We haven’t brought the Internet of Things to our wine yet? Ok, so let’s do that. Kuvée is a new project from a Boston startup that has a plan to re-shape the multi-billion dollar wine industry. At its core, this product and wine delivery service is an internet-connected take on the Keurig. With a built-in display for finding new drinks and automatic reminders of when your wine is best to consume, Kuvée offers a lot of potential for tech-savvy vino enthusiasts…
The Kuvée system is built around two specific pieces. First up, the outside shell that wraps around the drink itself. This is the device that handles the management of your drink and has a built-in full-color touchscreen display. Just slightly bigger than your typical 750ml bottle, the Internet-connected “smart sleeve” slides over the aluminum canisters that hold your wine.
There is a Kuvée-specific spout that keeps air from entering back into the beverage. This proprietary system supposedly keeps your wine fresh for an extended period of time. Part of the allure is that multiple canisters can be opened at a time, allowing drinkers the option of enjoying different flavors without risking the entire bottle going bad.
When a new Kuvée canister is inserted into the sleeve, the display shows information about the drink, such as how many glasses have been consumed. It also provides details on the wine, where it came from and suggests similar types to try. You can order more canisters directly from the display or online. These are shipped via Kuvée with prices ranging from $15-$50 at launch.
Now to the discouraging part: logistics. Kuvée is available for pre-order today for $180 with a regular retail price of $200. At launch in October, the service will only be available in Massachusetts and California. To date, Kuvée has raised $6 million in angel investing. So while the idea has some merit and intrigue, the overall operation has a number of hurdles to pass before it is a viable service.
If you’re interested, you can pre-order today with delivery in the fall, if everything goes to plan. In the meantime, Amazon offers a wide variety of wine and accessories if you’re looking for a way to order online. Currently, the retailer ships a large selection of its bottles for just $0.01. Learn more here.
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Source: Kuvée
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