From the LA Lakers Locker Room to Napa Valley vines: Kelly E. Carter on Diversity, Story, and Wine Exploration
Release Date: 10/14/2025
Behind the Scenes at Paris’ Barbecue Championship: Judges, Prizes, and Local Impact
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Paris.....Texas. The subject to two movies over the years, the most recent a romantic comedy. Listen, folks, this ain't no joke. I can personally attest that BBQ is alive in well in Texas and this day was a Championship Blowout. Wine Talks was so intrgiued about the whole culture of BBQ, that we set up a podcast with Steven White, last years Grand Champion, Laura Caldwell, the representative from the Championship Barbecue Alliance, and Paul Allen, the 8 year President of the Paris, Texas Chamber of Commerce. We had a hoot. This episode is all about barbecue in Paris, Texas, but it’s...
info_outline
Women Leading Armenia’s Wine and Tourism Revolution
Wine Talks with Paul K.
The wine movement is Armenia is "pedal to the medal." Katie, bar the door, no holds barred. As it should be. And leading the helm are some tough no non-sense women. Sisian Boghossian is one of them. Clearly, her commitment to her heritage country is firmly planted, as her intentions when arriving in Yerevan were set on gaining some experience and returning to her home in Canada. Oops, sometimes the best laid plans of mice and women are derailed. In this episode of Wine Talks, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sisian Boghossian, who brought an incredible breadth of insight and personal...
info_outline
Too Small to Fail: Passion, Humility, and Purpose at Saarloos and Sons Winery
Wine Talks with Paul K.
In all industries there are the visionaries. People that make industry veterans raise an eyebrow and reflect "this is exactly who we need." Keith Saarloos is that person for me. I won't bore you with my tenure but suffice it to say, I've been around the block...enter Keith Saarloos. I am so inspired by this man, I want to find a way to start a podcast with him. News on that later. What is cool....eac and every time I receive an inquiry to visiting the Central Coast wine district and specifically, Los Olivos, I recommend Saarloos and Sons...and each and everytime, Keith takes the moment...
info_outline
Inside Valentino: Piero Selvaggio on LA’s Italian Food Revolution and Wine Culture
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Step into the story of LA’s culinary evolution with Wine Talks, where conversations are poured as generously as the wine. In this episode, I welcomes legendary restaurateur Piero Selvaggio—a man whose career spans the golden age of Los Angeles dining, and whose philosophy on food and wine has inspired chefs, winemakers, and bon vivants the world over. Wine Talks isn’t just about swirling glasses and describing bouquets—it’s about the unforgettable people behind the bottle, and the moments that shape the table. Imagine LA in the early 1970s, when Italian cuisine meant little more...
info_outline
Breaking Wine Barriers: Rita Rosa’s Journey from Nigeria to Bordeaux
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Wine Talks has been watching this woman. She is making waves in a part of the wine world that one might not consider in daily converstaion: Nigeria. How does one become a Bordeaux specialist in Nigeria? Where does that inspiration come from? I have to tell you, having Rita Rosa on Wine Talks was like catching a warm breeze off the Mediterranean—unexpected, lively, and full of stories you want to tuck away for a rainy day with a glass of red. I started our conversation, as I often do, thinking I’d heard most things about the global wine world, but Rita took me right to the heart...
info_outline
Terroir, Technology, and Taste: The Future of Wine in Armenia
Wine Talks with Paul K.
This might meet with controversy, but I think Adam is correct. growing non-indigenous varietals, whether it be Armenia, Georgia or anywhere else, supports the chances of burgeoning wine regions to get any traction in the world of wine. It is tough out there where brand recognition is a tough battle to win, and consumers are inundated with messaging. Adam has taken, not sure I can call it the high road, but "A" road to getting his wines recognized as worthy of your attention. And he has done it by growing what otherwise would be sacreligious varietals. In this special episode, I...
info_outline
Oregon Wine's Evolution: In the Vineyard with Robert McKinley of Norris Winery
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Wine is family. True wine, true expression, true passion only comes from the support of the family. Not just your blood relatives, but the family of wine. One who is in the trade and has an earnest appreciation for the value of an honest wine, is welcome all over the world by their fellow brothers and sisters. I have seen if first hand over and over again. In this case, Robert McKinly came to Wine Talks through what might be the most authentic, meaning non-commercial, path...through a USC fraternity brother. We learned of our mutual involvement in the wine trade when we were both asked...
info_outline
Reflections on Wine, Family, and Finding Passion in Life’s Unlikely Journeys
Wine Talks with Paul K.
I came into the studio today to get some wine and organize a few things. I also wanted to test the internet connections because yesterday I had two show fall apart from internet issues. It seems they were on the guests side. As I started testing, it turns out I had something to say (shocker). Absolutely! Here’s a warm recap of the episode from my point of view as the narrator: In this episode, I took a moment to share both some personal reflections and a few heartwarming stories from the wine world. As Thanksgiving approached, I found myself in the office, grabbing wines for our family...
info_outline
How French Village Life Changed the Hoffman Family’s View of Food, Wine, and Culture
Wine Talks with Paul K.
