Stephanie Browne, a respected wine industry veteran and author of Sipping Sense: Uncorking the Flavors of Wine, Entertaining, and Healthy Cooking, is dedicated to wine education and celebration. In honor of Black History Month, she spotlighted Black winemakers who are breaking barriers in a historically underrepresented industry.

Among them is Chrishon Lampley, founder and CEO of Love Cork Screw. In a conversation with Browne, Lampley shared her journey into winemaking, inspired by her parents’ entrepreneurial spirit and her resilience as an African American woman. She recounted her start in the industry—owning an art bar and working for a wine distributor—before launching Love Cork Screw in 2013.

Lampley emphasized the challenges Black entrepreneurs face, including lack of representation, limited access to capital, and being underestimated as business owners. Despite these hurdles, her brand stands out with eight approachable varietals featuring playful names like Head Over Heels Riesling. Designed to make wine more accessible, Love Cork Screw caters to a younger, health-conscious audience with clear labeling and inclusive marketing.

Her advice to aspiring wine entrepreneurs? Embrace failure, work twice as hard, and let perseverance drive success. To learn more, visit lovecorkscrew.com.

Browne, a Martha’s Vineyard resident, continues to champion Black voices in the wine world. Her book, Sipping Sense, blends heritage, healthy cooking, and wine pairing, offering a flavorful guide to enhancing any meal.