Greg Lambrecht, CEO of Coravin, Visits Korea
Coravin: Wine Preservation Device Using Inert Gas... Up to 3 Years
Growth Expected in Line with 'Quality over Quantity' Trend
"Savor a Good Glass of Wine, One at a Time"
Greg Lambrecht, founder of Coravin, stated confidently at a press conference held at Club Coravin in Lotte Department Store AvenueL, Songpa-gu, Seoul, on April 22, "As a wine enthusiast, the biggest drawback of wine is that once you open a bottle, you have to drink the whole thing at once. Coravin is an innovative product that can liberate wine consumers from this dilemma."
Coravin is a wine preservation system first developed in 2011 by Lambrecht, a biomedical engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The system works by inserting an ultra-thin needle directly into the unopened wine cork, injecting nitrogen gas, and simultaneously extracting the wine. The nitrogen fills the space left by the extracted wine, preventing oxidation, and the tiny hole made by the needle is so small that the cork remains essentially intact.
The story behind Lambrecht's motivation to develop Coravin is also intriguing. It all began with his thirst for exploring a wide variety of wines. He said, "I have been fascinated by the infinite diversity of wine since I was young. However, because wine oxidizes quickly once opened, it was practically impossible to enjoy several types at once." The vague sense of regret he had felt eventually led to the actual development of the product when his wife became pregnant. He recalled, "Sharing a bottle of wine with my wife was a great joy, but when she became pregnant and could no longer drink, I often found myself either finishing the whole bottle alone or leaving it unfinished."
In reality, wines that are vulnerable to oxidation are best consumed entirely on the day they are opened, and even if stored, their quality drops significantly after a day or two. However, the vast majority of wines on the market are sold in 750mL bottles, which can be too much for one person to enjoy casually. Although half-bottle products, which are about half the standard volume, are available, their types and points of sale are limited.
Coravin, born from the idea of solving the frustration of either having a perfect glass or ending up with spoiled wine, allows wine to be poured without removing the cork, making its oxidation prevention ability far superior to existing wine preservation products. Wines preserved with Coravin's top-tier product, the Coravin Timeless Six Plus, can maintain the same condition as before opening for up to three years.
Lambrecht emphasized, "Because you can enjoy wine at any time and in any amount you wish while maintaining the freshness of an unopened bottle, Coravin has received enthusiastic responses not only from Michelin-starred restaurants, renowned wine bars, and wineries in 60 countries worldwide, but also from wine enthusiasts. Cumulative sales have surpassed one million units."
Lambrecht assessed that Coravin perfectly reflects the recent shift in wine consumption trends from quantity to quality, and therefore has high growth potential. He explained, "With Coravin, you can extract and enjoy just the amount you want by the glass, not by the bottle, so you can enjoy a variety of wines, little by little, over a long period and at your own pace. You don’t have to drink a large amount at once, and you can compare-taste different wines or sample even expensive wines without burden by having just one glass."
In fact, the domestic wine market is becoming increasingly polarized, with a clear divide between affordable, high-value wines and premium wines. Additionally, due to the diversification of preferences, there is growing demand for a wide range of wine styles. Lambrecht emphasized that Coravin is at the center of this trend toward rarity, diversity, and experience-driven premium wine consumption. He said, "In almost every country, including Korea, there is a clear trend toward drinking less but better alcohol than before. Now, I hope people can break free from the pressure to finish a good bottle of wine at once and instead enjoy a proper glass at any time without being constrained by time."
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