Meet Cori Lee Seaberg | Co-Founder & President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cori Lee Seaberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cori Lee, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was in the corporate world for 13 years prior to co-founding Out East but I always had an inkling of wanting to build something of my own. I’ve had a love for wine for quite some time and having traveled to different vineyards around the world, the passion was there. The idea for Out East was conceived by my co-founder Patrick Mitchell and I, drinking rosé by the pool at my house the summer of 2017. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy to start a business but once we had the idea, I said it’s now or never. The timing just worked out as Patrick and I were both seeking a fulfilling outlet that combined our past professional experience and our desire to create a contemporary wine brand to stand out in the traditional wine industry. We birthed a new paradigm combining a premium wine portfolio with a destination inspired, purpose driven lifestyle. What started off as a passion project has grown into a nationally recognized brand with Out East wines sold across the United States. We’ve built a lot in a few years time and have so much more ahead to share with our Out East community.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
1) What do you want the world to know about your brand? About Out East: Out East is a New York City based lifestyle wine company founded in 2018 to celebrate our passion for wine, travel, community and philanthropy. While our name is inspired by the popular vernacular for the Hamptons, our motif is “you can be Out East anywhere.” We partner with best-in-class growers and winemakers to develop signature premium wines. These are made from the finest ingredients on earth, sustainably produced and beautifully presented. Around this portfolio we are building a passionate community through thoughtful brand activations, charitable collaborations and captivating original content. We invite you to join us on this journey and enter an Out East state of mind. To discover more, please visit www.out-east.com & follow @outeastlife on instagram.

2) We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about? When building Out East, we wanted to create an experiential, lifestyle wine brand to stand out in a traditional industry. Our goal was to thoughtfully combine our passion for wine, travel, community and philanthropy in a creative and contemporary way. We also committed to put quality first, and work with best-in-class producers who share our vision and seek long-term, meaningful partnerships. In our current portfolio, we are proud to have launched Out East Rosé – a Côtes de Provence rosé and Champagne À L’EST – a brut champagne from Épernay. And we are happy to announce that in Q4 of this year we will be launching our 3rd wine, a special limited edition Syrah. Stay tuned!

3) How did you get to where you are today? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome your challenges? Prior to diving into the entrepreneurial world, I spent 13 years at 3 of the world’s top fashion houses. At Chloé and Gucci, I oversaw and expanded their wholesale businesses, and just prior to co-founding Out East, I was the Director of Wholesale for Women’s Ready-to-Wear and Homme divisions at Christian Dior Couture. My corporate career helped set me up for success before diving into an entrepreneurial role. Of course starting something on your own and leaving the confines of corporate America wasn’t easy, but it’s not supposed to be. I’d say my biggest challenge has been going from the very structured business world to a veritable blank canvas where everything was being built from scratch. My business partner and I have to make all the decisions on our own and build the brand. Being an entrepreneur will always have it’s challenges and that is what is exciting about it – being able to build something on your own is truly amazing. Also understanding that the road is long and success doesn’t come overnight. Remaining true to who you are and remembering that humility, passion and authenticity is what wins at the end of the day. If you’re not true to yourself, I can’t see how you or your business will blossom. And no matter how many years go by, I will always be humbled to see Out East on the shelf of a wine shop or on the menu at my favorite restaurant.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whether you are looking for a beautiful day to brunch with friends or a fun night out for great dining and dancing, one of my favorite spots in Miami is The Deck at Island Gardens. It’s a gorgeous setting where guests can arrive by boat or car! I love being by the water and visiting The Deck is such a unique experience for me. And if you’re looking for amazing sunset views, you’ve come to the right place. I highly recommend The Deck and of course, I love enjoying a glass of Out East Rosé while I’m there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love, support and guidance from my parents, sister and my husband. Family is everything to me and throughout the years they collectively encouraged me to follow my dreams. It sounds cliche but my parents did actually say that I could be and do whatever I wanted provided I did so with honesty and integrity. My career path varied from – first in the fashion world and now in the wine industry – but the guidance and encouragement received from my family and husband has been a consistent source of strength.

Website: out-east.com
Instagram: @outeastlife

Image Credits
Photo Credits for Nick Mele (4 images):
1) Headshot of Cori
2) Both images of the rosé and champagne shot together (pool side & banana leaf background) + rosé bottle with wave image Photo Credits for Alex Musin (2 images): 1) Both Individual bottle images of the rosé and champagne with single glassware