In his 22 years as a business attorney, Earnhart Spencer has helped countless entrepreneurs purchase, sell and operate their dream shops. This knowledge has proven invaluable as he ventures into his own dream in the form of Cork & Kettle, a wine and tea bar in Downtown Norfolk.
Entering the Granby St. shopfront, you’re immediately transported to a refined space with minimalist grays and deep browns drawing the eye to either side of the restaurant. On the left, teas. On the right, wines. All throughout, a welcoming atmosphere where conversations take flight over paninis, cheeseboards and hand-selected beverages.
Cork & Kettle marries two of Spencer’s passions with 36 teas and 36 wines to purchase, and 16 of each for in-store enjoyment. Talking to Spencer, you get the sense this symmetry is no accident. In fact, everything in Cork & Kettle has been chosen by him and his wife, Nancy, his partner in life and in business.
Two Passions in One
Spencer says wine and tea make for “a nice marriage” because they “appeal to similar demographics. You don’t see it done very much. In fact, we’re the only wine and tea bar in Hampton Roads and only one of three or four in the country.”
Over time, the realization came to him that he needed to open Cork & Kettle for like minded tea and wine lovers, saying, “Instead of running around trying to find tea we love and wine we like, why don’t we just become that place?”
He says culture is often coffee-driven (and likewise beer-driven), which opens the perfect opportunity for him to offer new flavors Norfolk residents and visitors might otherwise miss out on.
“It seemed like a natural marriage for us.”
The Offerings
On the tea side, Spencer says he’s sourcing from Harney and Sons, a renowned purveyor of loose leaf and sachet teas. For each of the teas offered, there is a sniff jar to give a better sense of the tea’s flavor. Cork & Kettle offers both traditional black teas as well as herbal varieties, from traditional Earl Grey and peppermint to peaches and ginger to chocolate mint. Spencer offers 16 of these teas for in-store consumption by the cup or in one of two pot sizes, depending on the party size. Other nonalcoholic drinks include bottled teas, lemonade, ginger beer, peach and sweet black tea.
As for the wines, Spencer has hand-picked a selection of varietals from France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, California and – of course – Virginia. More than a dozen of them are sold by the glass via a self-serve station that allows customers to have as little as a sip for one dollar before committing to a larger glass. Start a tab on a self-serve tap card and taste the night away.
The commitment to Virginia wines – including a lovely and complex Petit Verdot from Michael Shaps Winery out of Charlottesville – is strong with Spencer.
“We have 300 wineries in Virginia, making it the fifth-largest wine producing state in the nation,” he says. “Sixty percent of our wines are from Virginia and 40 percent are international organic.”
He notes that the Charolttesville AVA (American Viticultural Area) recently was honored with Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. In addition to wines, Cork & Kettle also serves ciders from local cideries.
Cork & Kettle’s kitchen may be small, but it produces some terrific options for lunch or a light dinner, including paninis, grazing boards, salads and other sides to accompany your favorite beverage. The turkey and brie panini is a customer favorite, Spencer says. On Sundays, the menu expands to offer a brunch of Belgian waffles and $5 mimosas.
Happy Hour at Cork & Kettle is Wednesday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. with $5 glasses of wine and other specials.
“Our real goal here is to introduce wine to people who may not have considered wine in the past,” Spencer says. “With our self-serve system, it allows you to go through and taste wines at your own pace. Come and try them out before you invest in a whole bottle. Try before you buy.”
Cork & Kettle is located at 420 Monticello Ave. Suit 160 just north of MacArthur Mall and within walking distance of Chrysler Hall and Scope Arena.
