The Oenophile Institute and A Cork in the Road have announced the fourth annual Sommlympics, taking place January 10, 2027 at Hotel Phoenix in Atlanta.

Founded by Atlanta wine educator Chelsea Young of The Oenophile Institute and Kelly Cornett, founder of A Cork in the Road podcast, Sommlympics has quickly evolved from an ambitious local concept into a nationally recognized competition for wine professionals. The event brings together sommeliers, beverage directors, importers, retailers, educators, and hospitality professionals from across the country to compete in blind tasting, theory, service, and practical wine knowledge.

Now entering its fourth year, Sommlympics has attracted national industry attention well beyond the scale of the independent Atlanta companies behind it. The competition has seen consecutive years of double-digit growth while building a loyal following drawn to its balance of academic rigor, accessibility, and humor—an uncommon combination in wine education.

“There’s something remarkable about seeing so many people gather to show off their skills while promoting the wine community and industry” said Young. “But that passion is exactly the point. Sommlympics was built to honor the depth of knowledge and dedication within the wine world while remembering that wine is ultimately about connection and shared experience.”

Though Atlanta has increasingly emerged as a serious food and beverage city, much of the recognition surrounding Sommlympics and The Oenophile Institute has come from national industry circles rather than local media—a dynamic that continues to surprise both founders.

“We’ve had professionals come in from all over the country because they heard about Sommlympics through industry networks before people a few neighborhoods over knew it existed,” said Cornett. “That’s beginning to change, which is exciting. Atlanta deserves to see what’s being built here.”

Cornett, whose A Cork in the Road podcast has featured conversations with leading voices throughout the wine industry, helped shape Sommlympics into a competition that values camaraderie as much as technical precision.

The 2027 event at Hotel Phoenix is expected to welcome another nationally diverse field of competitors while continuing to position Atlanta as an emerging center for thoughtful, inclusive wine education.