The Corkery Pours Wine and Passion Into Its Business

It’s Women’s History Month, and to celebrate, we’re highlighting a few women-owned businesses in the neighborhood. See the whole series here. 

Joanna Preuninger has worked in Lower Manhattan for more than a decade, and in that time, she’s watched downtown blossom into a growing residential neighborhood.

She’s lovingly gotten to know this community thanks to the Corkery, the beloved wine shop she owns and operates with her brother, Darek Maslanka. Located at 15 Bridge St., the family business offers a wide variety of wine and spirits, and also hosts weekly tastings and events. 

“We’ve built relationships with the people in the neighborhood,” Preuninger told the Downtown Alliance. “We know their tastes and can recommend them something new we know they’ll enjoy.” 

Preuninger moved to the United States from Poland when she was 16. After working in finance, she realized that career wasn’t the right fit, and wanted to pursue her dream of owning a business. She’d previously put herself through college by working in restaurants, where she learned about and developed an interest in wine. She decided to pursue that passion — she went back to school, and later landed a job at California Wine Merchants, first as a sales associate and then as general manager.

When the owners of California Wine Merchants announced they wanted to sell it, Preuninger and her brother realized this could be their chance to purchase the store and rebrand it, in part by expanding the inventory. In 2016, the shop reopened its doors, this time as the Corkery. 

Preuninger’s interest in wine stems from how dynamic wine is — the taste of the product itself and the process behind making it. She enjoys trying new wines and learning how they are made. At the moment, she’s favoring pinot noirs. 

“I love listening to the stories of winemakers and seeing how their process is reflected in the wine that they create,” Preuninger said. “It amazes me how many people have to put so much work into creating the wine.” 

It’s a work ethic and dedication she sees in her own team at the Corkery, a group that she describes as incredible and dedicated to customer service. 

“This is a small business that we really care about and pour our hearts into,” Preuninger said. “I feel like our customers know and appreciate that.” 

As a business owner, she’s learned the importance of staying nimble and adjusting to meet the needs of the moment. When the Corkery first opened, unexpected hurdles were scary, she said. Now, she knows that her team can meet the moment and persevere. 

Moving forward, “we want to grow with [Lower Manhattan],” Preuninger said. “I see how the neighborhood is going to continue to grow and we want to be a part of it.”