Cover Greg Lambrecht, founder and inventor
of Coravin, with the Coravin Vinitas (Photo: Coravin)
Greg Lambrecht, founder and inventor of Coravin, with the Coravin Vinitas (Photo: Coravin)
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The Coravin founder and inventor introduces the Coravin Vinitas, an industry-changing device in wine preservation
Greg Lambrecht has always had an innate desire to solve problems. He was a medical engineer at US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer when he discovered that the secret to innovation was understanding an unmet need. “It’s the unique perspective on the problem that leads to the innovation; not some new technology,” says the founder and inventor of Coravin.
His frustration from wanting just a glass of wine, but not being able to finish the bottle on his own, led Lambrecht to create the first prototype of the wine preservation system. “In January 1999, my wife was pregnant with our second son and in the ninth month, everybody needs a glass of wine,” quips Lambrecht. “I had to figure out a way that I could drink any amount of wine, any bottle I own, in any quantity I want, whenever I want, and not have to think about when I’m going back to it again.”
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Unlike other preservers, which only delays oxidation, wine is extracted through the Coravin system without removing the cork, so it always tastes like it has just been opened—even years later. Lambrecht was recently in Singapore to introduce the Coravin Vinitas, a groundbreaking system that quickly fractionalises wine or spirits into smaller sizes. He shares more.
How did you know you had a winning product with Coravin?
Greg Lambrecht (GL): Before we launched, an investor, Jerry, invited me to dinner with his best friend and wine critic, Robert Parker. And he said, “If Robert is interested, I’m investing”. Robert Parker taught my generation how to drink wine and he’s the reason why I like wines from the northern Rhône—he’s my idol. So I brought some wine that he convinced me to drink that had been “Coravined” two, five and seven years prior, using the original prototype. When Robert met me he said, “I just wanted to let you know that I hate wine gadgets. I think they are crap. They get in the way of wine and its enjoyment. I’ve never seen one that works, but it’s very good to meet you and I hope we can still have a good dinner”. I panicked but I poured him a glass of wine and he goes, “Oh it’s Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Blanc 2003. I had this two days ago, it’s a wine I like very much”. When he found out I first opened the bottle seven years ago, he said it was the best thing he’d seen in wine since the wine glass.
Coravin Vinitas (Photo: Coravin)
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Tell us about the new Coravin Vinitas and how it works.
GL: It’s a machine the size of a microwave that can be used by wineries, distributors and importers, which takes a bottle of wine and breaks it down into seven 100 ml bottles in three minutes. These bottles come sealed with a special membrane, and when you place them in the Vinitas, the machine pushes two needles through the membrane, pushing the air out and filling it with an inert gas and then fills it with wine—the same way that a bottling line works at a winery. This is just the world’s smallest bottling line. It’s great for delivering wines for tasting and samples, because you can ship seven different wines for the same weight as one bottle.
How do you envision Vinitas disrupting the industry?
GL: The younger generation is looking for single-serve wine. A winery can make single-serve wine, on demand, and go direct to consumer. Instead of a full bottle, they can sell six small bottles, allowing the consumer to taste and come back to buy a larger quantity. Imagine going to a wine store and buying a six pack of white Burgundy from six different producers. The beauty of wine is the exploration. Seven 100 ml bottles is seven times the experience of one 750 ml bottle.
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Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
