In the bustling city of London, an unsung innovator named Greg Lambrecht has been quietly revolutionizing the wine industry. While his name may not be familiar to you, his invention most certainly is. Lambrecht is the mastermind behind Coravin, a groundbreaking device that has transformed the way we enjoy wine by the glass.

Introduced in 2011, the Coravin opener is a state-of-the-art tool that allows wine enthusiasts to savor their favorite vintages without committing to uncorking the entire bottle. With this ingenious creation, you can pour a single serving of wine while keeping the rest of the bottle perfectly preserved, protected from oxidation. It’s a game-changer for oenophiles who appreciate the ability to sample different wines without the pressure to finish the entire bottle in one sitting.

What makes Lambrecht’s story even more remarkable is that his day job is not directly related to the wine industry. As a biomedical engineer and innovator, he draws inspiration from his primary skill set to create products that meet his own personal needs. In the case of Coravin, Lambrecht was motivated by his love for wine and his frustration with the limited options for sampling without wasting precious liquid.

Since its launch, Coravin has become a staple in wine lovers’ homes and in respectable restaurants around the world. The device is available in various models, ranging from $100 to $500, and has sold over one million units worldwide. Its success has prompted Lambrecht to continue pushing boundaries and develop new innovations in the wine preservation space.

Enter the Coravin Sparkling System, Lambrecht’s latest masterpiece. This groundbreaking device is specifically designed to preserve carbonation in sparkling wines. The package includes a charger, two stoppers, and four sparkling CO2 capsules, all for around $400 at retail. Since its release almost two years ago, the Coravin Sparkling System has been met with enthusiasm from wine enthusiasts, and sales have remained strong.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Lambrecht during a demonstration of the Sparkling System to delve deeper into his journey as an inventor. In an exclusive interview with Forbes, he revealed the origins of his career path and the pivotal moment that set him on the trajectory of medical device innovation.

Lambrecht shared that his grandfather played a significant role in shaping his ambitions. He was advised to focus on a career in energy or medicine, as those fields would always be in demand. Lambrecht initially pursued a career in energy before ultimately finding his passion in medicine while working on a Johnson & Johnson project during his graduate studies. Seeing the impact that a simple device could have on preventing AIDS transmission from needle sticks ignited his desire to make a difference.

While Lambrecht’s day job revolves around spinal surgery as a biomedical engineer and innovator, his experience with medical devices has undoubtedly influenced his work with Coravin. His expertise in developing a needle-based chemotherapy system honed his skills and familiarity with the intricacies of medical tools. This background knowledge proved invaluable when he set out to tackle the challenges of preserving wine.

Lambrecht’s frustration with the conventional way of consuming wine led him to question the standard 750ml bottle size. He recognized that this arbitrary volume often led to wine wastage, as it didn’t always align with consumers’ desired servings. Armed with his passion for both wine and innovation, he sought to create a solution that would allow wine enthusiasts to indulge in their favorite libations without the pressure to finish the entire bottle.

The result of Lambrecht’s ingenuity was the Coravin opener, a device that has forever changed the way we enjoy wine. With his innovative mindset and unwavering commitment to improving wine preservation, he has solidified his position as a pioneer in the industry.

Greg Lambrecht’s story serves as a testament to the power of curiosity, passion, and interdisciplinary thinking. By combining his expertise in biomedical engineering with his love for wine, he has successfully engineered a product that has elevated the wine-drinking experience for countless individuals worldwide. His journey is a reminder that inspiration can come from unexpected places, and true innovation lies in pursuing ideas that don’t yet exist.

As Lambrecht continues to push the boundaries of wine preservation, we can only imagine what groundbreaking inventions lie ahead. For now, we raise a glass to his ingenuity, grateful for the lasting impact he has made on the world of wine.

years has Coravin been on the market? GL: “We launched Coravin in 2013, so it has been on the market for seven years now. It has really revolutionized the way people can enjoy and preserve wine.”

What has been the response from the wine industry and consumers? GL: “The response has been incredible. We have received numerous awards and accolades for our innovation and design. Wine professionals and enthusiasts have embraced Coravin as a game-changer in the industry. It has allowed them to explore and enjoy wines in a whole new way, without the fear of wasting a bottle.”

Have there been any challenges along the way? GL: “Of course, any new technology or product comes with its challenges. One of the main challenges we faced was the misconception that using a needle to access the wine would somehow compromise its quality. We had to educate people about the science behind our design and assure them that Coravin does not introduce oxygen into the bottle. Once people understood and experienced the benefits of Coravin for themselves, the skepticism quickly faded away.”

Are there any future developments or improvements in the works? GL: “Absolutely, we are constantly striving to improve and innovate. We have already introduced various models and accessories to cater to different needs and preferences. We continue to listen to feedback from our customers and the wine community to make enhancements and develop new features. Our goal is to make Coravin even more user-friendly and versatile.”

In conclusion, Coravin has truly revolutionized the world of wine, allowing wine enthusiasts and professionals to enjoy and preserve their favorite bottles in a whole new way. With its innovative design and use of noble gases, Coravin has become a must-have tool for anyone who appreciates the art and science of wine. As we look to the future, it will be exciting to see what new advancements and possibilities Coravin will bring to the table. Cheers to the continued success of this game-changing invention!

When it comes to preserving the quality and taste of wine, the Coravin Sparkling is a game changer. With this innovative device, you can now enjoy a bottle of wine without having to finish it all in one sitting. This is made possible through the use of CO2 capsules, which can preserve up to 7 bottles of wine.

Think about it – for just $1 per bottle of wine, you can ensure that every glass you pour is as fresh and delightful as the first. Gone are the days of pouring half-empty bottles down the drain because they have gone bad. With the Coravin Sparkling, you can now savor the experience of opening a bottle of wine without the fear of wasting any of it.

But what about when you want to revisit that bottle of wine weeks or even months later? Well, with the Coravin Sparkling, that is now possible too. The CO2 capsules effectively preserve the wine, allowing it to maintain its quality and flavor for an extended period of time. So you no longer have to rush to finish a bottle just because you don’t want it to go bad. You can simply store it away and enjoy it whenever you please.

Now, you may be wondering, what are some great food and wine pairings that you can enjoy with the Coravin Sparkling? According to wine expert GL, one unexpected but fantastic pairing is rosé champagne and pizza. Yes, you heard that right – champagne and pizza. It may sound unusual, but GL assures us that it is the best pairing ever. So next time you order a pizza, consider popping open a bottle of rosé champagne to accompany it. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

If you’re wondering where GL is based these days, it turns out that they are just outside of Boston. GL admits that while the food scene there may not be the strongest, the city is definitely a great wine city. In fact, there’s even a local brewery called Trillium Brewing that is known for crafting some exceptional beers. And here’s a fun fact – the Coravin Sparkling works well with beer too! So if you’re a beer lover, you can still make the most out of this innovative device.

The Coravin Sparkling truly revolutionizes the way we enjoy and preserve wine. It allows us to savor every sip without the pressure of finishing an entire bottle. With its CO2 capsules, we can now enjoy a bottle of wine weeks and even months later, knowing that it will still taste just as incredible as it did when we first opened it. So go ahead, indulge in the pleasure of wine with the Coravin Sparkling, and explore all the wonderful pairings and possibilities it has to offer.