Jeff Bezos
Just when you think crypto currencies and virtual land are crazy enough, the richest man in the Forbes Billionaire list comes up with virtual wine, and yes, you can taste the wine.
Jeff Bezos is reputable for being the founder and former CEO of Amazon. As of September this year, he is the richest man with a net worth of US$203.8 billion, according to Forbes.
In April this year, Bezos announced in a press conference that he would launch the world’s first entirely virtual wine brand with Eric Emerson Schmidt, the former executive Chairman of Google. In the conference, they introduced the Davos Elite Portfolio of Fine Wines and featured Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley’s To Kalon Vineyard in the first release.
In order to taste the wine, attendees were given a ‘sample’, which consisted of an empty bottle and a pair of virtual reality glasses with aromatherapy technology. They have to scan codes with their phones to experience a virtual tour of the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response cellar and attend the virtual tasting.
Apart from the virtual wine, Amazon launched its online wine marketplace, Amazon Wine, in 2012. In 2017, Amazon partnered with King Vintners in producing the NEXT range at its site in Eugene, Oregon.
The King Estate is the biggest winery in Oregon with its Pinot Gris being ranked as the best in the US. It costs US$20 for the Pinot Gris, US$30 for the Red Blend and US$40 for the Pinot Noir.
