Coravin takes on Nespresso boss as new chief executive to lead expansion

By Arabella Mileham

Published: 24 February, 2015

Coravin, the pioneering wine access system which allows you to pour wine from a bottle without removing the cork, has appointed former Nespresso boss Frédéric Levy as its new chief executive to lead its ambitious expansion plans in to new markets.

Coravin has quickly become a favourite amongst leading sommeliers and restaurants as it allows them to offer fine wines from back vintages without what it claims is any risk of oxidisation in the bottle.

Levy was president of Nestle Nespresso North America for nearly nine years, and first joined the coffee pod manufacturer in 1995. He has extensive experience of e-commerce after heading up Nespresso's international e-business and co-ordinating the Nespresso Club and in his new role will look to spearhead Coravin's retail channel development as well as overseeing its international expansion.

Greg Lambrecht, the inventor and founder of Coravin said Levy was the "natural choice" to take the company forward and would be instrumental in furthering the company's growth plans. "He is an incredibly successful business leader who carries not only the marketing and management experience, but also the passion and drive needed to further cement Coravin's position as a world-class innovator."

The company recently opened its new European headquarters in Amsterdam as it sets to expand in to new markets in Europe and Asia. It is targeting the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Since launching in July 2013, the North American company has sold more than 70,000 of its Coravin Wine Access Systems, with around 10,000 sold in the UK alone. It is available in more than 500 retailers and around 1,000 restaurants have adopted the system to broaden their offering of wines by the glass.

Many UK restaurants now offer specific Coravin wines by the glass wine lists.

The Coravin Wine System launched its online ecommerce site in the UK in October, but and its UK stockists include Harrods, Lea & Sandeman, Robersons, Le Vignoble and Vini Italiana.

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