Pouring Community & Connection: Meet Mom-preneur Liz Dowty Mitchell of Camino Wine Merchant

When you walk into Camino Wine Merchant, Greenville’s newest wine shop and bar, there’s an immediate sense that this space is more than a place to grab a great bottle of wine. It’s a neighborhood gathering spot, a classroom for curious wine lovers, and, in many ways, a reflection of its founder, Liz Dowty Mitchell -- grounded, approachable and full of heart.

Liz, a mom of two young boys, has built Camino not only from her expertise in wine but also from her heart for family and community. As a mom-owned business in Greenville, Camino is quickly becoming a hub for connection. And this month, Ducklinks is thrilled to host our Anniversary Celebration here — and even more excited to spotlight the mom behind it all.

Interview with Liz Dowty Mitchell, owner of Camino Wine Merchant + Mother of Two

What inspired you to open Camino Wine Merchant, and what does the name “Camino” mean to you personally?

It’s been my dream to have a place of my own where I can share my love, joy and knowledge for the thing that I’ve dedicated my life to with others. The Camino is a pilgrimage that humbles its explorers and learning about wine is very similar. No matter how long you’ve been a student of wine, you can never know it all and there’s always something new to learn. My goal at Camino is to make wine less intimidating and more approachable to everyone.

You’ve lived in different cities — what made Greenville feel like the right place to plant roots and start this chapter?

My husband is from Travelers Rest so we’ve visited many times over the years and I’ve been paying attention to the transformation happening in Greenville and it just felt like the right time for a place like Camino to open. Additionally, it felt like the right move for our family and to raise our 2 young boys.

What has surprised you most about opening a new business here in Greenville?

Everyone’s eagerness and willingness to do whatever they can to help me succeed. The kindness and generosity of strangers has been so so heartwarming. This was truly a group effort and I couldn’t have done this without countless people.

You’ve mentioned on Instagram that opening Camino was truly a family affair. What did that look like in real life? From your boys pitching in to the ways your family supported the journey, how did you make it something you all built together?

Of course my husband helped a great deal (as he is in the business as well), but also, many family members contributed their time and skills to build things, assemble and move furniture and so much more. My sister is helping with social media and another family member helped make the wine retail signs as well as many other finishing touches.

As a mom of two boys, how has motherhood shaped the way you approach business and community?

I realize how much a village is necessary to do this. I am so grateful because when we first moved here we found our village immediately from our neighborhood, the elementary school my son goes to and then our community pool. I made instant connections with a few mom friends and it’s been the key to our happiness in our new home.

When you’re not at Camino, what are some of your favorite kid-friendly spots or activities in Greenville that you and your boys love most? What does a “perfect weekend” in Greenville look like for you and your family?

We love going to the Main St. farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. We love going to hike at Paris Mtn. State Park and/or going to Unity Park. My boys like to be outside and fishing so we try to do that as much as possible. I also love going to the Brevard and Hendersonville area for hiking, apple and peach picking and the gorgeous scenery.

Moms often juggle a thousand things — how do you find balance between raising kids and running a new business?

Right now there isn’t much balance lol. I’m all in on Camino but this past year, while I was getting Camino open, I was able to pick up both of my boys from school every day and spend a lot of time with each of them including keeping my then 2yr old home with me over the summer between changing daycares. So I felt like I set up a very good foundation for them so now that I have stepped away a bit, they are okay. My husband has picked up a lot of the dropping off and picking up from school and is home with them most nights. But ask me again in 6 months when things are a little more settled at Camino and I hope that I will have found some balance then.

Ducklinks is all about helping families discover experiences that make life easier and more meaningful. What kinds of moments or outings feel most special to you as a mom?

Doing activities that the whole family enjoys like hiking or going to the pool or a lake to swim + have fun!

Balance is something all moms chase — how do you create those little pauses or memory-making moments with your kids, even in the middle of busy seasons?

Reading to them at night is the best time to connect with my boys. That’s when they tend to open up more and tell me about their days. I also don’t try to overschedule our lives with too many activities. A non-stop calendar stresses me out so I try to avoid that.

You’ve shared on Instagram about how much the Greenville community means to you — how do you hope Camino becomes part of that neighborhood fabric?

The most touching thing so far since opening is all of the regulars that we have already from the neighborhood. It’s amazing! Everyone is so cool and so grateful for us being here. My main purpose in opening Camino was to have a super comfortable place where people could come to connect with their friends and family and feel really good about the time spent here. And I think that I am achieving that goal!

What do you love most about the Greenville food and wine scene, and how does Camino add to it?

It’s already a very sophisticated and open-minded community so I am just grateful to be a part of it now. Everyone has been so supportive, welcoming and kind. I look forward to contributing the educational component to it. I will be offering courses and classes from certified wine organizations that I have a feeling many wine enthusiasts will be excited about to enhance their wine knowledge.

If Camino Wine Merchant were to be remembered for one thing, what would you want it to be?

Educating and de-mystifying wine. I think that wine can be intimidating and people feel awkward describing what they do and don’t like and my goal is to help give people language and confidence to communicate what they like and why. Wine is the most real product in the world because you can actually trace it back to a place and a person and it is a living breathing thing. In today’s world that is very unique and special and it needs to be cherished and appreciated. My goal is to help foster that appreciation and love.

We heard you’re a big Taylor Swift fan — what’s your go-to song to dance it out with your kids after a long day?

“22” of course!! Followed by New Romantics!

If you could pair one glass of wine with “mom life,” what would it be? 😉

Definitely a dry Manzanilla or Fino sherry! My husband and I got married there so it instantly brings me back to all of the memories of that magical week. It’s also such a comforting and nostalgic smell and taste for me so it’s calming in the midst of chaos!

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with other moms who dream about starting something of their own?

Try your best to ignore timelines. I firmly believe that things happen when they are supposed to. I tried to open this business many times before in New Orleans and it just wasn’t meant to be and each time I was so discouraged, but I never gave up on this dream. Also, the most important thing is having a partner who is supportive. I couldn’t have done this without the unwavering love and support from my husband who kept encouraging me and believing in me.

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Why Ducklinks is Celebrating Here

Camino isn’t just a wine shop — it’s a neighborhood hub, created by a mom who understands the balance of raising kids, chasing dreams, and creating community. It’s exactly the kind of place where Greenville moms can gather, unwind, and feel connected.

It's also exactly why Ducklinks is proud to celebrate our one-year anniversary with Liz and Camino Wine Merchant. We're not only toasting to this milestone moment, we're celebrating inspiring moms like Liz that are raising families, building businesses, and creating community right here in Greenville, SC.

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