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 Exploring
Posts and tweets to tell stories from wine adventures and educational experiences
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
Available in Forest Green, Burgundy, Mustard, Black, and Chocolate*
*FALL COLLECTION IS SOLD OUT*
The Power of Partnership
When Wine Meets Fashion
Their partnership 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us for a ticketed wine education and exploration experience - follow @acorkintheroad for all updates and event announcements
Sunday, April 24th
How to Navigate a Local Wine Shop
@ Brookhaven Wines in Atlanta, GA
Join us for a fun and educational wine tasting experience that will help you learn how to navigate your local wine shop. Guests will enjoy 6 wines and light snacks while learning how to find the wines you want to drink on the shelves.
Saturday, May 14th
Hosted by Telesomm
Learn about the winemaking styles and cultures across the wine world that produce this pink-hued thirst quencher from the comfort of your home. Tasting kits will be available for purchase and shipping to all U.S. time zones prior to the interactive online tasting.
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
Season 6 began on March 16, 2022 -
new episodes drop every Wednesday.
6.1 - Matthew Conway, The Tippling House6.2 - Randi Brady, Diversified Vines and Taste the Playlist6.3 - Alli and Bertus van Zyl, Belong Wine Co.6.4 - Eduardo Porto Carreiro, Rocket Farm Restaurants6.5 - Kelly Hawkins, La Fête Wine Co.6.6 - Peter Poulos, Highland Fine Wine and 2022 ATL "Somm Smackdown" Champion6.7 - Alex Lopex, Burgundy School of Business MBA Student6.8 - TBA May 46.9 - TBA May 116.10 - TBA May 186.11 - TBA May 25Share 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
- "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
