When you walk into a bar in Athens, you expect a certain vibe. Sticky floors, Ellie Goulding music, and a musk that I will miss as a senior, but is not appealing in any other sense.
Athens Uncorked has soft and soothing music that isn’t noticeable, because it’s perfectly coupled with the ambience. The lavender couches, deep maroon walls and dim lighting feels comfortable and casual. People talk at hushed volumes, play board games, and the customers span all ages.
Athens Uncorked is the first and only wine bar in the city. It features seven wine flights, champagne and beer options, and light appetizers such as meat and cheese plates.
Siblings Nate Hayes and Kathy Blake own the bar. The pair had the idea for the last three to four years, and self-promoted on Facebook for the last two years. Uncorked opened in November and has received a steady crowd ever since. Rachael Wiley has worked for Athens Uncorked since it opened.
“[The goal] is just to provide a different space for adults. Athens has so many bars and we’re not necessarily a bar,” Wiley said. “It’s somewhere where you’re comfortable bringing your friends and family and can have a conversation without someone yelling.”
Uncorked features higher prices than the typical Athens bar, because the quality of the wine is a key component. The cheapest bottle of wine is $26; however the increased cost isn’t something that has turned students away.
“We tend to get a four to six o’clock local, off work, university rush. Then we have an hour lull period and then we get students,” Wiley said. “Students, grad students, a lot of my coworkers’ friends [come] because I work uptown. It’s neat because we really draw from both demographics.”
Athens Uncorked stays fresh by continually updating its menu. The flights change from top to bottom every two months.
“I always tell people if there’s something you’d like to see to let us know, post on our Facebook or our website or leave a comment here,” Wiley said. “We really take that into consideration. Last time we had a lot of people say they want more dry, so that’s why we have our dry as a bone flight.”
Awareness of the clientele’s needs is what makes Athens Uncorked unique and successful. The waiters and waitresses take the time to work with individual customers to give them the best experience possible. This consideration likely stems from the owners’ attitudes.
“Honestly, I love working for Nate and Kathy. It’s a really comfortable vibe, which is a nice change of pace because three days a week I deal with the other end of the spectrum with yelling and crazy,” Wiley said. “My parents come here, my parents’ friends come here, and it’s a great place to work. I’m really proud to work here.”
Going forward, Athens Uncorked looks to keep evolving. Currently, the food menu consists of just small appetizers such as mixed nuts, hummus, bread and oil and meat and cheese plates. In the next six months, Uncorked looks to add more small tapas options. It then intends to expand right and left to create a bigger space that will allow for various dinner selections.
“There’s just a crazy demand for dinner. We don’t want to be in a place where another wine bar opens, and they have dinner and then we’re just obsolete,” Wiley said. “It’s definitely evolving and that’s really cool.”
Athens Uncorked is undoubtedly a rare establishment for the Athens community. The rules on the outside of the front door discourage phone use, clarify there will be no cocktails or shots, and don’t permit “anyone you wouldn’t bring to your mother’s Sunday dinner.” The combination contributes to a genuine setting where students and locals alike are encouraged to learn about wine, sit back and enjoy.