Episode 170 - Building a Successful Wine Retail Career After Studying Biology and Biochemistry with Isuru Vidanage, Wine Buyer at Elemental Spirits Co.

This episode features a live audience conversation and tasting at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA with Pauline Vranken, the Chief Executive Officer of Vranken-Pommery America. This was Pauline’s first ever visit to Atlanta, and she brought a variety of sparkling wines for us to taste from California, England, and Champagne. Our friends at Georgia Crown Distributing Co. had the brilliant idea of pairing this eclectic lineup of sparkling wines with a variety of pizza flavors throughout the night. We talk about the historical legacy of Madame Pommery, her connection to the arts, and how carrying on her innovative spirit still grounds a lot of the work being done in the company today. Pauline earned her Master of Science in Civil Engineering, with a Concentration in Real Estate, Construction and Finance from Columbia University and is currently based in New York City. She says Champagne runs in her veins, so we ask her to also shed light on the significance and current status of the sparkling wine category in the wine industry as a whole today. You can follow @champagnepommery on Instagram and visit www.maisonpommery.com to learn more about their history and current portfolio.Recorded March 3, 2026 with a live audience at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA-----------------*** Check out our ⁠⁠MERCH SHOP⁠⁠ to directly support the show, and visit www.acorkintheroad.com for all upcoming events and media contributions

Episode 171 of A Cork in the Road explores how access, education, and community can reshape the wine industry through the lens of Oeno Camp, an annual immersive multi-day program designed for BIPOC wine professionals and enthusiasts based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Created through a partnership between The Veraison Project and Oenoverse, Oeno Camp blends vineyard visits, cellar experiences, tastings, and workshops with a strong focus on equity, representation, and real-world industry navigation. This episode weaves together three interviews with former campers to highlight several resonating themes and calls to action. You’ll hear from Janelle Freeman, Assistant Director of the Eastern Area for The Veraison Project, alongside two recent campers: Brion Cephus, a wine event curator based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Demi Elder, a sommelier at Bridges in New York City. Together, these conversations reflect on why Virginia wine country is the perfect classroom for this type of programming, how experiential learning can unlock confidence and opportunity, and why community-centered programs matter at a pivotal moment for the wine world. This episode is simultaneously a celebration of Virginia wine and a closer look at resource mechanisms that can widen pathways, invest in people, and build a more inclusive future for the wine industry. For the latest insights related to these efforts, you can follow @oenoverse and @theveraisonproject on Instagram, and you can visit www.twoupwinedown.com for more information about the programming. -----------------*** Check out our ⁠⁠MERCH SHOP⁠⁠ to directly support this Atlanta-based wine podcast, and visit www.acorkintheroad.com for all upcoming events and press releases

This episode features a conversation with Isuru Vidanage, the Wine Buyer at Elemental Spirts Co. in Atlanta, GA. Born in Houston, TX to Sri Lankan immigrants, Isuru went to high school in Macon, GA and later moved to Atlanta for college. He earned a degree in Biology with a distinction in Biochemistry and Evolutionary Biology and Behavior followed by working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Organic and Analytical Toxicology Branch. We talk about his work and how his team's focus was on understanding how populations within the U.S. and abroad were being exposed to pesticides. He talks about how he ultimately left the CDC to pursue other passions, and he ultimately found his way to the world of retail wine. You’ll hear his insights about the Atlanta wine scene and how his love for community, culture, and cooking are helping to elevate his own wine education – I even challenge him to dream up who he would invite to a bucket list dinner party. You can follow @elementalspirits.co on Instagram to learn more about his work and see what wines he is showcasing at the shop.Recorded February 10, 2026 -----------------*** Check out our ⁠⁠MERCH SHOP⁠⁠ to directly support the show, and visit www.acorkintheroad.com for all upcoming events and press releases

