Blockchain, NFTs and Wine: Crurated’s Fine Wine Revolution

Listen to Helena’s chat with Paolo Sforza above.

Crurated is a forward-thinking company that has captured our attention since launching in the spring of 2021. The first of their kind, they’re a membership-based community of fine wine lovers and collectors, where NFT and blockchain technology is used to ensure security, authenticity and provenance.

Some of the most highly rated producers in the world are on board, and members can enjoy a range of benefits but at the centre of it all is Crurated’s fractional barrel offering. If any of this sounds a bit confusing at first, don’t worry because it’s actually very simple. Let us explain!

What are fractional barrel offerings?

First up, Crurated are the first membership-based wine company to use fractional barrel offerings using blockchain and NFT technology. Whilst the tech might be new, the concept itself is actually very traditional. For many years in France, wine lovers have teamed up to buy and share a barrel, so this is simply a rejuvenation of an old tradition in a modern way.

Prestigious barrel offerings from some of the finest producers in Burgundy, Piedmont, Tuscany and beyond go live on the website, and members can bid for the litres that they want. Then, when the time comes to bottle, the members pick which size of bottle they would like, and the wine is stored in Crurated’s warehouse in Burgundy for as long as they like.

Producers know exactly how many bottles of each size to produce, and consumers can pick whatever size they want, including much larger bottles that are usually extremely rare or even unavailable altogether. Win-win!

Absolutely anyone (providing they’re of legal age of course) can sign up, making fine wine accessible to everyone. This hasn’t always been the case as the fine wine community can be quite insular, complicated and generally difficult to break into as an outsider. For many high-end allocations, it can even be impossible to get the opportunity to buy some.

What is blockchain and NFT technology?

You might have heard of blockchain technology in connection with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. In a nutshell, the blockchain is a decentralised network that facilitates the process of making transactions and tracking assets - a digital ledger of sorts. All the information stays entirely within the network and crucially, the data cannot be edited retroactively.

An NFT is a more recent innovation and it stands for non-fungible token. These tokens are used to purchase digital assets, then the blockchain technology is used to assign and claim ownerships of these. In short, it’s a secure contract that says you own the digital asset, which in the case of Crurated, is also linked to a real asset: the wine. So, if you own the NFT, you own the bottle. This isn’t the same for all NFTs by the way; sometimes you really do just own a cartoon picture online and nothing in the ‘real world’.

Safe to say it’s a complicated area, but the brains behind Crurated know a lot more than us and are putting it to good use! But how?

How does Crurated use blockchain and NFT technology?

In the world of fine wine, there are conventionally a lot of middlemen and hoops to jump through. Everyone takes their cut, there can be questions over provenance and care taken over the wine at each stage. All in all, getting your hands on a reputable new release is very complicated.

Crurated remove those barriers to entry, democratising the distribution of fine wine. Anyone can sign up and despite the sound of the technology used, the process is user friendly and very easy to navigate.

The blockchain and NFT involvement means transparency and authenticity at every stage. Think of it as a digital contract; a modern way to keep track of orders, accounts and contracts, where every bottle is tracked directly from the producer to storage, and absolutely everything is recorded so that you are assured of your bottle’s authenticity. Provenance is one of the most important concepts in the fine wine market, and refers to whether the wine really was made by the producer on the label as well as what kind of storage the wine has been kept in.

With everything being so specifically tracked and checked, there can be no doubts over any of this. The final stop for the wine is the warehouse in Burgundy, which is fully insured and kept in optimal condition so members can enjoy peace of mind until the time comes to ship it. It’s fine wine being treated as fine wine should, which is not always the case!

How do you become a Crurated member?

Signing up is simple via the Crurated website. Currently, there are four different memberships, starting from free explorer options and increasing to various levels of paid membership. These come with additional benefits like being able to store hundreds more bottles, access to rare vintages, invitation-only events and bespoke service. Once your account is up and running, you can take advantage of all the great information and materials available and start bidding on any barrels that take your fancy.

