CLINK WINE FESTIVAL SHOWCASES BIPOC WOMEN IN WINE AND SPIRITS INDUSTRY

Chrishon Lampley, owner of Love Cork Screw, and Joyce Dawkins, founder of She ROCKS It!, are the founder of CLNK Wine Festival, which will feature BIPOC wine and spirits owners. Photo provided by Apprey PR.
Chrishon Lampley, owner of Love Cork Screw, and Joyce Dawkins, founder of She ROCKS It!, are the founder of CLNK Wine Festival, which will feature BIPOC wine and spirits owners. Photo provided by Apprey PR.

CLINK Wine Festival showcases BIPOC women in wine and spirits industry

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Chrishon Lampley had an idea to start a wine festival because
she knew what was missing in the wine and spirits industry. Lampley is the owner of Love, Cork, Screw. She connected with Joyce Dawkins, founder of She ROCKS It: Celebrating Women Who Rock, and they collaborated on creating CLINK Wine Festival, which will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18th, at Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst.

Lampley, who has been in the wine and spirits industry for 10 years, knew that the women of color were less than 1% of the entire industry. She knew there needed to be better representation
to really show amazing wine and spirit makers who are women and Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC).

Dawkins’ brand is all about empowerment. She wanted to use her
platform to empower and encourage women of color to take a leap of faith and follow their dreams.

Lampley recruited her friends, the friends she knows are bosses.
Women who have not just been around for a long time, but also offer amazing varietals of wine. The women featured are from all across the country. Lampley wanted to have something for everyone. There will be women who create Whiskey, Pisco, Kombucha and Tequila.

“I wanted diversity, but not only diversity in what we look like, but diversity in taste,” Lampley said. “Really to see that they are doing amazing things and making amazing strides within their own sector, I knew they were the right ones for CLINK.”

Tickets to the event are sold out. Lampley and Dawkins had no idea it would sell out. Lampley just knew the idea was in her spirit and heart.

Lampley believes more awareness of wine and spirits will help in making the industry more diverse. Lampley said there are so many glass ceilings that need to be broken and she is here to break every one of them.

“Just because you’ve helped one of us, doesn’t mean you’ve helped all of us. You’re not filling your diversity quota by helping one of us, because we also have great offerings. Don’t just help us because we’re women and BIPOC, but we actually have amazing products,” she said.

Dawkins believes women in the wine and spirits industry represent women who have stepped outside of the norm. It is motivating and empowering and a message she can carry through She ROCKS It.

“If I can use my platform to spotlight women who are breaking
these glass ceilings and continuing to elevate in their respective fields then that’s what I’ll do,” she said.

The event will educate people about the wine and spirits industry. There will be a group of sommeliers. There will be a panel of women in the She Lounge, who are in industries that are not typically
dominated by men. Attendees will taste dishes from different
chefs, who will pair their dishes with the different wine and spirits.

“There is a little bit of something for everyone and even something for those who don’ t drink,” Dawkins said. Lampley wants to make it clear, this is not a typical wine festival. Mariano’s have provided James Beard renowned chefs, who will pair foods, based on the flavor profile Lampley chose. Everything is curated to perfection.
Lampley is very excited to do the festival. She wants people to be in awe.

“They’re going to be wowed and in awe of the amazing women and BIPOC they had no clue was in this industry. They’re going to be wowed by how it is curat - ed. Joyce and I, with myself being a wine professional, actually curating it, as opposed to a promoter. A very
different experience, curated specifically for wine, wine education and awareness they would’ve never gotten just from walking into a wine and spirits festival,” Lampley said.

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