Rodney had great recommendations for cheese, wine and crackers. We put together a nice charcuterie to enjoy at our hotel later that evening. read more

Seriously the cutest place in the entirety of Portsmouth! I LOVE the street that it's on (Commercial Alley)- all cobblestone and dim lighting. My fiancé and I picked up some sparkling drinks and three types of cheese - and sat down on a bench outside, listened to the chatter of the nearby restaurant guests and REALLY enjoyed our cheese together! I'm sure the cheeses change constantly, but I loved a cheese I got with spring onions/chives in it. Highly recommend this place if you visit Portsmouth! read more

Corks and Curds - Cheese time! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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When you meet another New Yorker, there's an instant connection. Joann is amazing! She provided great help and it was awesome to chat a bit with a fellow New "Yawker". Fabulous ambience and the cheese is amazing too. I definitely suggest this establishment! read more

Surprised to see such positive reviews about the owner. We had a wonderful dinner at Surf and were looking to bring back some wine and cheese to the hotel. Stopped in and the owner/woman literally BARkED at us to close the door because of her air conditioning. Now I can understand if we were standing in the doorway but all we did was literally walk in and close the door. While browsing she proceeded to be rude. The good news is we didn't let this horrible woman ruin our night exploring the wonderful town of Portsmouth. If the owner is reading this - learn something about customer service. I make it a point to always support small business and especially women owned businesses and your treatment was shameful. read more

Joanne is a wonderful person who will take great care to meet all your wine needs! I ordered a bottle of wine to be delivered in Stratham, I live in Texas, and she did a wonderful job! read more

We had dinner reservations, but as we were walking to the restaurant we decided to stop into Corks and Curds because, well, wine and cheese are basically our main food group. Plus it was along this winding European-esque alley which entranced us. Romantics through and through. Small shop, but very charming. One owner was offering an abundance of cheese samples (and, encouragingly, let us know that we could sample anything in the case that she didn't have out already); one owner was doing a wine sampling. Both were friendly enough and made us feel welcome while we were there. They let us know that their meticulously curated shop contains only wines they've personally tried. How refreshing! This means that any and everything in their shop that you have questions about, they have informed answers for. And yes, if there's a flavor profile you're craving or are looking for a specific wine to go with a specific food or are curious about what wines would go with what cheeses they have available right there, just let them know and they can guide you in the perfect direction. I will admit there seemed to be a *slight* pretentiousness here. One of the owners tried to explain to us what an aerator was, and looked visibly surprised when we told him we owned one and were well-versed in it. Also, when I asked about a specific wine, I was told they had never heard of anything like it and that I should just call a distributor. They also seemed annoyed that we decided to go against their suggested wine for something that we thought looked more "us" (and just happened to also be cheaper). Fan of the idea. Fan of the plethora of wines they carry that I hadn't heard of before. Fan of the bottle we ended up getting, too! read more

Corks and Curds - Corks and Curds sign. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

No trip to Portsmouth is complete without a stop here. It's a great little shop with a huge selection of wines and tasty accompaniments. The shop lady is incredibly knowledgeable and super helpful. We picked up a few bottles of wine and some cheese and crackers. Everything was delicious. read more

One star for a cheese shop that didn't understand the origins of enzymes used to make their cheese. When asked which cheeses may be vegetarian, we were told some are goat and some are cow (which gave us the impression that the sales person didn't know what enzymes were) When pressed whether the enzymes or rennet used in the cheeses are vegetarian, we were told that the shop doesn't have that information. We compare this response to the cheese shop in Middletown CT that has all of their cheeses labeled and ingredients sourced. Also where we spent over $100 on cheese! read more

Excellent recommendations from all angles - cheese - wine- jam - crackers. The store is off the main road. Make sure you visit.

Amazing little cheese and wine boutique! Stayed in York for a couple days and wanted some nice cheese to pair with fresh bread. Was not disappointed with this shop in any way! The owner was very warm and welcoming and if I lived there I'd be in there weekly! Thank you so much for your recommendations ! read more

Such a great little find in Portsmouth. The owner is wonderful she helped us pick a wine for our anniversary and they sell all sorts of cheeses there ... she helped us pick out an aged cheddar from 2012 which is to die for. She knows her wine and her cheeses ... and they have tons of cute wine themes gifts too. Great spot. read more

wine and products were great. offensive and snotty lady behind the counter was beyond terrible. the cheese I asked if she carried, she scoffed at and that they don't carry ordinary cheese like that and told me that the items I was remarking on were for sale and I should buy them if I thought they were so great. said it to me loudly in front of other customers. I wouldn't buy cheese whiz from this person. read more

Great cheese selection. Staff (Joanne) is attentive and informed. Helped select the right cheese and pate selection for a home dinner. A great find hidden on Commerovcail Alley a side street in Portsmouth. Worth the trip. read more

