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 and communicating with wine enthusiasts, novices, professionals, travelers, etc. Through designing wine events, teaching wine classes, producing audio journalism, and creating 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 travel and education
Tasting Events
Customizes events and designs educational class formats
Wine Handbags
Designed and retails a leather wine handbag with an insulated pocket
Podcast
Interviews people 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 tasting room at 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, expanding perceptions of Port in Portugal, and discovering the diversity of microclimates in the Willamette Valley.
After founding A Cork in the Road, LLC in 2018, she has contributed to wine and travel publications, designed multi-course wine pairing dinners for restaurants, produced 100+ episodes of the "A Cork in the Road" podcast, and partnered with retailers to create a wide variety of unique education experiences. She continues to share the joy of all things wine through custom tastings, virtual classes, and Wine vs Beer adventures.
Wine Pocket Handbag Designer
with 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 first Fall Collection in 2021 sold out, but now after launching several new colors, we have grown to establish retail partners in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and California as well as have inventory available for sale through Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
CONTACT US with interest in fashion event collaboration or wholesale partnership.
PODCAST
The "A Cork in the Road" Podcast highlights people who are shaping the Southeast wine industry and beyond.
Find "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.
Recipient of The Hue Society's
"2023 Podcast of the Year" Award
Long-listed for the 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards in 2024
On Air
We are currently producing 2 episodes each month. Recent guests include:
Episode 148 - Building Community and Connection Through Craft Beverages with Beer Educator, Jen Price, Founder of Crafted for Action
Episode 149 - Live Audience at The Vine Club in Atlanta with Christian Wylie, the Managing Director for Bodega Garzón in Uruguay
Episode 150 - BONUS - "Tie Dye Before the High" Live at The Vine Club in Atlanta with Sam Coturri, Eric Crane, and Taylor Sublett
Episode 151 - Kevin OSullivan, the Director of Sales for Prime Wine & Spirits
Episode 152 - Live at The Vine Club with Sam Bilbro, the Founder and Winemaker for Idlewild Wines
All episodes from Seasons 1-6 are also still available. Share and write us a review. You can also make a monthly contribution on Spotify's platform.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us for a ticketed wine education and exploration experience - follow @acorkintheroad for all updates and event announcements.
Blind Tasting - May is for Rosé
Saturday, May 10th 4:00-6:00pm
@ Limoges Cellars
May is for Rosé! Join us to learn all about beautiful rosés from around the world and see if you can pinpoint the different grapes utilized, the characteristics of growing regions, and the various climate influences! We will compare Spanish, Italian, Slovenian, Californian, and Limoges North Georgia rosés. You will enjoy a guided tasting of these 5 wines along with a beautiful charcuterie spread.
"Can it Kirkland?" ...Round 2!
Thursday, May 29th 6:30-8:00pm
@ The Oenophile Institute
Welcome to a class that promises to challenge your taste buds and perceptions! In this session, we're diving deep into the world of Kirkland Signature wines and putting them to the test against their "supposed" label counterparts. Kirkland, known for its range of quality private label products, including wines, has garnered quite the reputation. But are these wines truly on par with their higher-priced, brand-name equivalents? Guests will taste 6 wines across 3 rounds of blinded comparisons...
Taste the Monticello Wine Trail
Thursday, June 5th 6:30-8:00pm
@ The Oenophile Institute
Join us for an in-depth exploration of Virginia’s Monticello Wine Trail! This engaging class uncovers the history, terroir, and standout wineries that define one of the most exciting wine regions on the East Coast. From the legacy of Thomas Jefferson’s vineyards to the innovative winemakers shaping Virginia’s wine future, you’ll gain insight into the wines and varietals that thrive along the trail. Guests will taste and analyze 6 representative wines from the Monticello AVA.
Blind Tasting Workshop
Friday, June 13th 6:30-8:00pm
@ Epicurean Atlanta Theatre
Join us for wine education and exploration during a night of blind tasting battles! Kelly is bringing Joe Herrig of Georgia Crown Distributing along to co-host and share some of his insights from his WSET Diploma studies that will add a new level of knowledge to how you can identify these wines. Get ready to blind test your palate & try some new wines while comparing styles from various regions! Each ticket includes tasting an educational lineup of 6 wines showcased throughout 3 rounds of blinded comparisons, a cheese & charcuterie spread, and lots of wine wisdom from Kelly & Joe!
