Weekend brunches are getting an upgrade with wine and cocktail pairings at Corkbuzz.
Corkbuzz may already be on your radar as the place to go if you’re looking for a delicious dinner thoughtfully paired with wines from all over the world, but you don’t want to miss out on their brunch offerings. The South Park mainstay has been serving brunch since their opening in 2015 and offers several dishes that can’t be found on their lunch menu, as well as a three-course menu paired with a brunch cocktail for just $35.
I try to offer a variety of items at any given time that can appeal to different tastes.
Chef Allen Evans doesn’t limit himself when it comes to the menu’s constantly changing style, but he is focused on what local produce is available during the seasons. Most ingredients are locally sourced from about twelve different farmers and small producers in the area. When it comes to cuisine, Evans has many inspirations.
“It can be any style,” Evans says, “but I tend to draw most from Southern, French, and Spanish, while quietly sliding in Mexican influences.”
Popular brunch items are the Old Bay bagel served with quark, a shrimp and avocado salsa, the scrambled egg sandwich with fried chicken thighs, summer squash slaw and hot sauce, and the burger.
“I try to offer a variety of items at any given time that can appeal to different tastes,” Evans offers. “We have a lot of different guests that come in, some to share snacks and wine and some for full meals, so we try to make it easy to do either,” says Evans.
Our passion is in making wine accessible for everyone…Our wine and cocktail list is approachable and fresh with amazing selections for any budget or style.
Because Corkbuzz is ultimately a wine-oriented restaurant, Allen maintains the focus on drinks by keeping the flavors of his cuisine “clean and not too complicated, which makes wine pairing easier and more versatile to guests’ tastes.” With almost 30 wines by the glass, wine flights, and a changing wine selection, Corkbuzz has probably already lured in many of the wine lovers in Charlotte. They even offer public and private wine classes, such as A Tour of Italy, France, Spain, Napa, and other wine regions. Their most popular class is Raid the Cellar with Laura Maniec, led by Corkbuzz’s co-owner and master sommelier.
“Our passion is in making wine accessible for everyone,” Chef Evans explains. “Whether you’re a wine novice or expert or anywhere in between, we love sharing our knowledge with you. Our wine and cocktail list is approachable and fresh with amazing selections for any budget or style.”
Some popular summer drinks are the “Ashley Lane,” with gin, pomegranate, lime, mint, and a ginger beer float, and a rose champagne or a slightly chilled light Italian red for hot summer days.
Whether you want a refreshing summery cocktail or glasses on glasses of wine—paired with a snack or a meal—grab a seat for brunch and let Allen and the Corkbuzz team take the reins. With the inspired food menu, wine selection, and class offerings that are ever-changing, “there’s always something new and different” to try.
