According to Chrishon Lampley, in a recent interview, what distinguishes her Love Cork Screw wines from others is that they have whimsical, lighthearted, and approachable labels. The labels, which feature the catchphrases “Be the Light” Sauvignon Blanc and “Good Times, Good Friends” Pinot Grigio, are designed to appeal to the 25–44-year-old target market of the company.
Some wine brands even started imitating her, which makes her proud. “When I set out to launch Love Cork Screw, I wanted to touch lives through my story. I want to inspire others and break glass ceilings,” she noted on Shout Out LA.
After following her passion for wine for fifteen years, she gained a keen understanding of what traditional wine enthusiasts and novices appreciate. She added that in addition to traveling the world to make her premium wine, she made it her top mission to guarantee that her brand offers nutritional value to every label.
Before she entered the wine business, she co-owned a South Loop art gallery in Chicago. But a horrible flood destroyed the structure, forcing her to close.
“During that time, I was also working with well-known distributors in sales, so I was on the frontlines regarding newly released wines and consumer demands,” she said. She used these two stepping stones to plateau herself into creating Love Cork Screw wines, she stated.
“My thought process was even through the challenges, I can leverage my knowledge and skillset to launch my own wine brand and fill in the gaps for what consumers were missing,” said Lampley. “I knew I would be able to use whatever platform I learned to inspire other entrepreneurs. And that was enough for me to get started.”
With more than a million bottles sold since its 2013 introduction, she is the first Black woman to own a national wine business, according to a 2022 WGN story.
Only around 1% of the more than 11,000 wineries in the United States are Black-owned or feature a Black winemaker, according to research.
For the entrepreneur, operating in a field where White men predominate has not been simple. She claims that rather than being the owner, she is typically confused for the advertising girl. This, she explained, entails exerting additional effort to be heard and treated seriously. “I’ve learned through perseverance and resilience that as long as I don’t give up, I will reach my goals,” the Chicago-based negociant and wine enthusiast told Shout Out LA.
She credits her mom and dad, Ann and Lou Lampley, for their unconditional support. Lampley said, “My parents have shown me the meaning of resilience, unconditional love, and the importance of entrepreneurship. I am forever grateful.”