Coravin expands Asia Pacific operations

Christian Pillsbury, formerly from the DFS Group will launch Coravin’s inaugural Hong Kong office as part of its international expansion strategy.

Pillsbury joins Coravin with 16 years of experience in the international wine trade where most recently, he led DFS Group’s international wine business in Hong Kong. Prior to the DFS Group, Pillsbury was the founder of Applied Wine, a company focused on helping Hong Kong restaurants make wine a core part of their business.

“Christian is an important addition to Coravin, helping us to drive continued global growth and expansion,” said Frédéric Levy, CEO of Coravin.

“He is incredibly well versed when it comes to the wine industry, bringing not only extensive marketing and management experience but also a passion for fine wine. Christian is a vital addition as we look to further expand our presence in Asia Pacific, and we wholeheartedly welcome him to the Coravin family.”

Since launching in 2013, Coravin has focused on expanding its presence in North America and Europe where its wine-saving products are now available in more than 30 countries. Coravin has also secured over US$14m in funding to continue its global marketing push which now includes the Asia Pacific region.

Last month, Coravin announced the launch of its Model Two unit in the US.

“Asia is becoming an exciting destination for wine and is seeing tremendous growth. Coravin has transformed the way wine is sold, served, and enjoyed in both North America and Europe and I am honored to introduce the brand to wine lovers all over Asia,” said Pillsbury.