What else can members get access to?

Crurated is about more than transactions. They have recently launched experiences, where members can visit the vineyards of top producers, have dinner with them and discover more about the products they love. This enables producers to communicate directly with their top clients to find out what people love about their products and offers members a uniquely tangible connection to the wine they’re involved with.

The producers involved are already wide-ranging across Italy and France, and the network is consistently expanding. It’s also worth mentioning that at events like these, it is clear how the ‘old boys club’ image of fine wine is something Crurated are changing.

There is a diverse membership base, with more younger people and women attending and signing up. This trend is mirrored in the workforce too, with a 50/50 male and female split and full-remote working enabling people from all over the world to build the Crurated community.

The other really cool feature on offer is personalised labelling. Many of the producers allow custom labelling for specific and special occasions, which is something you just don’t see from high-end producers. Once your bid is accepted and your NFT is secure, you’ll often have the option to put whatever you want on the label, making that special bottle of wine even more special.

Crurated has an active social media presence showing what their winemakers do, what the events they run are like and keeping members up to date with new features, offerings and opportunities. Even if you don’t sign up, it’s also a great way to stay up to date with all things fine wine!

Instagram – @cruratedofficial
Facebook – @crurated
YouTube - CRURATED

What kind of barrel offerings does Crurated have available?

Crurated tends to focus on a different barrel each week, so here are the offerings for the remainder of 2022:

Domaine Gerorges Mugneret-Gibourg — November 7-13
Vosne-Romanée “La Colombière" 2021
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Feusselottes” Cuvée Augustin 2021
Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2021

Domaine Pierre Girardin — November 14-20
Échezeaux Grand Cru 2021
Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2021
Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 2021
Richebourg Grand Cru 2021

Montevertine — November 21-27
Le Pergole Torte 2020

Domaine Y. Clerget — December 5-11
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru  2021
Volnay 1er Cru Clos du Verseuil 2021
Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens 2021

Domaine Hubert Lignier — December 12-18
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Bio 2021
Morey Saint-Denis 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes Bio 2021
Morey-Saint-Denis Trilogie Bio 2021
Bourgogne Pinot Noir Grand Chaliot 2021

Domaine Bruno Colin — December 19-25
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2021

5 Reasons to try Garnacha from Spain's Cariñena region

The Garnacha grape - also known outside Spain as Grenache  - makes wines that are easy to love. Fleshy and ripe, with notes of wild strawberry, licorice and cinnamon spice, its full-bodied without being overly dry and tannic. We’ve been on a journey of discovery to find out more about it with the help of Grandes Vinos…

Want to find out more about Spanish wine? Then, read all about the Cariñena wine region here.

Luxury Cognacs You Need to Try

When was the last time you sipped a cognac? More opulent, viscous and citrus-scented than its whisky cousins made from grain, cognac is finding new favour on the global cocktail scene, yet it still delights spirits aficionados with its epic, long-aged, special bottlings. If you’ve neglected this spirit in the past, now is the time to try it again.

Written originally for Luxurious Magazine, February 4th 2020

Savour your wine moments for longer: A look at the Coravin Moments APP

In every bottle of wine there is a story. Sometimes it reads like a comic book and other times like War and Peace, yet there is a time and place for every single glass. Wouldn’t it be lovely to capture these moments forever?

Despite our increasingly hectic world we are thankfully, albeit slowly, coming back to the notion of experiences over ownership of ‘things’ when it comes to downtime or even gifting. Moments matter more than material goods. Anyone who loves wine will be familiar with its powers to bring people together; to bond, to celebrate successes and to commiserate lost challenges, but there’s another reason many of us love the world of wine that may not be immediately obvious.

