CorkQueen Reigns Over Wine
About Karen Koch (“cook”) – The CorkQueen
Karen began her involvement in wine while working at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. She started as a bartender and advanced to the Beverage Controller.
Karen enjoys discovering new wines (especially Spanish reds) and sharing those discoveries with her friends.
Karen has passed the WSET 1 and the WSET 2. She has led the monthly event, Wine Down Wednesday, at the Centre Club in Tampa, Florida, since 2016.
In 2019, Karen started the Bacchus Club of Tampa Bay. This group can taste higher-end wines or enjoy a wine-pairing dinner. Sometimes, they even get visits from winemakers from the U.S. and internationally.
Karen currently serves on the board of Corks 4 A Cause, a 501(c)(3) holding wine events to raise money for other non-profits in the Tampa Bay area.
PRIVATE EVENTS
CorkQueen’s mission is to educate you about wine. We know that when our guests know more about what they are drinking, they not only have a better experience but are also more likely to try new wines.
Are you celebrating a Birthday, Anniversary, or another Holiday Event? CorkQueen offers Wine Theme Private Events. At a Wine Theme Private Event, guests will sample 4 to 6 wines from around the world that the CorkQueen has personally selected or you have chosen. You will learn about the Wine Region, the Winery, the Grapevine, the Climate, the Soils, and how the wine is made and Aged.
Wine Theme Private Events are for two (2) to twelve (12) parties. They can be held at a location of your choice within a 20-mile radius of downtown Tampa or remotely via Zoom Video.
Contact Karen via the Private Event Contact Us Button below to schedule a chat about Your Personalized Wine Private Event.
FAQ
Testimonials
Most Enjoyable, Entertaining and Educational!
“So glad to hear of your new venture. If anyone can make this new venture successful, fun, entertaining and interesting, it is you. At the various functions that you facilitated on wine, that I attended, they were the most enjoyable, entertaining and educational. You have a wonderful knack for presenting and a huge knowledge of wine.”
I had a great time!
“As a former client of Karen, she invited me to a wine tasting at the Centre Club. I was curious to learn more about wine so I went. What a great event! Not only did I learn more about some of the wines I was already drinking, I was also introduced to some new wines. Some of these new wines have become my favorites! I got some good recommendations for wine parings with food I cook a lot. I met some new people. So not only did I walk away with some new wine knowledge but I had a great time!”
Love the CorkQueen!
“Karen has a wide experience with wines and is always willing to educate and entertain about and with wines. She has a knack for matching your tastes with a great wine. Love the CorkQueen!”
Karen Koch has opened up a world where wine is exciting for me!
“I am admittedly an uneducated wine snob. I know what I like and what I don’t like when I try it but have never had the language to be able to share that in a meaningful way. Therefore, wine was always a frustrating gamble. Karen Koch has opened up a world where wine is exciting for me! She doesn’t ask me to explain what I have liked in wine terms, but used my own vernacular and therefore has consistently led me to great wines. One of the things I love the most is that she doesn’t just recommend the most expensive bottle. She’s comfortable recommending a bottle in my price range and supportive along the way. I now feel empowered to buy my own wine when I’m not with her, but consult her for occasions. She was fantastic at picking out wines for my wedding, as an example.
We have enjoyed many functions with Karen.
“Karen knows her wine! She explains the region where it comes from and the different tastes/tannins to look for. We have enjoyed many functions with Karen. She brings in new wines that we had not heard of before and shares her knowledge about them. Enjoy learning & tasting with Karen!”
Knowing I have Karen to show me the way gives me a much better and more refined wine experience!
“I have had the pleasure of being taught the nuances and history of wine from all over the globe by Karen Koch. Not only does she know her stuff, she presents it in an interesting way and picks great wines and pairings. I have never been someone who knows wine but knowing I have Karen to show me the way gives me a much better and more refined wine experience!”
Karen is knowledgeable, witty and a great conversationalist!
“Any wine time with Karen is fun! Karen is knowledgeable, witty and a great conversationalist. When it is time to choose wine, I prefer Karen to choose the bottle because I know it will be something new and interesting.”
Karen is amazing!
“Karen is amazing! She is so knowledgeable and so great at explaining the complex topic (and dare I say sometimes snobby) topic of wine to EVERYONE! She meets you at your level and makes it so fun! You can tell wine is her passion and she is tremendous! I love wine and have been an avid drinker for a while and I learn something new every time I have wine with Karen – she exposes me to so many new and wonderful labels!”
There is no better person at picking out wine than Karen
“There is no better person at picking out wine than Karen. Before I purchase anything I ask her first and I haven’t been disappointed one time yet. She gets all different varieties which is the best part of Karen. Also, if there’s a really cheap wine list she’ll be honest and tell you to get the beer.”
Karen has helped me select some excellent table wines
“Karen has helped me select some excellent table wines, some great alternatives to wines I know my friends enjoy so I could give them gifts that matched their tastes, and excellent introductions to wines my wife really enjoys. She’s awesome.”
Her recommendations are always amazing
Karen is phenomenal. Her recommendations are always amazing. Each time I try a new wine with her, I think “this is now my favorite wine!” and then she blows me away with something even better. She is incredibly knowledgeable, a fantastic resource, and an all-around great person.”
Karen can pair with excellence!
“Karen can will help you choose a great wine and she’s an excellent chef… so she can pair with excellence! Can’t wait for her next visit!”
Karen knows her wines
“Karen knows her wines. I respect that!”
Angel Supporters
‘Momma’ as everyone called her, has alway been my #1 ‘Angel’ Supporter not only in life but in starting my CorkQueen Wine Business.
Idea To Growth LLC (IdeaToGrowth.com) – Sharon and Ken have been supporters since I decided to start CorkQueen.com. Ken has helped as both a business coach and builder of the CorkQueen.com website.
Socoski Design & Consulting/The Socoski Foundation – The Socoski’s provided much needed assistance in the area of graphic design. John designed awesome business cards as well as punching up the current CorkQueen Logo and creating the CQ’s Wine Works Logo. Beth, as always have provided whatever help was needed especially encouragement and the promise to buy lots of wine.
ASSOCIATIONS
