Meet Our Founder
In 2020 our founder JJ, like so many others, found himself with some forced downtime due to the pandemic. A little tinkering, leaning into curiosity - JJ set out to design a wine opener. Not just any wine opener though - a wine opener that was reliable, ergonomic and intuitive.
That's when CorkLift® with CorkStep™ Technology was born.
The Story Behind CorkLift®
As a young boy, I spent countless hours working alongside my grandfather in his workshop. We built all kinds of things together, but one object stood out: a simple block of wood. It wasn’t fancy, but it was clever. He used it as a buttress - a step, to create additional travel when pulling a cork, allowing it to rise cleanly without forcing the helix deeper, or wrestling the stuck cork, and risking cork breakage or contamination of the wine.
Click here to watch Grandpa play the bones.
That humble block of wood would later become known as the Wine-Step.
At the time, I didn’t know I was learning about leverage, ergonomics, or respecting the cork–wine interface. I just knew it worked—and that working with my grandfather sparked something in me. That simple block ignited my curiosity and love for problem-solving, creativity, and thoughtful design. I still have one of those original Wine-Steps to this day.
My grandfather—on my mother’s side—was pure joy. He lived to 99 years old, played music using something called the bones (two dried animal bones clacked rhythmically together), and had a presence that filled a room with laughter. He taught me that ingenuity could be playful, and that craftsmanship didn’t have to be complicated to be brilliant.
I grew up with wonderful parents, two older brothers, and a childhood filled with love, sports, and hard work. My father was an entrepreneur in the bakery supply business—tough, honest, demanding work. He was also a fun, loving man who coached us in sports and showed us what it meant to show up for your family.
When my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in his late 30s, everything changed. My dedicated and loving mother became his caregiver for decades, and as the youngest, I was often by his side—helping, assisting, learning patience and empathy in real time. Watching someone you love struggle with musculoskeletal limitations changes how you see the world. You gain a deep respect for ergonomics, accessibility, and tools that help rather than hinder.
The early days were messy in the best way.
Rubber bands. Velcro. Glue. Band saws. PVC piping. Nights and weekends filled with experimentation and laughter. I asked everyone to try the prototypes and give feedback, always searching for that sweet spot between intuitiveness and effectiveness.
It was a blast. And it likely never would have happened without that pause in the world.
CorkLift® has truly been a family project. The time we spent together during the pandemic, while difficult for so many, was selfishly one of the most meaningful periods of my life. It reminded me what matters most.