Local wine bar, Cork and Tap on The Brazos becoming popular local spot
Story by Steve Nussbaum
When Kory and Brandye Casler began looking for a place to retire outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2017, their roots took them back to Possum Kingdom and close to Graham, where they both have family.
In 2019, they finished building a home on a lot they bought in The Hills two years earlier, and with Kory Casler now retired from his job with the federal service, the couple now calls PK home.
The Caslers lived in southern Arizona in the late 1990s, where they developed their palate for wine. During that time, the Sonoita region was becoming a very popular region for wine in southern Arizona, and they loved to spend time traveling the area and trying different wineries.
Over the ensuing two decades, they visited wineries in their trips up and down the West Coast, with stops in the Napa Valley and Sonoma regions in California, as well as Oregon, Arkansas, Tennessee and Washington. On every trip they took, they would made wine tasting part of their trip.
“It’s amazing how many good wines there are across the country, and the different types and flavors,†Kory Casler said.
Both of them have been to many Texas wineries, including those near Fredericksburg, as part of their study of wines and the different flavor profiles of each grape variety used to make them.
After he retired to his home in The Hills, Casler said it was hard to find a wide variety of wines in the area, which led him to consider opening a wine bar of his own.
To him, the risk was minimal.
“If it failed, I would just have to drink all the inventory,†he said.
In January, Casler started looking for a location for his wine bar, and the address for where he ended up is 309 FM 2353. His wine bar is located next door to the new Fabulous Finds gift shop.
Casler worked on getting his license from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in March and then remodeling the old flooring store that used to occupy the space. The process took about three months, but he finally had a “soft†opening for his business just before the Memorial Day weekend.
The Caslers started small on purpose, but the location is becoming a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike, with a very welcoming and inviting vibe that helps bring different groups together. The casual atmosphere is accentuated by the use of picnic tables, with several seating areas placed around the 900-square-foot space that feels bigger than it really is.
“The Cork and Tap has a cozy, hometown feel,†said Wolf Patrick, one of many from The Hills Above PK that frequents the wine bar. “You don’t feel commercialized like you do in so many of the big-town wine bars. The owners, Kory and Brandye, instantly become family, neighbors and friends. Whether you walk in with friends or all by yourself, you never feel alone or like you’re a stranger. The prices are great, but the company is even better. You can’t beat that kind of business.â€
The Cork and Tap serves about 35 different wines and 17 different types of craft beer, and Casler said the craft beers are more popular than the wines on some nights.
The Caslers’ wine bar has been very selective in choosing wines from smaller wineries that aren’t usually found in local stores. The bottles come from specialty wineries that only make limited batches of wine each year.
Casler said he purposely has shopped for wines that would fit any budget, and the wine bar has bottles for sale starting at $18 and ranging in price up to $90. The establishment carries a wide selection of California wines in addition to some Texas and Washington state wines, and it also has added some imports from France, Italy and New Zealand.
Casler’s plans for the business include adding charcuterie boards and a few food options. The wine bar also will have some upcoming events for its guests, such as wine and art, a charcuterie board-making class and wine glass painting.
In short, the Cork and Tap is a great place for a quick glass of wine before dinner, or a fun and relaxing place to meet others. It’s quickly becoming a local favorite.
Cheers!
