A growing desire for quality, moderation and road safety: the reasons behind the rise in wine by the glass

The Coravin system, which is becoming increasingly popular in restaurants, bars and even in the homes of wine lovers, is, in fact, much more than just a wine-pouring system, because, using a system of precision needles and nitrogen, it allows the cork to be pierced and the contents of a bottle (whether still wine or sparkling wine) to be drawn off without opening it. In this way, and by replacing the wine that has been drawn off with gas, the contents of the bottle remain intact and can be preserved for days, months and (depending on the wine) even years.

“Sales by the glass are clearly on the rise,” explains Greg Lambrecht, “with double-digit growth in the case of sparkling wines. This trend is evident across several markets, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as Italia and Spain. The economic situation in the hospitality sector is also fuelling this trend: rising costs of raw materials, staff and rent are leading restaurants to offer a wider variety of wines by the glass.”

This trend is also indicative of a slow but gradual shift in consumption patterns, which are increasingly focused on variety and quality. “Wine by the glass,” continues Lambrecht, “caters to the desire to explore and experiment, allowing people to try high-quality or premium wines without having to buy a whole bottle. I believe that increasingly stringent regulations on drink-driving have also contributed to this growth. Buying a single glass of wine at a restaurant rather than a bottle helps people stay within their limits. Our technology is proving to be a key driver in this process, as it allows people to drink different wines (for example, a red followed by a sparkling) on the same occasion without having to open and finish several bottles.”

According to Lambrecht, wine by the glass can also bring an important group of consumers back to wine – one that has, for other reasons, drifted away in recent times: young people. “Wine by the glass,” continues the co-founder of Coravin, “encourages an approach based on discovery and experimentation. The growth of single-serve formats, such as canned wine in the United States, is part of the same trend.”

Health-related issues have played a decisive role in driving these trends. “Health and moderation,” continues Lambrecht, “are factors that are increasingly influencing consumer choices and are making a tangible contribution to the rise of these ways of serving wine.”