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The CorkQueen Reigns Over Wine!
ABOUT CORKQUEEN
Known to her friends and family as Karen, she has embraced the idea of wine and education.
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
🍷 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's
My first introduction to wine, besides a really bad choice of sampling some Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill, came during five years at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Starting as a bartender and advancing to the Beverage Controller, I was tasked with learning about wine and food pairing. Back then it was a job, today it is a passion.
That is difficult to answer because on any given day, it could change. I definitely prefer red wine over white. Spanish is usually my go to, although I also enjoy a good Italian, as well as California Cabs. I am just getting more familiar with French wine. If I had to pick one right now, it would be Arzuaga Gran Reserva from Ribera del Duero.
My favorite place is, of course, CQ’s Wine Works in Tampa, FL.
Try wine! Try reds, try whites, try roses’! Don’t always stick with what you like or know – be adventurous and try different types of wine. Who knows, you might find a new favorite!
I don’t know as I don’t refer to myself as a wine expert. I prefer to describe myself as a wine enthusiast and there are many classes and certifications you can get.
Yes, currently I have passed my WSET1 and WSET2.
‘WSET’ stands for ‘Wine and Spirit Education Trust’. The training and testing were originally started in England, but now there are classes and certifications from the Napa Valley Wine Academy.
My short and sweet answer is if floor service in a restaurant is your plan, take Sommelier classes. Sommeliers are held to a standard of excellence that you would expect in the finest restaurants. WSET is more about education including theory and history.
I am not a fan of stemless wine glasses if I have a choice. I understand that certain events or areas may call for stemless and I will comply if given no choice.
I always hold my wine glass by the stem. If someone serves it, holding the bowl of the wine glass I am not happy. The same holds true when a friend asks to taste my wine and they grab the bowl! (But most of my friends already know this!)
My reason is twofold. First and foremost, you put fingerprints on the bowl, which does not allow a clear view of the wine. The second reason is that a hand on the bowl could have an adverse effect on the wine, warming it sooner than desired, especially white wines.
My favorite thing is discovering new wines and sharing wine with friends.
TESTIMONIALS
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.
PARTNERS
Brian K. Hershberger, CFA, CPA/PFS, CFP®
President, Financial Advisor
Omni Wealth Advisors, Inc.
Omniadvisors.com
IdeaToGrowth.com
Business Coaching & Strategy
Kenneth Ervin Young, CEO
Helping You BUILD Your Business Stronger!
John Socoski, Chief Graphic Designer
Socoski Design & Consulting
Socoski.com
WPSiteTeam.com [subsidiary of IdeaToGrowth.com]
Kenneth Ervin Young, CEO
Website Design – Development – Hosting – Maintenance – Support – Security – SEO
EVENTS
CorkQueens’ mission is to educate you about wine. We know that when our guests and members know more about what they are drinking, they not only have a better experience, but they are more likely to make a purchase.
At each event you will taste a different set of wines from around the world that the CorkQueen has personally selected. You will learn about the Wine Region, the Winery, the Grapevine, the Climate, the Soils and how the wine is made and Aged.
Contact the CorkQueen for your own personal tasting. Price person is based on theme or selection of wines.
CONTACT US
THE GRAPE VINE (BLOG)
Typesetter Cabernet + Barbebelle Rose Fleuri + Bardos
Wine + Education = Fun! Yes, We Are OPEN For Business! CorkQueen Wine Specials! Typesetter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley TYPESETTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA VALLEY Others:
Karen “CorkQueen” Koch, founder of the online Wine & Beer Empire www.CorkQueen.com talks with Pat Lynch and Dr. Loren Murfield on their video podcast Trends, Bends, and Opportunities
Karen “CorkQueen” Koch, founder of the online Wine & Beer Empire www.CorkQueen.com talks with Pat Lynch and Dr. Loren Murfield on their video podcast Trends, Bends, and Opportunities. Learn how and why Karen got her start in the wine business and how her focus is to educate her visitors first and foremost, then help them find wines that will delight their taste buds.
What is it about Wine?
Recently, I was having wine with some friends. Now I know that this isn’t earth-shattering news but it got me to thinking about the evening. First thing was that it was a Monday night – Somewhat unusual, but not totally weird. The second thing that came to mind was that we decided to meet at a friend’s house instead of going someplace public. Once again, not mind-blowing. The third thing was that the 4 friends that traveled, for a couple of hours of catching up, all traveled about 20 miles to spend time together.