It is a dream for many people to pick up and move to another country. Virtually, no one acts on that dream. Steve Hoffman did. And it seems it takes a certain type of partner, a certain type of children and a certain type of risk tolerance. What do you do? Throw a dart and a map of France and moce there? The answer to that question and just about any question you might have in regardst o moving your entire family to a foreign country is answered in his book "" In this episode, I sat down with Steve Hoffman—a truly fascinating guest whose life journey has taken him from tax...
info_outline
Inventing the Coravin: Greg Lambrecht on Transforming Wine Culture and Expanding By-the-Glass Exploration
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Who invents these things? and what experience do they have that gets them to the point that they can invent these things? Entrepreneurs are a crafty bunch. They dream. They test themselves. They switch gears on the fly. So goes the story of Greg Lambrecht, the inventor of the Coravin wine preservation and dispensing system. You have to believe the story, though it seems unbelievable, because it is true. Imagine a podcast where invention, passion, and the enduring mystique of wine come together—where stories of ingenuity inspire new perspectives on the familiar rituals of sharing a...
info_outlineI can tell you it was like sitting with a long, lost neighbor when sitting with Kelly E. Carter. And in fact, we were neighbors of sorts back in the day.
It wasn't until I was searching for images to create the icons for this podcast did I realize I was in the presence of true maverick royalty. Besides being a New York Times best selling author, she has reported from the greatest sporting events of the world: the NBA FInals, Super Bowls, Grand Slams, Stanley Cup Finals and much more. And more intriguing, she was the woman reporter in the locker room!
I was so intrigued and we could have spoken for hours because she is the Founder of the wine tourism group, Napa Valley Noir.
sitting down with Kelly E. Carter in the studio for this episode of Wine Talks was like taking a stroll down memory lane while simultaneously hitching a ride on a train heading straight for the future of wine tourism. There’s something about Kelly—her energy, her wit, and just her knack for storytelling—that gets you thinking about the wine industry in ways that feel both nostalgic and freshly invigorating.
We kicked things off with some good old home turf banter—Kelly’s Windsor Hills childhood (Ray Charles and Ike & Tina Turner for neighbors, no less) and my own roots in Inglewood. Instantly, there was this shared sense that, before wine stole our hearts, Southern California had given us some pretty unique perspectives on culture and community. And as Kelly pointed out, “you’ll never know everything” about winemaking, which is honestly the very reason some of us keep swirling, sipping, and studying. I know I do.
What genuinely impressed me was Kelly’s trajectory. She was the first female to cover the Lakers—how many people do you meet who set out in fourth grade to be a sports journalist and actually make it happen? She wasn’t just content to report on sports. She made her mark, switched lanes into entertainment, and then into luxury travel writing, which eventually led her to Florence and Positano. It’s the kind of layered journey you don’t hear about every day. You talk to some folks, they’ve been in wine their whole lives. With Kelly, it’s travel, sports, culture—all converging in the glass.
We got into the nitty-gritty of wine and travel writing and how AI could never replace the boots-on-the-ground experience. I had to laugh—when Kelly plugged Napa into chatbots, she got recommendations for wineries that are closed for renovations. "You have to know the latest," she said, reminding me that the best wine stories are always written with real shoe leather, not just code.
Her insights into Napa Valley tourism were equally compelling. As the founder of Napa Valley Noir, Kelly’s passion lies in creating experiences rich in narrative, not just pouring cabs for folks who made it big in tech and want a taste of the valley lifestyle. She’s all about partnerships with wineries that have soul, stories, and a genuine connection to their craft—whether it’s a historic vineyard run by women or an impromptu meeting with Thomas Keller that leaves guests starstruck. Frankly, I couldn’t agree more. The stories make the bottle—and the memories. That’s what keeps this business alive, even as the market shifts.
Kelly also talked about the recent surge in African American visitors to Napa, thanks in part to celebrity influence (LeBron, Kobe, you name it), and her drive to ensure these visitors experience the full magic Napa has to offer, not just what's on the surface. She’s honest—her intake forms ask straight-up about comfort level on bottle prices. She knows how to match guests with the right wineries, sometimes calling in a favor for an extra pour or a charcuterie board, because that’s how relationships form and deepen in this business.
There’s a lesson in Kelly’s methods: whether it’s a group of corporate execs, first-timers, or veteran collectors, she makes sure the experience is tailored and memorable. Maybe it’s the aftermath of her own battles—her candor about beating a rare cancer got me thinking about perspective, gratitude, and the importance of living fully, whether it’s raising a glass or hiking through a vineyard.
Talking with Kelly reminded me why I started this podcast in the first place. It’s the human stories behind the wines, the journeys of the people who bring them to life—and the shared desire to know just a little bit more, one sip, one story at a time. Cheers to Kelly and to all of us still curious.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/AXGYAhnctSE
-
Napa Valley Noir
-
Alpha Omega Winery
-
Brown Estate Vineyards
-
French Laundry
-
Bouchon Bistro
-
Ad Hoc
-
Visit Napa Valley (tourism board)
-
AAAV - Association of African American Vintners
-
1010 Wine Bar
-
Vera Wang
-
Tod’s
-
Mohawk Industries
#WineTalksPodcast #KellyECarter #PaulKalemkiarian #NapaValleyNoir #NapaValleyTourism #AfricanAmericanWineCulture #WineIndustryStories #WinemakingEducation #WineTastings #TravelWriting #ItalyToNapa #LuxuryTravel #AAAV #WellnessInNapa #WinePricing #BordeauxBlends #WineExperiences #WineBusinessChallenges #CelebrityWineCulture #PersonalMemoir #HeadAndNeckCancer