Wisdom Table Provides a Sommelier Experience in Elkin (Beer, too)

More than 100 North Carolina wines, served by a certified sommelier, are available at The Wisdom Table, which opened in summer 2020 in Elkin.

The downtown tasting room on the corner of Main and Bridge streets occupies the former Belk department store. It provides a spacious, open atmosphere to taste at the bar, sit at a table or shop for wine and craft beer in the retail section.

Owners and North Carolina natives Jeremy and Krystle Stamps fell for the Yadkin Valley when searching for a wedding venue in 2012. After working for several years at Walt Disney World in Florida, they decided to trade mouse ears for wine glasses and spread the word about the growing Yadkin Valley and North Carolina wine scene.

“What’s really fun with North Carolina wine is the constant experimentation,” Jeremy Stamps says. “Seeing how everyone cracks the code to growing grapes and making wine in North Carolina is pretty neat.”

When customers come to The Wisdom Table to taste, they choose from six different wine flights that change weekly, or they can opt for a local craft beer. As a certified sommelier and cicerone, Jeremy enjoys introducing customers to unfamiliar styles or new vintages.

In addition to Yadkin Valley and North Carolina wines, the shop stocks West Coast and Old World bottles. Each week, the tasting menu includes at least one NC-only flight, while others might pair a North Carolina selection with wines of the same style from around the world.

Wine is also available by the glass and bottle to enjoy at the bar. Craft beer and cider are available in cans and bottles. A small food menu includes cheese, charcuterie and desserts. The back of the former department store functions as a retail space where wine, beer and cider are available to purchase for off-premise consumption.

The Stamps renovated the large 1937 structure to restore its former charm and upfit it for modern operation. They uncovered original wood flooring, installed a custom bar that Jeremy built and selected Westinghouse lights, new fixtures reminiscent of styles from decades ago.

The timeless space is a fitting classroom to learn about one of the world’s oldest beverages.

“Wine knowledge is a bottomless pit,” Jeremy says. “What tastes right this year is going to taste different next year. It’s always fun and never ending.”

To learn more about The Wisdom Table, click here.

For more things to do in downtown Elkin, click here.