This episode features a live audience conversation and Port tasting with Chris Forbes, the Deputy Managing Director for Taylor’s Port. Chris joined the company in 2007 and was initially responsible for the management of all Special Marketing projects across the company’s three main brands. He then took on the role of export manager for the USA and Irish markets before being promoted to Commercial Director in 2019. In addition to his contributions on the business side, Chris tells us why his own personal wine education journey is so valuable in this role as he is currently studying for the WSET Level 4 Diploma. Originally from Yorkshire, England, he was introduced to luxury products in both the textile and gourmet food industries through his family’s businesses. His current role spans far beyond just beverages, though, so you’ll hear about the variety of their portfolio that now includes several hotels in both Porto and in the Douro Valley, along with some educational tourist attractions including the World of Wine in Porto. The audience was full of Atlanta-based wine professionals who share a mutual love and appreciation for Portuguese wines, so we invited people to the mic throughout the episode to share their reactions and candid tasting notes for the wines that Chris brought to share with us for the session. You can visit www.taylor.pt and follow @taylorsportwine on Instagram to learn more about their work.Featuring tasting notes and appearances by:Emma Rubenstein, Cooks & SoldiersDannielle Thomas, Dom BeijosJade Palmer, Madeira ParkTaylor Sublett, The Vine ClubErica Taylor, Kobrand Wine & SpiritsRecorded January 17, 2026 with generous support from Kobrand Wine & Spirits-----------------*** Check out our ⁠⁠MERCH SHOP⁠⁠ to directly support the show, and visit www.acorkintheroad.com for all upcoming events and press releases

This episode features a very different type of conversation for the podcast with the tables turned, the script flipped – Amanda Kimbrough of Avant Partir sits down to interview Kelly of A Cork in the Road while they also field some questions submitted by podcast listeners. We hope this gives you a little behind the scenes perspective of Kelly’s wine journey and how this podcast came to be, but also the process of turning the mic around has already given Kelly a stronger understanding of what it’s like to be a guest on this show so she can be a better podcast host going forward. Amanda’s questions are so thoughtful, and they talk about balancing multiple career paths, honing outside skills that can be applied to working in wine, and what we can all focus on to move the industry forward into the new year. Amanda fist appeared as a guest on the podcast in December of 2021, and she continues to build her own community within Atlanta as the leader of the “Women in Wine” organization that connects wine industry professionals at all stages in their careers to collaborate and share insights together. Cheers to new opportunities, getting outside our comfort zones, building community, and fostering creativity in 2026. Recorded December 28, 2025 -----------------*** Check out our ⁠⁠MERCH SHOP⁠⁠ to directly support the show, and visit www.acorkintheroad.com for all upcoming events and press releases

This episode featuring a conversation with Jacqueline Strum, President & Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Media, as the second generation of her family’s business. She began her career in marketing and public relations, working with agencies such as Hunter PR and Mission Media, before moving into digital media at UrbanDaddy. She later founded ThirstyNest, the first wine and spirits registry for the modern couple, as a subsidiary of Wine Enthusiast Companies. In 2019, she became Associate Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Media, where she spearheaded the development of innovative digital products, multi-channel media programs, and helped define a new style and voice for the publishing team. In 2024, Strum expanded the brand’s reach by launching Wine Enthusiast Travel, which encompasses the Tasting Room Directory and consumer tourism experiences through Cork+Compass Travel. She holds a degree in International Business with a minor in Fine Arts from George Washington University and an Advanced Certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. You’ll hear her thoughtful insights about the business side of the wine industry, the inspiration behind new projects, and her behind-the-scenes perspective of wine media - and what that even entails - as we get ready to roll into the new year. You’ll love her holiday wine recommendations as well! You can follow @wineenthusiast and @jackistrum on Instagram, and you can check out www.winenthusiast.com to learn more about the business.Recorded December 5, 2025 -----------------*NEW* Check out our ⁠⁠MERCH SHOP⁠⁠ to support the show

This episode features a live audience tasting and conversation at The VIne Club in Atlanta, GA with winemaker Rajat Parr of Phelan Farm in Cambria, CA. Rajat first made an appearance on the show in May of 2024 for Episode 128 where we talked about the ethos of Phelan Farm and his dedication to regenerative farming and soil health. For this conversation, we incorporated a live blind tasting session with an audience of fellow wine professionals in Atlanta, and Rajat guides us through the lineup with thoughtful insight. He also provides information about his current farming practices along with advice for those of us working in various roles throughout the wine industry right now about how to most effectively connect our customers to the place where the wine is produced. We hope you feel the energy in the room as much as we did, and this whole experience was made possible thanks to our friends at Rive Gauche Wine Co. You can learn more about Rajat's wines by visiting www.phelanfarm.com and following @phelanfarmcambria and @rajatparr on Instagram.Recorded November 18, 2025 at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA.-----------------*NEW* Check out our ⁠MERCH SHOP⁠ to support the show

