Two independent wine shops with Alpharetta roots landed on a regional best-of list published Saturday, July 25.
Fermented Wine Boutique on Canton Street and Cork & Glass on Atlanta Highway were both named standout destinations in the North Atlanta Star's roundup of the area's top independent wine shops. The two stores take different approaches but share a common thread: a knowledgeable person behind the counter who can match a bottle to a meal, a budget or a mood.
Fermented Wine Boutique: Natural wines in downtown Alpharetta
Adam Danielson opened Fermented at 50 Canton St. in 2018 after two decades in restaurant wine management. The shop stocks only wines from family-owned wineries using sustainably farmed grapes and minimal additives.
"But wine is not Coca-Cola, it has to taste different every year!" Danielson told Georgia Trend Magazine in June 2024, explaining why he avoids mass-produced labels in favor of small-batch natural bottles.
As of a mid-2024 profile, Fermented organized its shelves by price point: a party wine wall at $15 and under, table wines from $16 to $25, and date-night picks from $26 to $50. The shop also offers themed flights at its tasting bar and hosts live jazz nights. Fermented's recurring Saturday tasting series is listed on the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar.
Cork & Glass: Sommelier-guided picks near the Forsyth line
Jose "Pepe" Fundora, a certified sommelier and Georgia Tech graduate, opened Cork & Glass at 5670 Atlanta Highway, Suite A2, in July 2020. His family has deep ties to Alpharetta's restaurant scene. His parents, Maria and Antonio Fundora, own Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant on the same stretch of Atlanta Highway. The restaurant received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2023.
Fundora described his shop's mission as "Making Wine Accessible" in a 2021 Voyage ATL profile, emphasizing personalized recommendations over wine-world jargon. He has hosted more than 40 virtual wine dinners with winemakers from California, Italy, Argentina and Australia, according to Business RadioX.
Cork & Glass is open Monday through Saturday, noon to 8 p.m.
The roundup's take
The North Atlanta Star noted that large retailers like Total Wine in Alpharetta remain practical for broad inventories and price comparisons. But the roundup credited independent shops with a distinct advantage: having someone behind the counter who can help make sense of an unfamiliar selection, according to the publication.
Fermented's Saturday tastings continue weekly at 50 Canton St. Cork & Glass hosts tastings, wine dinners and private events at its Atlanta Highway location.