New England might be the Napa Valley of Cheeses but if your a fan of diverse cheese and not just cheddar, put Corks and Curds on your list of places to stop in Portsmouth. There are usually a couple bottles of wine open on Fridays and Saturdays for tasting and they knows how to pair wine and cheese better than anyone I have met. Eldon will normally cut off a sliver of cheese for you to taste as you shop and sip. Piave Vechio is my favorite cheese there but there are always other unique flavors to taste. And they have never been wrong with a pairing. The shop is small and intimate and you could almost miss it but you will regret it if you do read more

I read the rules about reviewing businesses on this site, and I am going to break the rules, I know Eldon Collymore and his "help" Frank. It is very difficult not to get to know them... that said on with the review. Eldon's wine choices have always exceeded my expectations... they are first rate. His pairings of wines and cheeses he sells are spot on, and when he is asked about wine pairings with other foods, he always has had a recommendation that improves the meal. The shop is not to be missed... stop in on the weekend, try Eldon's pick of the day... you will not be disappointed. read more

My husband and I have been to this store in the past and had a good experience, so we returned recently. The woman at the counter had been friendly, warm and welcoming during our first visit, However, during our second, she barely turned around to say hello (and we were the only ones in the store)...Instead, I was greeted by a wine glass on a shelf inside the door that said "Drunk Wives Matter," along with several other choice phrases on wine glasses, then saw a wine aerator for sale that was shaped like a gun. If that's your thing, go for it...not my cup of tea (or glass of wine...). Perhaps they are simply trying to cater to a wider demographic, but at least make your potential customers feel welcome by a simple "hello" and "how may I help you today?"...especially in such a tiny store where silence just feels very awkward and unwelcoming. read more

This may be the most boring update ever, but 6 months after I gave this place a 5-star review, I still go back whenever I can. If I happen to show up during a wine tasting, even better. I rarely walk out of this store without spending more than I intended and Marc D. is right, the Piave Vecchio is terrific. Five very consistent stars for Corks & Curds. read more

Nice space in Portsmouth and friendly staff (although seemed a bit sleepy after holiday). Wine and cheese tastings were a nice surprise as we were looking for a good cheese and wine pairing. We were recommended a Malbec and a blue cheese pairing and also an aged goat to pair with a Fume Blanc we had previously purchased. When we returned to hotel we discovered our sleepy cheese man had provided a soft goat..thereby ruining our plan as we had not purchased any crackers... Booo! The red and blue cheese were fantastic though! Wine was a bit overpriced based on follow-up research (~15% higher) and cheese was priced to meet rarity of selections. Owner was interesting as when asked hours for Sunday we were told "noonish to fourish". :D read more

The woman who works here was the absolute best! Not only did she let us sample cheeses before buying, she also gave my boyfriend and I paper plates and cutlery for a boat picnic that we forgot to pack! Very cute store, will be going back! read more

Recently moved to the area and have been looking for a good place to buy wine which is harder than you may think honestly. I accidentally got stuck in Portsmouth for an hour and decided to see if there were any good stores and I decided to check this place out. The store is cute and small and reminds me of traditional New England. The wine selection, while it isn't as vast and expansive as you'd find at one of those large liquor stores-- it has a great selection and the owner really does have knowledge and opinion about every single item on the shelf. I felt like a kid in a candy shop, I'd pull a bottle down and ask "what about this one?" And she always had an answer! I have sommelier experience so I was asking pretty big questions and she always had an answer for every question I had. The only downside I could imagine is that say you love a particular wine of region, you don't have too many options if you're the type that likes to mix things up each time. For example if you love burgundy reds, there's only maybe a half dozen different burgundy reds available. All good, but if you're a frequent burgundy drinker like me you'll have to go to other stores for more variety. All in all I would definitely recommend paying this store a visit! read more

Corks and Curds is the place to go for wine and cheese. Solely operated by Elden, the small shop has choice selections of both. Always happy to give customers a sample, Elden is friendly and knowledgeable, a master sommalier who can pair wines and food perfectly. You cannot go wrong with anything found within Corks and Curds. read more

I was extremely disappointed by my visit here. My friend and I walked inside and there was cheese on the counter, so I went up to it and took a piece. The woman working was helping a customer and immediately asked my friend and I to wait and she would give us a cheese tasting. I apologized and we walked around until the first customer left. When the customer left the employee began to explain that the cheese samples were only for people who were "serious about buying cheese" and she implied that we were not going to purchase any. I was extremely confused, and told her I wasn't sure yet if I was going to buy cheese. She then wrapped up the samples, so my friend and I left. This woman was incredibly condescending and rude to my friend and I. We told multiple people we met later on that day to avoid this store. read more

dropped by for a minute on my way out of town the other day. just needed a nice cheese or two for the train ride home and guy working (the owner, i assume) was exceedingly nice and let us taste cheeses to our hearts content. we ended up only spending a few dollars but will most definitely be back next time we're in town. reserving the last star til i try a few of the wines, but so far one of the best cheese shops i've been to read more

Thank you so much for your hospitality Joann!! We thoroughly enjoyed the port tasting, Quinta do Crasto and blue cheese pairing. You made our Portsmouth visit from Seattle very memorable! read more

Corks and Curds is the best cheese and wine shop ice had the pleasure to frequent. Tell Eldon the taste you have in mind and he'll find exactly what you're thinking of! read more

