If you enjoy wine like I do, you no doubt have heard about the Coravin Wine Preservation System. There are a few models out currently, but the most notable one to consumers is the Model 2. To those of you not familiar with the Coravin, here is the basic gist:
The Coravin acts primarily as a preservation system with the ability to dispense fresh wine from a bottle without having to remove the cork. The contraption itself contains a needle which allows you to penetrate through the cork without letting oxygen into the bottle.
This has allowed both private wine collectors/enthusiasts and businesses (wine bars, restaurants, and even wine retailers) to sample high-end luxury wine without tapping into the entire bottle. From a private enthusiast’s standpoint, the product allows you to go from an Opus One to a Mouton Rothschild to an aged Amarone without having to get drunk on all three bottles. For fine dining establishments and elite wine bars, it allows for them to offer the consumer high-end bottles (like the ones mentioned previously) by the glass, a feature not offered in the past.
Now Coravin has released Model Eleven, a new model with added features and a larger price tag. Currently, you can buy the standard Model 2 system for $300, which by NO means is cheap. However, if you’re economical about it, you can try a Model 1 FOR $200. Right now, just in time for the holidays a Model Eleven will run you $1,000! But what are you getting for this price, and what does this mean in terms of the future of wine as it relates to consumers?
Coravin Model 2
The Model Eleven features ease and comfort to those who have to currently manually maneuver the Coravin 1 and 2 models. This is Coravin’s first ever ‘automatic’ system where it detects input, preparation, and movement. This is, in my opinion, the biggest stride for the company as it will expedite service and convenience for both the consumer and sommelier alike. Additionally, you get six argon capsules, cleaning equipment, a USB charging cable, an aerator, a carrying case, and access to Coravin’s new app which will help log in wines and provide wine and food pairing suggestions.
Coravin Model 1
Let’s put aside most of the package’s features for a second and focus on the two big ones here. With the feature of it being automatic and having a personalized app, it is pretty clear that the Coravin Model Eleven isn’t just meant to serve as a preservation system, it’s also a game changer. Again, right now with a price tag of $1,000 it’s hard to see the definitive future, but as time goes by we will see competitors claim their stake in the wine preservation system industry. Pretty soon, consumers will have more and more of a reason to ‘collect wine’ as they won’t feel the pressure of having to either go through an entire bottle in a night, or arduously operate something that feels less than optimally efficient. We are entering into the digital age of wine which is giving Millenials and generations before more and more of a reason to splurge on that bottle of wine over $20, because… why not?
Neiman Marcus – Coravin Model Eleven
WIRED Magazine Review: Coravin Model Eleven
The Chosen Vine 