Looking to revolutionize the sale of wine by the glass, ePour Technologies Inc., which was developed in northern Michigan, has created a high volume system for serving wine by the glass that uses an oxygen-inhibiting bag to pour a temperature-controlled glass of wine.
“I initially started to develop the ePour system to improve efficiencies in our winery tasting room,” says Ed O’Keefe, CEO of ePour Technologies in Lewisberry, Pa. and founder of Chateau Grand Traverse Winery on Old Mission Peninsula just north of Traverse City.
“It has evolved to have much broader applications. The system is designed to transform wine by the glass service in restaurants, winery tasting rooms, wine bars, casinos, cruise ships, hotel lobbies, convention centers, banquet facilities — any retail operation offering quality wines by the glass.”
O’Keefe says the countertop system has an oxygen-inhibiting vacuum pump that ensures wines have a consistent quality and taste. He says the bag and pouch system as a substitute for bottles reduces costs by about 85 percent, and eliminates the waste associated with disposing of bottles.
O’Keefe says the software allows the customer to pre-program pour sizes by the glass, carafe, or bottle, server information, pricing, and offers alerts when the wine needs to be changed. He says ePour can link with any retail point of sale system.
The countertop dispensing units hold two, nine-liters pouches of wine (12 bottle case equivalent), and can be operated by wait staff or as a self-serve machine.
“Our goal was to develop a simple efficient means of serving wines by the glass while maintaining straight from the winery quality,” says Bob Kalik, president of ePour Technologies and the former president of the American Vinters Association.
Kalik says the system will be test marketed in Colorado and Maryland, while two additional models will be introduced next year. Wines initially available for ePour include Robert Mondavi 2013 Cabernet and Chardonnay, Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2013 Cabernet and Chardonnay, Mark West 2012 Pinot Noir, and Estancia 2013 Pinot Grigio.
Base units are priced at nearly $4,000 or can be rented for about $100 per month. For more information, visit epourtech.com.