Corks and Curds - Now this is an intriguing cheese case - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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Being a lover of cheese, I was incrediably excited to read about this little shop, which was a perfect stop on way up to Maine. I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by their selection and by their prices. Not only was the cheese more expensive than most city stores I have been to (you can expect to spend $25-30/ lb.) but the selection was underwhelming. Again, any cheese store in Boston sells a wider variety of local and international cheeses, and many in the northerly dairy regions do the same for local cheese. If you come here for wine as well, expect to be doubly surprised. Among the several bottles at which I looked, all were above $50, and their shelves were surprisingly bare. Beyond this, and perhaps it was because the shop keeper could smell the poor stinking around me, he did not bother to say anything to me the entire time I was there. Talk about rude. Maybe I came on an off day with the wrong expectations about this place. read more

Walk into this tiny room. First words from the proprietor/employee "you look like you're in the wrong store". My wife who is well versed in wine replies, "no this is what we were looking for." He then ignores us and continues on with paperwork, reading a paper, I'm not sure. I tend to get angry when treated like garbage. Needless to say he didn't receive a purchase from us. I don't know why we were treated with such pretentiousness. I would avoid this place. read more

I heard about this very cute and elegant wine and cheese place from a friend. My partner and I were greeted by the owner, and given a great review of the type of wine to fit what we were looking for. Cheese to go with it. Wonderful experience. My go to spot from now on. The wine and cheese selection was perfect. Delicious! read more

Stumbled upon this wine and cheese shop on the way to a BYOB restaurant. Wine and cheese tasting solidified our purchases. Owned and operated by friendly ex-New Yorkers. A-ok in my book. read more

Tremendously rude employees. The only person working the wine samples spent twenty minutes with other customers, despite it being apparent that he had people waiting and there were other employees to help them. He made no attempt to apologize and hurried me out as quickly as possible. When I tried to salvage the visit by trying some cheese, the lady at the desk gave me a death glare for trying to grab a cheese sample (around the other customers still monopolizing the space) without the toothpicks that were hidden from view. Compared with the other friendly, kind proprietors of Portsmouth, this place was a huge let-down. Don't waste your time if you want to be treated like a person. read more

Used to be much better - have received old cheese lately. Premium prices compared to other area cheese shops. Decent selection, nice service. Recent and frequent problem, the store is closed when it should be open - so we don't go often, choosing a North Hampton shop called C'est Cheese instead. Parking is tough. read more

We were just strolling around Portsmouth and happened to find this place. The men who worked there were pleasant and helpful. I did not get wine, so cannot review that, but he was very helpful with picking a cheese. They have been there 13 years which I found impressive. read more

We happened in here on Market Square Day and left with 3 cheeses and 6 bottles of wine. Matt was holding a wine tasting and he was so informative and helpful. He knows every wine in the store so well we only needed to mention a flavor or note and he would offer a minimum of three choices immediately in all price ranges. Great wines and cheeses and the owners really know their products. The store is so charming and inviting. Definitely worth the stop. read more

Great selection of exquisite wines and fantastic cheeses. We fell in love with a vidalia onion infused cheddar cheese and a dry, full-bodied white wine, and had to buy both . Eldon is the best!! Fun, friendly and he always offers us samples of anything we want to try. Prices are decent too, if you love wine and cheese ,you must not miss this place. read more

Twice in the past two months I have driven into Portsmouth to buy stuff at Corks And Curds and twice they have been closed when they claim to be open. Today I was there at 4 pm....the sign on the door said they should be open..but they were closed. I even called the phone number and the message claimed that they should be open. Either change your posted hours or be open when you claim to be. I wasted a lot of time...twice..trying to visit your store. My wife and I used to love buying stuff there but I've given up. I live an hour away so I don't see myself making another foolish trip. read more

The WORST customer service ever! My friend and I were 15 minutes early to a reservation, so we stopped in Corks and Curds to be told from the crotchedy old lady working there that she shut the lights off because she was closing soon. By our calculations we had 15 minutes before close. Sipping off her wine, she then asked if we were buying cheese or wine to which we replied that we were just browsing. She then said that if we were going to buy something we had to do it now. If we were just browsing then she was closing. ????? Are you kidding me? I was so shocked that I was at a loss for words. I have never been treated so poorly. I would seriously reconsider giving them business. They obviously don't need it. I suggest shopping somewhere that is appreciative of their potential customers. read more

I'm never going back there again! The woman there (short, blond with glasses) was very defensive and rude to me for taking some pictures of labels to search on the Wine Searcher app. I tried to explain I'm just looking up more info, but she wouldn't take it. She said I was supposed to ask her for help instead. She kept going on that she doesn't like people taking pictures because I could be stealing her business for another wine shop or something like that. I didn't care for her reason, it was the way she said it. It seemed like an attack with no intention of being polite or curtious. Either way, I felt very uncomfortable being there and bought some food out of guilt (I threw it away when I got home; I could never eat it after this). I've never been embarrassed as a customer like that before! read more