This live audience episode at The Perlant is dedicated to the art of food and wine pairings as we look forward to the holiday season. This episode is generously sponsored by the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, which has an incredible connection to this episode’s featured guest and has supported his growth and journey from day one. Kevin Mobley, the Chef and Owner of Anna Bell’s Kitchen, is honoring his great-grandmother, Anna Bell, by recreating, scaling, and perfecting her delicious recipe for southern Mac & Cheese. You’ll hear how Kevin is building this business and maintaining the integrity of his family’s recipe that is beautifully tied to a lot of historical context including an interesting throughline to Atlanta. We wanted to see how a group of fellow Atlanta wine professionals would approach the task of pairing wine to such a versatile yet classic dish, so we invited a panel of taste-testers to join us for a tasting who brought their talented, respected palates to the table for this discussion. You’ll hear the “why” behind each of the wine pairings, you’ll hear some of our favorite traditions of the holiday season, and you’ll hopefully get some ideas for doing some wine pairings with your own friends and family at your holiday tables this year. You can learn more about Kevin and Anna Bell’s by following @annabellsmac on Instagram and visiting www.annabell.kitchen/.Wine pairings by:@whitneyblueee@bitzdames@pepeasomm@acorkintheroad@suburbanwinoTasting panel:@blasianbonvivant@darrylatl@maizenblueamazon@gatheroversocietyRecorded October 27, 2025-----------------This episode is generously sponsored by the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, which started collaborating with Anna Bell's Mac & Cheese as part of its "Hyatt Loves Local" program and is celebrating the city's rich food culture by providing complimentary kitchen space to Anna Bell's Kitchen.*NEW* Check out our MERCH SHOP to support the show

This episode features our live audience conversation with Chantal Gonet of Champagne Philippe Gonet recorded at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA. Chantal and her brother, Pierre, were pressed into service after the untimely death of their father, Philippe. Chantal was in a Parisian engineering school and Pierre was studying winemaking in Burgundy, but their mother stepped in and managed the estate largely by herself. In France, however, a large inheritance meant an even larger tax, so Chantal’s mother decided to undertake an enormous loan from the bank to pay the taxes to keep the domaine in the family. We talk about her family’s history and the obstacles they’ve overcome to get to this point in her career. In 2024, Champagne Philippe Gonet was Guide Hachette’s Vigneron de l’Année, and Chantal has taken nearly half their holdings into biodynamic farming—an impressive feat in Champagne. You can visit www.champagne-philippe-gonet.com/en to learn more about their wines represented by Uva Imports (@uvaimports). You can also follow @chantalgonet and @champagnephilippegonet on Instagram.-------------Recorded October 20, 2025 with a LIVE audience at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA made possible with generous support from Uva Imports (www.uvaimports.com)

This episode features our live audience conversation with Marco Ricasoli Firidolfi, the current owner of Rocca di Montegrossi in Tuscany, recorded at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA. Marco has 37 generations of family history in Italy, and he is a descendant of Bettino Ricasoli, who played a central role in the history of laying the foundations for Chianti Classico wine. We gathered at The Vine Club in Atlanta with almost the entire team from Bon Vin Selections, who represents and distributes his wines in the state of Georgia. We talked about the Chianti Classico region, his foundational winemaking philosophies, and his various experiences selling wine in the United States. Throughout the conversation, we tasted several of his wines, and we talk about the key grape varieties that he works with in addition to the flagship Sangiovese. You’ll hear some helpful context for the history of “Super Tuscans” while also hearing about his unique method for crafting his Vin Santo. He also tells us that he anchors his ethos in not only sustainability and organic farming, but also in the fact that his wines are best enjoyed with food and friendship. You can visit www.roccadimontegrossi.it to learn more about the estate, and you can find the wines in Georgia distributed through Bon Vin Selections (@bonvinselections).-------------Recorded October 6, 2025 with a LIVE audience at The Vine Club in Atlanta, GA. October is Virginia Wine Month! The Monticello Wine Trail is hosting a Red Wine Showcase on October 17th bringing together 18 standout wineries from the Monticello Wine Trail for one unforgettable event at Eastwood Farm and Winery: INFO AND TICKETS HERE