Chrishon Lampley, founder of Love Cork Screw
Wine connoisseur and enthusiast Chrishon Lampley has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Originally the owner of the successful bar Three Peas Art Lounge in South Loop Chicago, she was at the height of her career. Many Chicagoans frequented Three Peas to specifically request wine recommendations, seeing that her list won the Chicago Best Wine List in 2010. Creating wine wasn’t a part of her plan back then but fate changed all of that. A sewage backup caused her bar to be destroyed and the insurance didn’t cover the damages; everything she worked for literally went down the drain. Lampley went dark for some time but her resilience wouldn’t let her stay there. Still having an affinity for varietals, she resorted to blogging and Love Cork Screw the lifestyle website as born. She garnered such a large following for her website that it eventually turned it into a radio show. Realizing she had a great following and thinking about the relationships she’d fostered while working in the sales and distribution market, she decided to make it all work to her benefit. As a result, Love Cork Screw the wine brand emerged. Initially starting with only two concoctions, Love Cork Screw is now offering five to six varietals (depending on the season) and can be found in 45 locations including Mariano’s, Whole Foods and other Chicago restaurants and hot spots. Recently, she expanded to Texas. Her goal is to become a nationally distributed brand. Lampley’s rise to fame is her keen sense of knowing what people like and what the industry lacks. African American women represent a measly 1 percent in the global market, so Lampley is certainly a pioneer. Support Love Cork Screw here.
