Take a First Look at Upper King’s By-the-Ounce Wine Bar

Charleston entrepreneur Ken Schneider and operating partner Mark Rosenberg (formerly of early-aughts, Upper King piano bar Pluto Rocks) are ready to open by-the-ounce wine bar Uncork at 476 King St. The team has transformed the former Sweet 185 address from a sugaring studio into a chill space to have a glass of wine, charcuterie, snacks from Leyla, or desserts from Saveurs du Monde.

However, there are still a few kinks to work out on the self-service aspect of the bar. Because any licensing of alcohol in South Carolina is usually fraught, Uncork has all the makings of a self-serve wine bar, but employees will still need to press the buttons to dispense the wine from the exact pour system. This could change soon, as the heads in Columbia figure it out.

How does a self-serve wine bar work? Patrons hand the host or hostess a credit card upon arrival in exchange for an Uncork card. This card keeps track of ounces poured. Attendees can choose from one-ounce, two-ounce, or four-ounce pours. There are 40 wines on tap to choose, from well-known varietals to more obscure selections. The pour cost varies, depending on the price of the bottle. At the end of the visit, patrons hand back the card and settle up with the credit card on file or another payment method.

Take a look around the lounging areas and bar at Uncork before the opening tonight at 4 p.m.

Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

• Uncork [Official]
• Self-Serve Wine Bar Uncork Plans to Pour Next to The Rarebit [ECHS]