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Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop Moves to New Palmer Square Spot

This distinctive wine shop is a must for wine lovers. The charming decor, reminiscent of a fine wine cellar, offers an appealing ambiance in which to browse the extensive selection of wines from many parts of the globe.

Recently moved to a new Palmer Square location at 49 Hulfish street, the shop continues to offer its high-quality wines, which have been its hallmark since the store opened in 1997.

"I wanted to bring a European-style wine shop to Princeton, a true wine shop," explains proprietor Laurent Chapuis. "We have wines from 17 countries, including Mexico, the U.S., France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Israel, and quality is our main priority here. We never compromise quality for price. We have a wide price range, including great wines for $8."

Corkscrew, which has been a very successful addition to the Princeton shopping scene, has had steady, consistent growth, 10 percent to 15 percent annually, reports Mr. Chapuis. This was a factor in the decision to move.

"The new location has more space, no steps, and better parking," he points out. "The move has been all that I hoped for. I am super happy. Also, the Borough has been super nice to us, and two of the parking meters in front of the store were changed to 30 minutes."

Customers come from all over, he adds. "Princeton and the area, but also many from as far away as New York and Philadelphia. People who come to the shop are interested in learning about wine, and they are willing to explore and try new wines. Americans are becoming more curious and more knowledgable about wine.

"And," he continues, "I am learning, too. I'm always learning and discovering new things. I really enjoy the continuing education for myself and sharing it with others. We try to be as informative as we can  bringing in wines from all over the world, bringing in the greatest wine at reasonable prices."

This involves considerable travel and research, he points out. At least six weeks are spent abroad every year, visiting vineyards, as well as trips to California and to other wineries in the U.S. So much goes into the creation of a fine wine, observes Mr. Chapuis, who is originally from Lyon, France and whose family was in the wine business.

He came to the U.S in 1987 as a student at Temple University, later earning an MBA. After traveling across the country, working for wine importers and distributors, he settled in Philadelphia. He believed that Princeton, with its international clientele and desirable location between New York and Philadelphia, was an ideal spot. "And, it's also midway between California and France!," he says with a smile.

Helping to educate people about a wine's history is a pleasure for Mr. Chapuis. "There is so much involved," he explains. "Every region changes. The winemaker has to adapt himself to nature. Every year is a new vintage and a new discovery. The soil, the minerals, and the weather are always factors."

Another point he makes is that not all customers realize that champagne is not always champagne, although the term is used generically by many. "Sparkling wines come from many places, including Spain, Greece, Israel, California, etc, but champagne is only from the Champagne region of France. You cannot duplicate champagne. There are fine sparkling wines from other places, but they are not champagne!"

Wine bottles are attractively displayed according to country of origin and also sub-regions at the store, and maps of the various countries and areas serve as visual aids to shoppers, interested in wines from particular regions.

Indeed, customers can have a true wine adventure at Corkscrew --- little tours of the wine world!

The shop also offers regular in-house wine tastings for its clients, and in some cases, wine producers are also in attendance. "We e-mail our customers so they can meet the producers," says Mr. Chapuis, who also sends out a regular newsletter.

Corkscrew is set apart in other ways as well, in particular, its chilly temperature  all for the good of the wines, explains Mr. Chapuis. The entire shop is temperature-controlled day and night at 59 degrees to preserve the quality of the wine.

The store even provides jackets for customers who need a little extra warmth as they look over the selection.

Corkscrew has received critical acclaim, local and national, from numerous wine officials and publications. The official Wine Guide 2001 (its most recent rating) rated Corkscrew "among the best wine shops in the U.S." And the Home News Tribune Readers' Choice called it "one of the best in central New Jersey."

Mr. Chapuis attributes this to the quality of the wines he offers and the care he takes in selecting them. "This is a wine shop, strictly wine. I buy according to what I believe is great wine, and we store the wine properly at 59 degrees."

Prices are in a wide range, from $7 up to $200, with 75 percent between $8 and $15. In addition, many customers buy by the case at a 10 percent discount, reports Mr. Chapuis. Special offerings by case are often available, including a box of six red and six white for $120. Corkscrew also manufactures its own case boxes.

Port, sherry, cognac, and saki from Tokyo are offered as well, says Mr. Chapuis, who looks forward to even more customers discovering the pleasures of wine at Corkscrew.

"I am fortunate to have very good, knowledgeable people on our staff, and we enjoy helping customers with their selection. I hope to continue to find new producers and new wines, and to bring in even more unusual and esoteric wines for our customers to discover."

Corkscrew Wine Shop is open Monday and Tuesday 11 to 9, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10 to 9, Sunday 12 to 7. Delivery is available. (609) 430-1200.