory exam and continues to deepen her understanding of the winemaking process. In 2021, Jill also produced the first vintage of her personal label, Cordelette Wine. When she isn’t at the winery, you can find her trail running, mountain biking, or rock climbing with her dog Paddy in the hills of Sonoma County. Check out www.DuMOL.com to learn more about their wines and appointment options, and you can follow @jillkd on Instagram.

Recorded May 17, 2023

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

TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE