What are virtual wine cellars? Wine, metaverse, and the future of collecting

Visiting your wines virtually through a VR (Virtual Reality) headset. This is the idea proposed by the digital club Crurated, a site specializing in the sale and storage of fine wine, which will launch a metaverse next spring. Through this metaverse, members can keep an eye on their collection and "virtually stroll" among the labels.

A virtual cellar

"The idea was born out of frustration," explains Alfonso de Gaetano, founder of Crurated, to Drinks Business. "Being a collector myself, I own many bottles stored in different warehouses to keep them in the best possible conditions, but this way, I don't have the opportunity to see my bottles whenever I want."
In this virtual space, users can choose where to display their bottles: whether in a dedicated cellar gallery or on an "Infinite Wall," Crurated's virtual interpretation of a traditional cellar. Moreover, the features of Crurated's metaverse will also include a "multi-player" experience that allows users to invite friends, talk to a sommelier, and interact with artificial intelligence to learn more about the history of each purchased bottle. By the end of 2024, Apple users are expected to have the option to access it using Vision Pro.

The future of wine collecting

70% of Crurated members are between 25 and 45 years old. This is a statistic that de Alfonso has decided to bet on, identifying virtual technology as the future of collecting fine wines. "Collectors," he said, "are not just looking for great wines but also a guaranteed origin directly from the producers, simpler ways to access their collection, and the ability to ship their wines wherever and whenever they want. Technology allows us to simplify and enrich their experiences."