A woman with long brown hair holding a glass of red wine, wearing a dark gray t-shirt and jeans, standing against a light-colored brick wall.

Hi, I’m kelly coughlin.

Creating thoughtful, immersive, and educational experiences is a true passion of mine. I want people to leave feeling like they’ve lit up a kind of deep curiosity - a magic that follows them through their week. To me, wine is not just about an alcoholic beverage, it’s about connecting to a history of people, culture, stories, and philosophy. To be able to find a way to yourself through that is exceptionally important to me.

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my story

A woman holding a child, standing in front of a wall with star-shaped lights and wine bottle racks, reflected in a mirror.

My journey with wine began long before my career—it started at a dinner table in Lyon, France during a high school exchange program, where I first experienced wine woven into the fabric of daily life, shared among friends over unmarked bottles from local vineyards.

That early immersion sparked a passion that has shaped nearly 15 years of hospitality leadership at the highest levels. My formal wine education began with an internship at the 2 Michelin-starred RIA in Chicago, where I assisted the Wine Director and discovered my calling. Since then, I've earned certifications through the Court of Master Sommeliers and built my expertise across some of the country's most acclaimed dining rooms.

My career has taken me through Chicago's celebrated restaurant scene—including the successful opening of Grace, to Smyth & The Loyalist, where I served as General Manager and Beverage Director for both pre- and post-opening, and Acadia, a Michelin-starred establishment where I refined my leadership in fine dining service. I continued my sommelier work in San Francisco before relocating to Nashville, where I've spent the past six years shaping wine programs as General Manager and Wine Director at Rolf and Daughters, Store Manager at the beloved Woodland Wine Merchant, and most recently as Beverage Director at Frankies Nashville, where I oversaw beverage operations across four distinct outlets.

Throughout my career, I've specialized in creating dynamic wine programs in high-volume environments, developing awarded service teams, increasing sales through strategic programming, and executing seamless private events both on and off-site. I've maintained strong industry relationships, stayed attuned to evolving trends, and prioritized wine education for both staff and community.

After becoming a mother, my priorities shifted. While restaurants will always have my heart, I wanted to invest my time more intentionally—to be present for my daughter while creating truly exceptional wine experiences for others. This led me to found Amphora Wine Services, where I bring the same level of expertise and service excellence I honed in Michelin-starred dining rooms to curated wine experiences for corporate events, weddings, and private celebrations. I work alongside event teams to ensure seamless execution, crafting wine programs that elevate special occasions, large and small, with the warmth and storytelling that first captivated me at that dinner table in Lyon.