Californian brand launches smart wine bottles in US

Californian label Böen has started applying closures to its wine bottles that use Near Field Communication technology to protect against counterfeiting and enable consumers to learn more about the brand.

The caps, which are created by Italian packaging giant Guala Closures in a partnership with London-based tech company Sharpend, use Near Field Communication. It allows wine drinkers to scan bottles using their smartphones in order to determine their authenticity. The technology is also able to indicate whether the bottle has been opened in order to detect any possible product tampering.

The closures also allow consumers to get to know the wine brand better. Drinkers will have “instant access to unparalleled information about the wine they are purchasing simply by tapping the bottle’s cap with their smartphone and taking them to the vineyards where the wines are made,” according to an emailed statement.

Joseph Wagner, fifth generation winemaker and the founder of Copper Cane, said his company is “innovating with how we grow grapes and make our wines…and how we connect with our consumers.”

Simon Yudelevitch, general manager of Guala Closures’ North American business, said: “It’s been exciting working with Joseph Wagner to bring e-WAK®, Guala Closures’ NFC connected closure to Böen wines and we are excited to be a part of this momentous technological moment for the wine industry.”

Cameron Worth, CEO and founder of Sharpend, said there is a rising demand for connected packaging “across a range of technologies.”

“We know from experience that brands who leverage connected packaging to drive engagement can learn more about what their consumers want and keep up with emerging trends. A rollout of this scale has been a long time coming, and SharpEnd is very proud to support this trailblazing commitment from Böen.”