A Cork in the Road
A Cork in the Road
Creating Opportunities for Wine Education and Exploration
Creating Opportunities for Wine Education and Exploration
Wine Media and Events Specialist
A Cork in the Road, LLC uses wine as a platform for connecting with wine lovers, enthusiasts, novices, professionals, travelers, etc.
Through wine events, classes, and social media adventures, we help people develop skills to explore their own tastes in wine.
Wine Media
Writes articles and creates digital media for wine stories, adventures, and education
Tasting Events
Customizes events for private clients both in-person and virtually
Wine vs Beer Data
Researches and analyzes data insight from a signature "Wine vs Beer" event format
Podcast
Interviews people who are shaping the Southeast wine industry and beyond
About
We partner with wine retailers and restaurants to host wine dinners, classes, and tasting experiences - both in-person and virtually. We also team up with private chefs to design wine pairings for clients. Currently, we are also seeking venue partnerships for hosting our signature "Wine vs Beer Dinners" for continued data collection. If you or your organization are looking for wine event media coverage, we are available to offer promotional partnerships. And per request, we have recently agreed to accept wine samples for assessment as long as there is no endorsement expectation. CONTACT US
Kelly @acorkintheroad
Founder of A Cork in the Road, LLC / Host of "The A Cork in the Road" Podcast
Born in Minnesota, Kelly holds a Masters in Exercise Physiology and completed a study abroad program in Argentina during her undergraduate studies in Kinesiology. While pursuing her career in public health, however, she simultaneously fell in love with wine and has since accumulated 10+ years of wine industry education and experience.
From 2011 - 2013, she worked for a South African winemaker while managing a winery in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia learning all aspects of wine production and tasting room sales. Since then, her interest in the people, places, and history of wine has taken her biking to wineries in Mendoza, exploring tasting rooms in Napa and Sonoma, learning about Gamay vines in Beaujolais, meeting with producers in Northern Rhône, studying Pinot Noir in Burgundy, and discovering the diversity of microclimates in the Willamette Valley.
After founding A Cork in the Road, LLC in 2018, she contributed to publications about North Georgia wine country, designed multi-course wine pairing dinners for restaurants, hosted 3 seasons of the "A Cork in the Road" podcast, and partnered with retailers to create unique education experiences. She continues to share the joy of all things wine through custom tastings, virtual classes, and Wine vs Beer adventures.
Our Leather Handbag for Wine
A Cork in the Road, LLC and P. Sherrod & Co. have designed a fashionable, high-quality "everyday" style purse that can discreetly carry a bottle of wine separated from other purse items for wine lovers on-the-go between errands, work events, and gatherings with friends.
Insulated wine sleeve (fits most standard 750ml bottles)
Flap closure snaps securely over the top of a wine bottle
Inside zip pocket plus pocket for corkscrew
Studded feet on bottom
13.5h x 12w x 5d
Imported, Colombia
Currently available in 3 colors:
Fuchsia
Golden Yellow
Black
Our handbags are also for sale at the following retail partners:
1. DRNK wines in Sebastopol, CA
2. Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room in Roswell, GA
3. R Five Wines in Downingtown, PA
The Power of Partnerships
Listed below are a few of our ongoing partnerships allowing us to work collaboratively with other brands and businesses.
Southeast Wine Educator
Ross Knoll Vineyard in Sonoma County
A Cork in the Road, LLC's newest partnership is with Diane Carpenter, a SommTV Board Member and a Somm Films Executive Producer, who is bringing together a stellar team of wine professionals to support her Ross Knoll Vineyard project. This opportunity will bring us closer to our roots in wine production, and it will be so fun to be able to share these thoughtful small-production wines as part of what we can offer at events and tastings. Shipping direct to your doorstep is available to CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, FLORIDA, VIRGINIA, and GEORGIA.
The Ross Knoll portfolio currently consists of a Rosé of Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley and a White Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley with a Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon on the way. Fermented in a neutral oak barrel with low pressure pressing immediately after picking for no color from skin contact, the White Pinot Noir is the "unicorn" of Ross Knoll's production thanks to winemaker, Justin Seidenfeld, crafting a textured, unique, and elevated white wine made from a red grape.
You can Join the Mailing List, Make a Purchase, or Request a Tasting.