Press & Media
We attend press trips and share stories from the wine industry across a variety of media platforms.
Our work and contributions:
- Quoted in Napa Magazine Issue No. 19 - Page 18 - April 2025
- ATL Staples Wine Pairing Dinner YOUTUBE Recap - November 2024
- Sip, Swirl, Win: Sommlympics Turns Wine Tasting into a Competitive Sport - Men's Journal, September 2024
- Uncorking a Tee Time at the Intersection of Wine and Golf - Men's Journal, May 2024
- Quoted in Despite Heat, Humidity and Skepticism, Wines From the American South Find Their Audience - Wine Enthusiast, May 2023
- Grappa: The Perfect Discovery Spirit for Wine Lovers - SommTV Magazine, February 2023
- A Cork in the Road on The Wine Makers Podcast - The Wine Makers, February 2023
- 4 Women Leading the Revival of Port in Porto - SommTV Magazine, September 2022
- Quoted in The Wine World's Never Been So Convenient - Whalebone Magazine, September 2021
- Meet Kelly Cornett: Wine Consultant and Event Specialist - Shoutout Atlanta, March 2021
- Quoted in Eggnog Taste Test: The Best And Worst Nogs For Your Buck - HuffPost, December 2020
- Meet Trailblazer Kelly Cornett - VoyageATL, April 2019
- The Great Vineyards, Wineries, and Cellars of North Georgia - DiningOut Atlanta Magazine, Spring/Summer 2019 (p. 96-99)
October 2024 ATL Dinner Recap
Watch Online Here: YOUTUBE LINK
On September 24, 2024, Fox 5 Atlanta’s Good Day Atlanta invited us to preview some of the ATL-inspired dishes and wine pairings on the menu for an event we designed for the Epicurean Atlanta Theatre. During the segment, Kelly of A Cork in the Road talked about some of the wine pairings while Chef Stephanie Echeverria cooked and plated two of the featured dishes - Lemon Pepper Wet Chicken Wings and Tacos Estilos Jaliscos.
On June 4, 2024, Fox 5 Atlanta’s Good Day Atlanta invited us to preview some of the looks featured in our Summer Sip & Style Showcase at Epicurean Atlanta. During the segment, Kelly of A Cork in the Road talked about some of the wine and food pairings while Donna of P. Sherrod & Co. highlighted the themed pieces from our featured designers. We also gave away the secret that the handbag we designed together holds a bottle of wine...
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, CA2. Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room in Roswell, GA3. R Five Wines in Downingtown, PA4. Wine Enthusiast Magazine online catalog
Ross Knoll Vineyard Partnership
A Cork in the Road, LLC served as the Southeast Educator for a portfolio of wines produced in Sonoma County.
In partnership with Diane Carpenter, an Executive Producer of Somm Films and Co-founder of Somm TV, we supported the Ross Knoll Vineyard project 2022-2024. This opportunity brought us closer to our roots in wine production, and it has been an honor to share these thoughtful small-production wines as part of what we can offer at events and tastings. The Ross Knoll portfolio includes Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon produced by winemaker, Justin Seidenfeld, and the fall of 2024 marked the release of our 5th and final vintage as Diane prepares for retirement.
NOW AVAILABLE: THE FINAL VINTAGE & "THE PROPER BLEND"
The final release of 2023 Ross Knoll Vineyard wines includes a Pinot Noir designed during a blending and tasting event at Marietta Proper in Marietta, GA. "The Proper Blend" Pinot Noir now available! Additionally, the "David's Cab" Cabernet Sauvignon will also be available later this fall, offered first to current members of the RKV club.
Shipping to 11 states: CALIFORNIA, OREGON, WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA, NEW JERSEY, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, FLORIDA, VIRGINIA, and GEORGIA.FOLLOW
@acorkintheroad #acorkintheroad
