January 11th at the forth hotel

The Origin Story

Group of people dressed in holiday and casual attire, some wearing Santa hats, gathered indoors for a holiday celebration, with a presentation slide on the wall behind them.

Sommlympics was born out of a simple idea over shared bottles and spirited debates: What if there was a wine competition that felt less like a final exam and more like a high-stakes game night? A place where sommeliers and wine professionals could test their skills—not in hushed classrooms, but in front of a cheering crowd?

The concept came to life in 2023 when Chelsea Young the founder of The Oenophile Institute, teamed up with Kelly Cornett, the powerhouse behind A Cork in the Road. Together, they envisioned something that celebrated community, showcased talent, and made learning fun again.

The first Sommlympics was scrappy, hosted at The Oenophile Institute with just a few teams, some borrowed glassware, and a roomful of local wine lovers. But the energy? Electric. Service challenges, blind tasting, wine theory—it was part competition, part variety show, and all heart.

By its second year, Sommlympics had grown exponentially. The event brought in competitors from 7 states, a judging panel, sponsors, and prizes that turned heads (Champagne trips, anyone?). Now, as it heads into its third year, we move again to The FORTH Hotel in Atlanta, Sommlympics will host up to 12 elite teams from across the country and draws over 150 spectators.

Sommlympics continues to grow, but its mission hasn’t changed: celebrate excellence, foster community & connection, and prove that wine can be serious and seriously fun.

Two women smiling and holding glasses of red wine, standing close together indoors in front of curtains.

Meet the Team

  • A woman with short reddish-brown hair, glasses, and earrings sitting at a table, smiling at her laptop in a cafe or restaurant setting.

    Chelsea Young

    CO-CREATOR

    The brain behind the game.

  • A woman in a black blazer is holding and looking at a brown clipboard, smiling with her eyes closed, in a room with a large flat-screen TV and a wooden-framed mirror in the background.

    Kelly Cornett

    CO-CREATOR

    “The Voice” & Partnership Director

  • A man with glasses, a beard, and a green sweater, smiling with arms outstretched behind a table filled with wine bottles.

    Micheal Annis

    HEAD REF

    aka “The Hand of the Queen”

  • A woman with braided hair, glasses, and hoop earrings, smiling while holding a drink in an indoor setting with large windows.

    Santresa Glass

    HEAD OF VOLUNTEERS

    aka “Professor McGonagall”

  • A woman with long gray hair, blue eyes, and red lipstick looks at the camera with a slight smile, wearing a dark top and a dark scarf.

    Kimberly Jones

    HEAD OF COMPETITOR RELATIONS

    aka “Mrs. Jones”

  • Smiling woman wearing a black "SOMMOMYLPICS 2024" T-shirt, seated at a table with jewelry display trays in the background.

    Carolyn Ralph

    HEAD OF TECH

    aka “Mama Spreadsheet”

none of this would be possible

without our volunteers

Want to Join the Team?

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!

People sitting at a table during a game night, focused and thinking, with scoreboards in front of them showing 100 and 150 points.
A group of people participating in a wine-tasting event, with four glasses of white wine on a black table, measuring tape, and a person taking a photo or recording with a tablet. The room is decorated with holiday ornaments and’s festive decor.
A group of women gathered around a large table participating in a meeting or discussion, with some women reading or taking notes.
People participating in a game of timed trivia or quiz in a pub or bar, with scorecards showing 0500 and 1000 points, bottles, glasses, and a map on the wall in the background.