For Jeremy and Krystle Stamps, The Wisdom Table is an education opportunity. Located on Main Street in downtown Elkin, the expansive bottle shop and bar serve as a classroom where North Carolina’s growing wine scene is the subject of choice.
Opened in July 2020, The Wisdom Table came out of years of Yadkin Valley vacations. The Stamps are North Carolina natives who studied at UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem before taking jobs at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. In 2012, when searching for a wedding venue close to home, they discovered Elkin Creek Vineyard. After getting married, they would take 10-day trips from Florida to the Yadkin Valley and spend their vacations exploring different wineries. They saw a need for a place focused on NC wine where customers could come in the evenings, after the winery tasting rooms closed.
In 2017, the couple purchased the 1937 Belk department store building at the corner of Main and Bridge streets. During an extensive renovation, they uncovered the original wood flooring, installed a custom bar that Jeremy built and selected Westinghouse lights, new fixtures reminiscent of styles from decades ago.
Today customers choose from six different wine flights that change weekly. As a certified sommelier and cicerone, Jeremy enjoys introducing customers to unfamiliar styles or new vintages.
“Wine knowledge is a bottomless pit,” he says. “What tastes right this year is going to taste different next year. It’s always fun and never ending.”
The Wisdom Table stocks more than 100 North Carolina wines, as well as 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.
“What’s really fun with North Carolina’s wine scene is the constant experimentation,” Jeremy says.
In addition to flights, wine is available by the glass and bottle. Craft beer is also available in cans and bottles. A small food menu includes cheese, charcuterie and desserts. Future plans for The Wisdom Table include multicourse wine dinners and in-depth tasting classes.
“I enjoy changing people’s perceptions and minds about wine,” Jeremy says. “I’ve had professional chefs come in and say, ‘I’ve never had an NC wine I really enjoyed.’ By the time they leave, they buy five bottles. It’s great to see those epiphany moments and find the right wine for the right person.”
To learn more: www.WisdomTable.com or (336) 258-8077.
When you’re ready for some exploration of Elkin, go to ExploreElkin.com.
