OK, so this one isn’t quite laser-focused on the Napa Valley like most of our entries, but it’s interesting and the company is located in the Bay Area.
This afternoon we came across a post from Matt Marshall over at VentureBeat about WinePod, which is described as “the world’s first personal winery that enables wine consumers to make wine at home in a sleek all-in-one unit.” The product is made by a San Jose, California-based company called ProVina, which claims to have set out to revolutionize the wine business.
The company’s product overview page states:
WinePod products enable a new generation of personal, interactive winemaking. By integrating all aspects of winemaking from equipment and grape sources to consulting enologists it has never been easier to make your own custom fine wine wherever and whenever you want.
In addition to providing interactive software that promises to be your winemaking library and consultant, the company also claims to act as your vineyard manager. This means WinePod will source high-quality grapes from a variety of world-renown growing regions in order to help you create your own personal wine. According to the website, “…you can produce Napa Cabernet or Sonoma Pinot Noir year round…” using the WinePod, which will retail for US$3,499.00 (there’s currently a waiting list).
It’s certainly an interesting concept, but we’re not quite sure people will be willing to part with some $3,500 to make some homemade wine. What do you think? Does WinePod have what it takes to truly revolutionize the wine industry?
TechTags Plugin [ Napa | Napa Valley | WinePod | Provina | VentureBeat | wine | Cabernet | Pinot Noir ]
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Kathleen 05.04.07 at 11:01 am
I hope not.
I took a winemaking class and fell in love with the fact that home winemaking involves a lot of book reading, asking questions of other winemakers, trial and error. Learning from your mistakes can increase appreciation for the difficulty of professional winemaking.
The Winepod concept is a powerful shortcut, and gives the wine lover who is short on time and not eager to go through trial and error the ability to produce his own wine.
If you had access to a device that could tell you scientifically what the wine tasted best to you, would you use it? Or would you take your time, trying different wines, talking to fellow wine lovers, reading books and blogs, and come to your own conclusion?
TrevR 05.04.07 at 1:23 pm
We’re with you Kathleen. The exploration, discovery and learning are the best part!