Customise your wine before you pour with new bottle closure system

A bottle closure system that lets consumers customise their beverages has won the Brancott Estate Winexplorer Innovation Challenge. More than 100 entries were received for the Australian/New Zealand challenge, which was looking for innovations set to impact the global wine industry.

Vinnovate, a South Australian start-up company, won first prize with its new bottle closure.

Suitable for wine, water and other beverage containers, the screw cap closure features a small, push-activated compartment within the cap that allows consumers to tailor wines to their own tastes, on demand.

The innovation — the development of which was boosted after Vinnovate founders Simon and Joshua Schmidt won a UniSA Venture Catalyst grant last year — has the potential to transform the wine industry.

“Being able to customise beverages is the next big consumer trend, and we believe our innovation can positively impact how people enjoy and consume wine,” Joshua Schmidt said.

“Our new closure adds a functional element to wine packaging — it means the consumer can tailor their wine to their own personal tastes, whether that’s to reduce the effects of preservatives in wine or to subtly enhance the flavour.

“We believe consumers should have a choice, and that’s something that makes our product unique.

“It also means that the UniSA program to support students with high-potential new ideas, inventions or business applications is paying dividends.”