Wine engages the senses like nothing else. The pop of the cork (or the crack of the screw cap), the glug glug into the glass, the swirl, the sniff, the taste… Those of us who taste wine for a living look forward to the sea of wines at a press tasting where we can do nothing else but engage our senses for a couple of hours. We emerge refreshed from a truly meditative experience, alive with all the new stories we’ve experienced. It can be the same with a single bottle; a unique moment shared that you’ll want to find a way to remember forever. How do we do that? 

Making Meaningful Memories

Studies have proved that our sensory human brains remember images, sounds and smells much more easily than dry facts and figures. How often has an aroma taken you straight back to a time and place, for example? Or a music track evoked the memory of a loved one? Art, music, perfume, film, literature all punctuate our lives on the most basic, beautiful human levels. Doesn’t it make so much sense then, to use the arts to capture the moments created with a glass of wine, not just to remember them better, but to enhance the whole experience? Perhaps a meditative Mozart aria made you stop and savour your quietly complex Burgundian Pinot Noir a little more? Or that earthy, Southern Italian red brought an extra dimension to the last few chapters of your book by Elena Ferrante? Wine can enhance a precious human moment, as can a piece of music a film or a book. Put all these things together and the result is far greater than the sum of its parts. We know a place where you can keep these moments together and so much more besides.

Capture your own wine moments

At the forefront of wine technology, the people at Coravin, the ultimate gadget for wine appreciation, have always understood the power of wine to create unique moments and the links between wine and the Arts. (Want an overview of Coravin? Read our article here). It was with this in mind that they created the Coravin Moments App; a one stop shop for wine lovers looking to capture and visualise their own wine moments as well as their own collections. You can create your own ‘moments’ or see those that others have made and edit them to make them your own. These moments inspire unique wine pairings for any occasion. Burt Bacharach, bolognese and Bordeaux, anyone? Surely the ultimate Friday night in! There is more you can do with the App too.

More than a Moment…

With the App, you can log your own wine collection as well as those you have tasted and have them presented visually by flavour profile. You’ll also never again forget a great bottle with the App’s ability to take a photo of a wine label, the wizardry to read it and even give you more information about the wine itself. Those lucky enough to own the epic Coravin Model Eleven (a fully automated version of the Coravin, which allows a glass of wine to be poured without having to pull the cork, read more here), can do more with the Moments app. It can be connected wirelessly via bluetooth to monitor levels in the argon gas canisters, battery levels and receive reminders for when to clean it. You can even shop for Coravin products through the App too.

Have you tried the app yet? Let us know your favourite wine pairing moments via social media (handles below)!  If not, you can download the App from the Apple Store or directly from the Coravin website here. Currently only available for iPhone. Android, watch this space...

Turn your wine gadget game up to eleven! Introducing Coravin Model Eleven

If you’re a wine lover, chances are you’ll know about Coravin: the ultimate wine gadget. You may have even read about what it is and how it works on our magazine here. Did you know about the super duper, newest Model Eleven, however? Here’s the skinny on one wine gadget you won’t want to do without this winter.

Coravin, turned up to Eleven

If you’re thinking Spinal Tap rather than why model numbers three to ten don’t exist, then you’re on the right track. Coravin Model Eleven was so-named because on the scale of one to ten, team Coravin reckoned it went up to eleven. Always at the forefront of wine technology, this model does everything the previous models can do and more, plus it’s fully automated. 

So, how does it work?

Charge up your Eleven with its USB charger, slot it over the top of the bottle (remember to check that it’s a real cork!) and a green light will confirm that you’re ready to go. Simply push down and tip. A small needle will puncture the cork and push inert Argon gas in, forcing wine out. Pour until you decide to stop; it works out the exact amount of gas you need. The cork will reseal itself almost immediately, thus preventing oxygen from getting in and spoiling the wine. Et voila! Your Coravin will then sleep up until you next pick it up again. 

