The Somm Journal

14 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 14 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER The Coravin Wine System uses a propri- etary, patented technology to access and pour wine from a bottle through a special- ized needle. The company will introduce some exceptional innovations in the coming months. { industry buzz } THE CORAVIN WINE SYSTEM has been in the market for less than a decade, yet it has transformed the way wine is served. It uses a proprietary, patented technology to access and pour wine from a bottle through a specialized needle. Pressurized with argon gas, the bottle remains sealed, and there's no need to pop the cork. The wine—should there be any liquid left in the bottle—will be perfectly preserved for weeks, months or even years. "Imagine tasting 20 wine-buying customers off of one high-end bottle of wine," suggests Steve Slater, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Southern Glazer's (SGWS) of America Corporate Wine Division. "If sample bottles for expen - sie or hard-to-find wines arent allowed to be tasted with buyers because of budet- ing or allocation issues, the on-trade venue can opt to taste through a library of unique selected wines from the SGWS team leaders' offerings. This will ultimately expand the by-the-glass program without waste or compromise in quality." Through its new partnership with Southern Glazer's in 18 states, Coravin will accept orders from on-premise wine buyers for its products and accessories at copetitie wholesale prices. "ur fine wine sales teas will be euipped with a special kit," explains Slater : "In one hand, he or she will have a case housing two Riedel glasses, the Coravin unit and three canisters of gas; in the other hand, the sales rep will hold a bottle of great wine." Slater anticipates Coravin will introduce some exceptional innovations in the coming months. "We are excited to introduce Coravin to new and existing customers," he says. "With the advancement of technology, we look forward to a fast-pour needle that can get the wine out without picking up sediment. There will also be a unit created just for screwcaps." While the fast-pour needle has been on the market for quite a while, the screwcaps launched this summer and the Coravin aera - tor tip—which is pressed into the spout of the Coravin to provide aeration while pouring—launches in October. It enables restaurants to pour silkier, softer and more aromatic wines instantly by the glass. "How many people ever get a chance to taste a 'perfect' wine?" points out Mel Dick, Senior Vice President of Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits and President of the company's Wine Division. "Coravin enables wine lovers to expand their palates and experience rare, super-premium wines that beforehand, may have been out of reach." We predict a future where wine lists will feature a section just for Coravin high-end pours. Slater summarizes, "Our supplier network is as excited as we are. This is a great synergy for Southern Glazer's, the wine industry and Coravin. Our next-day delivery platform is better than online ordering. We can help put these lists together, from sug - gesting suitable wines to training staff to printing the lists. This is a new day for fine wine." A New Day for Fine Wine SOUTHERN GLAZER'S WINE & SPIRITS HAS BECOME THE PREFERRED ON-TRADE SALES PARTNER WITH CORAVIN WINE SYSTEM

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