New port of call for wine online

14 May 2015

South Africa's first, bespoke online wine retailer, Port2Port, was launched into the "vinosphere" recently, providing wine enthusiasts with access to a carefully curated and accessible catalogue of distinctive, limited-edition South African and internationally-acclaimed wines, at the click of a button.

The platform is revolutionary in its promotion of a Social Media community for wine enthusiasts and experts, which up to now has not existed in South Africa.

"With Port2Port, anyone can be a wine connoisseur and everyone becomes a wine lover. Users are encouraged to share their opinions and preferences, in order to tailor the site directly and exactly to their interests. What makes Port2Port one of the most progressive platforms in the South African wine industry today, is its merge of digital know-how with the age-old appreciation of wine," says co-owner Nicolò Stortiglione Pudel.

Self-proclaimed "wine lovers" established the Port2Port platform, Vincent Bührer, owner of Saxenburg Wine Estate, and Nicolò Stortiglione Pudel, Managing Director of Pier2Pier, in their journey to pioneer the art of wine appreciation and build a community of other wine lovers in South Africa.

The platform, which is now fully functional and accepting orders, aims to personalise the online wine experience through a number of features, guiding both beginners in wine appreciation, as well as experienced aficionados, in order to facilitate an online conversation between wine lovers. Some of the unique online Port2Port features include in-depth tasting notes and pairing suggestions for each wine; weekly newsletters; user-built "Mixed Cases"; profiles on featured farms; a user rating and review system and; archives of Vintage & Specialty Wines as well as; specially curated mixed-case offers.

"Wine should no longer be a mysterious commodity. Young people are showing great passion and interest for the art of wine making and understanding of the product, which is why we are so passionate about Port2Port," says Vincent Bührer.

"The innovative online approach is intended to spread the knowledge of wine and educate people all over the world about the intricate processes which go into making each bottle of wine. It is something that could irrevocably change the future of the wine industry."

Port2Port aims to educate consumers about wine making, farms, regions, styles and vintages in order to facilitate an engaged, unified and large-scale South African wine community.