Exploring Life & Business with Stephanie Owens of South Central Wine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Owens.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
If I’m honest, the path to where I’m at today looks a lot different than I thought it would years ago. While I was born and raised in Northern California, I finished high school in Maine. It was there during my senior year that I decided I would major in child psychology. Eventually finding my way back out to California and graduating in Los Angeles, where I have lived since 2002. I spent many years at a non-profit organization counseling adolescent youth who experienced extreme hardship, neglect, and substance abuse. Additionally, I have always been passionate about helping people struggling with mental illness and homelessness, as my family and I are impacted by these challenges directly. I’m committed to finding ways to continue serving others, so when the opportunity presented itself to build a wine brand focused on investing in Black communities through education, community building, and job creation, I couldn’t resist. I am so grateful for the journey to this moment in time, with my incredible partners, and the creation of South Central Wine.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think with anything new, there will be challenges to navigate, but I’ve always valued the opportunity for growth on the other end of those challenges. One of the first things my partners and I noticed was that the American wine industry had been dominated by older generations. It was essential that we appeal to younger generations as well. To inspire curiosity and intrigue around wine. We wanted to look at the industry from a completely different lens. Taking advantage of a market that has been traditionally closed off.

Starting and growing South Central Wine during the pandemic, was interesting because so many things in business were shifting universally and doing so daily. Wine now is such an evolving business. With new innovations in packaging, sustainability, and the popularity of eco-friendly wines. As well as new taste trends and quickly evolving technology. Taking the approach of canned wine was a very intentional decision. Expanding the ways in which wine can be consumed. However, challenges like the aluminum shortage during the pandemic was a real concern we had to deal with. Crucial details to our packaging, sourcing, and distribution were being constantly impacted. But with each obstacle, we were presented with an opportunity to learn and stretch our knowledge base.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a Black, woman, and veteran-owned wine company in Los Angeles, passionate about Black history and culture. We chose to use cans as a vehicle to explore a side of South Central we believe the world has yet to meet. Each of our founders is diverse in background and business, but we’ve been brought together by the radical idea that South Central, LA should be recognized as the culture hub it has always been. We often hear of the dangers of South Central, but we rarely get to hear about the daring, dynamic, and distinguished. With our brand people will see these stories and more, because our goal is to use a can of wine to shift a paradigm.

Our rosé comes in a rose-covered can. A direct reference to Tupac’s song and poem “The Rose That Grew From Concrete.” Which ultimately symbolizes the resilience of Black and Brown communities in America. The vintage print is inspired by wallpaper you would find in a jazz bar, and the font mimics floor tiles, honoring the deep roots jazz music has in South Central. It reads Nicolet on the can, in honor of the street one of our founders, James Jenkins, grew up on in South Central. Our newly launched Pinot Noir comes in a can that shares the story of redlining in Los Angeles around its surface.

I am so proud of our packaging and overall brand design. Each detail was crafted and curated with intention. Spearheaded by one of my partners, Sanja Komljenovic, and her creative agency ONA. We wanted to create an approachable and inclusive brand. Not to mention cans offer convenience. You can take them to the beach, the park, special celebrations, and just about any and everywhere! They provide smaller serve sizes, so you don’t have to commit to drinking a full bottle. Though a 4 pack of our wine, is the equivalent to one and a third of a bottle. Let’s not forget that they have a positive environmental benefit as well. For us, there were too many positives to ignore. So we didn’t.

Along with our mission, we are equally proud of the quality of our wine. Of course, you want consumers to see your brand and be drawn to it, but for us it was imperative that they come back time and time again for the taste and quality. I believe we have accomplished that with our wine, which draws even more appeal, being organic, gluten-free, and vegan.

It has been incredible to see and hear the positive responses to the wine, the packaging, and our messaging as we are launching online and in our Southern California market.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
You could say my personality was playful and creative. If you asked my mom, she would likely add in that I was a talker! Let’s just say I didn’t get in trouble often, but when I did, it involved talking too much in class.

I could be described as having loved school and learning. Always interested in the theatre, photography, movies, and dance. I would hope to be described as caring. I have a genuine desire to take care of people. From my younger brother at home to seniors at a long-term care facility. You would probably say I was a very organized and neat kid. Always preferring my surroundings to be tidy and my belongings well-kept. My favorite outing was going to work with my mom. Even keeping a toy register at home and operating a business out of my bedroom. So, some might say a lot of who I was growing up has continued on into who I am now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://southcentralwine.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanienowens/ | @southcentralwine
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southcentralwine/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanienowens/

Image Credits
Emerald Arguelles Kwe Johnson