About Us
Husband and wife team Erin and James created the concept for Cork & Cap on their first date. Since then, James, a wine professional, and Erin, a marketing and local food advocate, have always dreamed of opening their own neighborhood bottle shop—a space to offer the wine, beer, cider and conservas they've spent a lifetime loving and learning about.
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After six years, they finally decided to make their dream a reality—in one of their favorite places on Earth—Aiken. Cork & Cap brings an incredible selection of wine and beer to downtown Aiken, in a lovingly restored historic cottage, with opportunities to taste and learn about the products we believe in.
Whether you are looking for an everyday bottle, want to try something a bit different, or are celebrating a special occasion, we have the knowledge and selection to get you just what you need! At Cork & Cap, we are passionate about the stories in these bottles, the places they come from, and want to share them with YOU, the vibrant community of Aiken. Cheers. Erin & James
About James + Erin
James is a lifelong resident of South Carolina, and has worked in the broader wine industry for the last two decades. He has managed small bistro wine lists, and also overseen multimillion dollar buying programs for industry-leading wine retailers. He knows his stuff, and loves to share his knowledge in an approachable way. Read James' full bio.
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Erin was raised in Aiken, and has maintained a consistent connection with the area her entire life. Among her many areas of professional expertise are foodways and gastronomic sciences, in which she holds advanced degrees and various professional certifications. She has also interned with wineries across Italy, acquiring familiarity with the science of making wine, and the skills involved in selling it to a broad audience. Read more about Erin.
From the Press
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The Aiken Standard: Cork and Cap opens for business in downtown Aiken
“The concept is very much ‘retail-centric,’” Alford said. “The beating heart of the business is that we are a retailer of fine wine, craft beer and various types of gourmet goodies, everything from conserva to boiled peanuts. Basically, the idea behind the food part is to have little snacks that we feel complement the beverages that are in the store."
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Conversations with Erin Eisele—"My husband, James, and I created the overall concept for Cork & Cap on our first date nearly 10 years ago!" . . .
