Leslie and LeAnn Jones of 1010 Wines and Events
Inglewood
Fed up with having to travel outside of their neighborhood of Inglewood to savor a glass a wine with friends, sisters Leslie and LeAnn Jones (a luxury wedding planner and an attorney, respectively) took matters into their own hands and opened 1010 Wine and Events. Not only is 1010 the first wine bar in the area, it is also the only–and the Jones sisters proudly serve the largest selection of Black-owned wines in the entire state of California.
What inspired you to open 1010 Wine? LeAnn: Leslie and I love going out for a glass of wine with friends. We were tired of having to go outside of our community to enjoy good food, good wine and good vibes.
What does your day-to-day look like? Leslie: We meet with our leadership team for about 15 minutes at the beginning of the day. I then answer emails and prepare for any upcoming events and/or appearances we may have. Around 3 p.m., I start to make my way to 1010. Our team arrives at 4 p.m., and we open at 5 p.m. When we open, I interact with our guests to make sure they are enjoying their experience.
What is the biggest reward in working in the wine industry? What about the biggest challenge? LeAnn: The relationships we have built working in this industry are priceless. We really do have a “wine family” that we love. The biggest challenge is being in an industry that is not very diverse. We wish when we went to wine events, we saw more people that looked like us.
What does the future of the industry look like to you? Leslie: Organizations like AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and The Roots Fund are making great efforts to diversify this industry. I am looking forward to seeing an industry that is more inclusive of people of color, women and members of the LGBTQIA community.