In December 2022, Paula De Pano, the former beverage director at the Fearrington House and one of the South’s most prestigious sommeliers, opened a wine shop in Southern Village, Chapel Hill, Rocks & Acid.
De Pano — who grew up in Manila in the Philippines and moved to the United States in 2008 — knows what it’s like to make her way up in the industry: although wine is largely marketed toward women, the upper echelons of the wine world are still a boys’ club. To wit, De Pano is committed to championing wine by women and minorities, and most of the labels are the fruit of that commitment
Rocks & Acid has quickly caught on and visitors love the atmosphere. There’s ample room for drinking and mingling at Rocks & Acid, including at the communal table with seating for 16, and a selection of artisan cheeses for snack pairings; De Pano also has a long list of classes for wine nerds and beginners alike, with guest sommeliers and topics like “champagne and French Fries.”
Rocks & Acid bills itself as “pro-women, immigrant, POC, and LGBTQ+” and are donating 10 percent of proceeds the first Wednesday of every month to the nonprofit Inclusive Therapists, a national BIPOC therapy fund.
Rocks & Acid
712 Market Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
Hours:
Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday & Thursday, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday & Saturday, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday, 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
