Vinolin

Vinolin is a German startup that provides a platform for digital and hybrid wine tastings and events. Founded in 2020 by Paul Schwarzenholz and Stephan Schmidt, the company aims to connect winemakers and wine lovers through interactive online experiences. Schwarzenholz, an experienced entrepreneur who co-founded the online perfume retailer Flaconi and the market-place software provider Spryker, and Schmidt, a former managing director at Flaconi, launched Vinolin to digitalize the traditional wine event format.

The platform enables winemakers, wine retailers, and companies to organize and host online wine tastings. Vinolin handles the logistics, including sending wine packages to participants, and provides a browser-based software solution for the virtual event. This service allows winemakers to present their products to a broader audience without geographical limitations and offers a solution for corporate events like team-building activities and customer events. The business model involves charging a service fee for organizing these events and from the sale of wine packages.

The core of Vinolin's offering is its all-in-one package which includes participant management, the dispatch of wine packages, and the provision of the streaming technology for the event itself. For corporate clients, Vinolin has organized events for companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Allianz. In 2021, Vinolin expanded its services to include an online shop and introduced hybrid event formats, combining in-person and virtual participation.

Keywords: online wine tasting, digital events, corporate events, wine logistics, event platform, winemaker marketing, hybrid events, virtual tasting, wine e-commerce, direct-to-consumer