August 9th 2024.
A group of close friends are the masterminds behind the latest Black-owned prosecco brand that is taking the market by storm. The three co-founders, Andre Grundy, David Kinloch, and Justin Wages, were thrilled when their first shipment of Don Luchi bottles sold out in just five weeks after their launch. But don't worry, more bottles are on the way to keep up with the high demand.
It has been an incredible journey for these friends who were determined to make a mark in the wine and spirits industry with a Black-owned brand. Don Luchi was officially launched in June of 2024, but little did they know that their original plan was not to create sparkling wine.
"Our initial plan was to venture into the world of beer," the trio shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE. "However, we faced challenges with distribution due to the type of beer we had in mind. It was a fruity beer and unfortunately, distributors weren't keen on it for the winter season."
Undeterred by the initial setbacks, the friends continued to pursue their dream. Wages, in particular, was determined to make a name for themselves in the wine industry after being introduced to quality sparkling wines by a friend. He recalls, "In the past, I never really paid attention to what kind of champagne I was ordering. If it was bad, I would just deal with it. But after trying my friend's recommendation, I was blown away by the different flavors and qualities."
This experience left a lasting impression on Wages and fueled their purpose to diversify the market. He started researching various flavor profiles and delving deeper into what sets certain brands apart from others.
Their next challenge was to find a supplier for their sparkling wine. They reached out to suppliers in Champagne, France, but faced difficulties due to the strict gatekeeping in the region. However, they were met with more success when they turned to a vineyard in Italy for their prosecco.
"We shared our vision with them, which was to bring a quality product back to the United States, introduce it to more people, and educate them about it. We also mentioned how the Black-owned market for sparkling wines was largely untapped, with most ownerships belonging to celebrities," Wages explained.
The vineyard was impressed by their passion and agreed to work with the co-founders. In March of 2024, they flew to Italy to finalize the deal, and by June 30th, Don Luchi was already on the shelves in South Carolina.
Wages describes Don Luchi as having an intense and aromatic flavor, with hints of golden apple, peach, roses, and almonds. It has a dry and lively taste, is both clear and complex, and pairs well with a variety of dishes.
"This is one of those proseccos that you can enjoy on its own without having to mix it with juice," Wages proudly shared.
He hopes that their journey in launching a Black-owned prosecco brand will inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter how unattainable they may seem. "We came into this industry with zero knowledge, and throughout the past year, we have learned so much about wine. Now, we can confidently talk about our product and the region it comes from in any setting," he said.
Don Luchi is currently available in stores in Charleston and Florence, South Carolina, but the team has plans to launch nationwide shipping by fall. Their success story is just one of many examples of how Black-owned wineries are making their mark in the industry.
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