Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Walker.
Hi Joshua, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Joshua Walker is the founder and owner of Wine & Company in Charleston, South Carolina, a nationally recognized wine bar and bottle shop built on the belief that great wine is ultimately about people.
Joshua’s career began in fine dining at The Woodlands, a Five Star, Five Diamond Relais & Châteaux property, where he developed a deep appreciation for world class hospitality and the pursuit of excellence. Working alongside talented chefs, sommeliers, and hospitality professionals, he learned that truly memorable experiences are created not only through exceptional food and wine, but through genuine care for every guest who walks through the door.
That foundation sparked a passion for wine that quickly grew beyond the dining room. Over the next sixteen years, Joshua immersed himself in studying producers, regions, vintages, and the people behind the world’s great wines. Along the way, he developed a philosophy that still guides his work today: wine should inspire curiosity rather than intimidation, and every bottle has a story worth sharing.
In 2017, Joshua founded Wine & Company with the vision of creating the kind of wine shop he always wished existed. A place where collectors and first time wine drinkers would feel equally welcome, where education happened naturally through conversation, and where hospitality mattered just as much as the bottles on the shelves.
Since opening, Wine & Company has become one of Charleston’s most beloved gathering places, earning national recognition as one of America’s top wine bars. The shop has built a loyal following through thoughtful wine selections, weekly educational tastings, private events, and a culture that prioritizes relationships over transactions. Joshua believes that the greatest compliment a business can receive is not that someone visited once, but that they return often enough to become part of its community.
Beyond Wine & Company, Joshua is passionate about building businesses that strengthen communities through hospitality. His work continues to focus on creating spaces where people can slow down, share meaningful conversations, and discover something new, whether that’s an unforgettable bottle of wine, a small family producer they’ve never encountered, or simply a sense of belonging.
At the heart of Joshua’s work is a simple belief: exceptional hospitality has the power to change the course of someone’s day, and sometimes even their life. The wine may bring people together, but it is the relationships built around the table that endure long after the last glass is poured.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the greatest challenges has been building an independent business around something that cannot be measured solely by transactions. Selling wine is relatively straightforward. Building a place where people genuinely feel welcomed, return week after week, and introduce their friends and family is much harder.
From the beginning, I knew I didn’t want Wine & Company to compete by having the lowest prices or the biggest selection. Instead, we chose to compete through hospitality, education, and relationships. That meant taking the time to tell the story behind every bottle, helping guests feel comfortable asking questions, and creating an environment where someone buying a fifteen dollar bottle would receive the same attention as someone purchasing a rare collector’s wine.
Like any small business, we’ve navigated staffing challenges, changing consumer habits, and economic uncertainty. Those experiences have reinforced an important lesson for me: while markets change and trends come and go, genuine hospitality never goes out of style. If you consistently care for people, make thoughtful decisions, and stay true to your values, the business has a much stronger foundation to weather whatever comes next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Wine & Company?
Wine & Company was founded with a simple belief: wine should bring people together, not intimidate them. Since opening our doors in Charleston, we’ve worked to create a space where someone purchasing their very first bottle feels just as comfortable as a seasoned collector searching for a rare allocation.
While we are known for our carefully curated selection of wines from around the world, what truly defines us is our approach to hospitality. Every bottle on our shelves has been chosen because we believe in the producer, the story, and the experience it offers. Rather than chasing trends or carrying thousands of labels, we focus on wines with authenticity, character, and a sense of place.
Education is also at the heart of what we do. Every Tuesday, we host guided tastings that encourage guests to explore new regions, producers, and styles in a relaxed, approachable setting. Whether someone has spent decades collecting wine or has never attended a tasting before, our goal is the same: to make wine enjoyable, accessible, and memorable.
I believe what truly sets Wine & Company apart is that we’ve never viewed ourselves as simply a retail store or a wine bar. We see ourselves as a gathering place. Many of our guests have become close friends, celebrated life’s biggest milestones with us, and introduced us to the next generation of wine lovers. That sense of community is something you cannot manufacture, and it has become the foundation of everything we do.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a particular accolade or recognition, although we’re incredibly grateful for those. It’s hearing someone say, “This feels like my place.” We’ve always believed that great businesses are built one relationship at a time, and that philosophy has shaped every decision we’ve made since day one.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to know, it’s that Wine & Company isn’t about selling bottles. It’s about creating meaningful experiences. Whether you’re joining us for a Tuesday tasting, picking up a bottle for dinner, celebrating a special occasion, or simply stopping in for a glass after work, we hope you leave feeling like you discovered something worth sharing and found a place you’ll want to return to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chswine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wineandcompany/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chswine