Wine Pocket Handbag Designer
P. Sherrod & Co. in Atlanta, GA
Partnership with P. Sherrod & Co. began in Atlanta, GA when Donna was planning a fashion show for her line of leather handbags in the fall of 2018. She found Kelly by searching online for a wine educator who could pair wines to several ensembles for the show. At the event, Kelly selected wines based on the style of each look to serve to guests as each model walked the runway. It was a sold-out success and sparked ideas for further collaboration.
Kelly recognized a need among wine lovers for a more practical yet stylish way to carry wine bottles between events, and Donna had the skills and resources to facilitate a design and manufacturing process. Their teamwork guided each wine-loving detail and business decision that has led to the launch of their co-branded specialty handbag for wine lovers.
The Fall Collection is sold out for online orders, but our retail partners in Georgia and California still have some inventory available. The Summer Collection will launch in July 2022 along with several pop-up events around Atlanta.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us for a ticketed wine education and exploration experience - follow @acorkintheroad for all updates and event announcements
Thursday, September 29th 6:00pmAtlanta, GAWe are heading back to the theater at the Epicurean Hotel in Midtown of Atlanta for another entertaining night of blind tasting exploration in partnership with Joe Herrig, Director of Education for Georgia Crown. We've designed this line-up specifically to help you discover some new go-to grape varieties. Each round of blind tasting will include a wine from a more commonly-known grape variety next to a wine from a similar yet lesser-known grape variety to contrast styles side by side without preconceived ideas of what is in the glass. Each ticket includes tasting 6 wines and a cheese/charcuterie spread. Plus, attendees who choose to dine at one of the onsite restaurants after the event will receive 10% off food.
TICKETS: $55/person
Wednesday, October 12th 7:00pmRoswell, GAJoin us for the 3rd class of our Wine Education Series! This time, we will compare stylistic differences between the characteristics of wines from Napa and Sonoma. We will be tasting blinded comparisons across three rounds of same-grape matchups featuring Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. If you love exploring California as much as we do, this is an event you don't want to miss! We've partnered with Vivian Jago of Empire Distributors to design this educational tasting flight. Light bites are included for each guest.
TICKETS: $50/person
Friday, October 28th 7:00pmJoin us for a guided multicourse dinner menu of wine, beer, and food pairings! Using the unique format created by A Cork in the Road, LLC, this beverage showdown will deepen your understanding of the flavors, smells, and styles of beverages for food pairings. Guests will sample wines and beers throughout several rounds of food pairings while collecting data to determine which beverage pairs best with each dish...will WINE or BEER win? You won’t want to miss this beverage battle!
TICKETS: $90/person
PODCAST
The "A Cork in the Road" Podcast highlights people who are shaping the Southeast wine industry and beyond.
Or search for "A Cork in the Road" wherever you get your podcasts.
To honor incredible people and share inspiring stories, this podcast shines a light on those who are inspiring education and truly setting the bar in the industry. This series goes behind the wine so you can meet the distributors, retailers, educators, beverage managers, etc. who are shaping the wine market.
On Air
We are currently producing ~3 episodes each month. Recent guests include:
Episode 81 - Mason Washington, German Wine Entrepreneur and Founder of LELIYGEpisode 82 - Eric Palmer, Certified Sommelier and Sales Lead at Perrine’s WineEpisode 83 - Portugal with Melissa Abreu, Owner of Dom BeijosEpisode 84 - Advanced Sommelier Elizabeth Dames, Capital City ClubEpisode 85 - Claudio Gallardo, Sales Director for Perrine's Wine ShopAll episodes from Seasons 1-6 are also still available.
Share and write us a review. You can also support the show directly on Anchor's platform.
PUBLISHED
Available for reporting assignments and media bookings
Contact acorkintheroad@gmail.com
- "4 Women Leading the Revival of Port in Porto" - SOMM TV Online Magazine, September 2022
- "Tips for Aging Wine" Telesomm Blog, April 2022
- Included on "Top Wine Podcasts" List, March 2022
- Featured Contribution for Pix Wine, January 2022
- Quoted in Atlanta Magazine, October 2021
- Guest on the #InVinoFab Podcast, October 2021
- Featured in Whalebone Magazine, October 2021
- Featured by Shoutout Atlanta, March 2021
- Contributed to Eggnog Taste Test in HuffPost, Dec 2020
- Quoted in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Fall 2020
- Article in DiningOut Atlanta Magazine, Spring 2019
- VoyageATL "Trailblazer" Feature, April 2019
- Article in REVEAL Magazine, Fall 2017
FOLLOW
@acorkintheroad #acorkintheroad
