our story
Located in downtown Columbia's historic Sylvan Building, Hampton Street Vineyard has been Columbia's premier destination for fine wine and warm hospitality since 1995. The enterprise is now owned and operated by Jonathan Lopez who has continued the legacy of a wine-focused restaurant with the addition of a French-inflected farm-to-table dining experience, a modern craft cocktail program, and a notable weekend brunch.
Jonathan Lopez, a native of Canyon, a small town in Northwest Texas, began his career in restaurants while studying at the University of Texas at Austin. He worked at a family-owned restaurant and continued in the industry after graduation, moving to Chicago to work at The Pump Room, a Jean Georges Vongreichten restaurant. It was there that he developed an interest in fine dining and wine.
Moving to New York City, Jonathan pursued his passion for wine, working in wine retail and as a sommelier at Chef's Club and Italienne. He eventually became the beverage director of The Milling Room, and later, the General Manager. In 2019, he and his wife moved to Columbia, SC, where he took a position as a sommelier at Hall's Chophouse.
After nine months, Jonathan and his partners purchased Hampton Street Vineyard, where he currently serves as managing partner. With 14 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Jonathan has worked in all front-of-house positions, from host to owner, with a focus on beverages. He earned the advanced sommelier certification in 2018 from the Court of Master Sommeliers, and has worked with chefs from the best Michelin-starred restaurants in the country.
Jonathan Lopez, Owner
Wesley Fulmer, Executive Chef & Managing Partner
Wesley (Wes) Fulmer, a native of Prosperity, South Carolina, is a chef whose greatest strength lies in his ability to see the big picture. His deep knowledge of food, combined with years of experience in the restaurant industry and working alongside some of the country’s top chefs, has shaped his culinary expertise.
Chef Wes graduated from the College of Charleston in 2000 with a degree in Historic Preservation and Architectural History. He pursued graduate studies in Political Science at the University of Colorado before shifting his focus to the culinary arts. In 2004, he earned a degree from the Culinary School of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado, and staged at Restaurant Christian Étienne in Avignon, France.
With a career spanning over two decades, Fulmer has mastered a range of cuisines, including Asian fusion, New American, Southern, Cajun/French Creole, Classic French, Rustic Italian, and South Carolina Lowcountry. In his previous role as Executive Chef at Motor Supply Company Bistro, he led his restaurant to numerous accolades, including Southern Living’s “Top 5 Best Restaurants in the South” and multiple “Best of Columbia” awards from Free Times, Columbia Metropolitan, and The State for Readers’ Choice Best Restaurant (2014–2024). He was also recognized as the Best Chef in Free Times’ “Best of Columbia” from 2019 to 2023.
Wes’s love for cooking is rooted in food and family, stemming from a desire to continually create and refine his craft. Coming from a family steeped in culinary tradition—his grandfather was a celebrated barbecue pit master—he developed a passion for hospitality. For Chef Wes, it’s not just about the food but about creating memorable experiences for others.