As well as the automation, Coravin Model Eleven does some other natty things. Using bluetooth technology, you can sync it up to the Coravin Moments App: an app designed to match wines to moments, be they food, music, films, books and more (read more here). It helps you keep tabs on battery life, on how much gas remains in your canister and sends reminders for when to service and clean your Coravin. 

When would you use it?

Oh Coravin, how do we use thee? Let us count the ways! When we spoke to the founder, Greg Lambrecht, he told us the Coravin came into being because he wanted to be able to enjoy a single glass of decent wine without worrying that the rest of the bottle would be wasted if it wasn’t all tasted that night. Great for one glass but also great if you want to try several glasses of different wines without opening them all up. Perhaps you’re serving a dinner with several courses and want to build your own tasting menu? Maybe you want to see if that wine in the cellar is ready to drink without pulling the cork? If your favourite wine bar has one too, you’ll know that you can afford that one small glass of something rather special without having to purchase a whole bottle. Quite simply, it’s genius.

What does Coravin Model Eleven come with?

If you like your gadgets, you’ll love unboxing the Eleven. As well as its soft, stylish carry case and sturdy display base, you’ll get a pack of six gas canisters; enough for around ninety glasses. There’s also a dedicated aerator, which attaches to the Coravin spout to air the wine as it pours, giving even smoother results (they say it’s the equivalent of over an hour’s worth of decanting). As a brilliant extra, the pack also includes six Coravin screw caps, which will allow you to use your swanky new toy on screw capped wine! Each one is made with silicon which can be used up to one hundred times.

We’re addicted to ours and we’d love to know what you think! If you have one, send us a message.  You can find out more about Coravin on their website.

The Capital Hotel, Knightsbridge

Going on forty years strong under the original Levin ownership, the Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge boasts outstanding staff, family heritage, and unwavering loyalty. Given its rich history, the Capital upholds classic British design with modern upgrades here and there. This award winning miniature sized grand hotel possesses all the luxurious advantages of a large establishment yet maintains a warm and intimate atmosphere that allows guests and staff to interact with each other on a personal level.

The Capital has excellent service alongside spectacular location. The wondrous hotel sits elegantly on Basil Street adjacent to the lavish Knightsbridge apartments and just minutes from Knightsbridge Tube Station as well as Harvey Nichols, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Hyde Park, and the designer shops of Sloane Street.

If location isn’t enough, the Capital might be able to entice wine lovers with their very own award winning vineyard, Levin Wines, in the Loire Valley. And, for those who enjoy sweets, they also have a bakery, The London Bakery, which delivers to high-end restaurants and clubs all across London. The Levin’s couldn’t just stick with one hotel, a winery, and a bakery; they also own and operate the Levin Hotel and the Metro Bistro.

So, what we’re saying is, the Levin’s know a thing or two about hosting and can ensure your stay is of the highest quality. From their quaint classic queen room to their spacious two-bedroom suite and all rooms in between, you’ll want to book your stay at the Capital Hotel.

The Capital Hotel is a proud member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, a unique collection of luxury hotels across the world that have won countless awards for their food, drink, service and hospitality.

Address: 22-24 Basil Street, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1AT
Telephone: 0800 0482 314
Website

The Lampery, London

If your motto in life is “Work Hard, Play Hard” then you will feel right at home at The Lampery. Inspired by 17th Century MP Samuel Pepys’ permission to indulge in what you want, when you want it, this London enterprise has created a ‘Best of British’ menu using locally sourced seasonal ingredients to be enjoyed in a sophisticated area surrounded by vibrant greenery reminiscent of an indoor garden-space.

Unwind by sipping from their heavenly cocktail menu, featuring a roster of signature and classic concoctions, as well as seasonal choices. Kick off your weekend on Thursday with music and sliders starting at noon, or head down for “Cocktails O’Clock,” The Lampery’s twist on Happy Hour. From 5-10pm, Monday through Wednesday, you can enjoy two-for-one access to their entire drink menu. So, bring a friend and indulge your way through the week!