Vernon Hills Man Wants to Start Online Wine-Selling Business

A Vernon Hills resident is looking to take his affinity for wine and translate it into an online wine-selling business.

Eric Krupka is awaiting Vernon Hills Village Board approval to sell wine online through a new business, Redline Cellars.

The village board will have to amend the Vernon Hills liquor code to create a new classification that allows for the online sale of wine. Krupka will also have to undergo a background check.

Krupka said he has started a lot of businesses in the past, including EHK Sports Enterprises, which he operates out of Vernon Hills.

"I love wine, so I might as well get into the wine business," said Krupka.

His plan is to order the wines from various distributors and have them delivered to a rented space in Vernon Hills. Orders would be fulfilled out of that office and then delivered by either UPS or FedEx. Customers would not pick up or purchase wine in person from the office.

Krupka is looking to sell wines from about 20 producers, each of which offers six or seven wines. He said he already has a contact list of about 2,000 people who are high-end wine buyers.

"I think it'll work, hopefully," said Krupka.

Krupka said an adult will have to sign for the wines when they are delivered.

He's hoping to have the Redline Cellars website up-and-running in February, pending village board approval.