This episode features Sommelier and Wine Director, Steven Grubbs, who currently manages four wine programs in Georgia. His longest role is with Five and Ten in Athens, where he got his start in the industry, to the newest now being Commune, a listening room and wine bar in Avondale estates which conveniently combines his love for wine and music as he is also a musician. You’ll hear about his approach to this wine list, which is a little different than programs he has designed in the past for several reasons, and you’ll also hear a bit about his previous experience opening Empire State South here in Atlanta, which was a hub of the wine community for many years. He talks about how ESS served as an incubator of sorts for so many talented people who continued on to have successful careers in food and beverage. Steven has a wealth of knowledge about the evolultion of the wine industry here in the Southeast, and he shares some interesting perspectives on the changes in Georgia’s supply chain over the years. We also analyze how he continues to find joy in multiple passions, from wine to music to making furniture, and he also offers some insight for how to navigate the current wine market. You can find him @risingtidesdrinkingservices on Instagram to learn more about his work, and you can check out @commune_atl for his newest wine program.

Recorded May 21, 2024

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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