We live in a world where wine holds a pretty high position in society when it comes to complimentary beverages. It’s available in different variants and is perfect to accompany different types of dishes and foods.
However, the worst thing about drinking wine is consistently being on the lookout for a corkscrew to be able to crack open a bottle. That’s potentially the worst experience that one can indulge in. That’s where Copa di Vino comes into play. This is a single-serve wine, available in a bottle that enables individuals to take a sip on the go.
Founded by James Martin, the unique product and the company are currently worth $25 million. They did not accept any of the counter-deals offered by the sharks.
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Quick Facts
| Business details: | Single-serve wine |
| Founders name: | James Martin |
| Founded in: | 2009 |
| Location (Country): | Dalles, Oregon, USA |
| Investment Asked by Company: | $600,000 for 20% equity |
| Sharks on board (Investors): | None |
| Accepted Deals: | No Deal |
| Shark Tank Episode: | Season 02 Episode 01 |
| Net Worth | $70 million |
| Business Status: | Active |
| Social Media | Facebook |
| Last Updated: | Feb 3, 2024 |
About the Founder
Copa di Vino was founded by James Martin, as we just mentioned. He was born and raised in Dalles, Oregon, and graduated from the Linn-Benton Community College with a degree in electrical engineering.
Following his graduation, and after a lot of deliberation, James worked as the head of a popular beverage company called Quenett. However, he later came across an abandoned flour mill, which he decided to transform into a winery.
That’s when he came together with his friends, families, and neighbors to start Sunshine Mill Winery in 2005.
Founding Copa di Vino
The idea of Copa di Vino came to James when he was on vacation in Florida. While he was traveling on the train, the only thing that he could think about was drinking a glass of wine.
Soon after, James started working on making his idea a reality. After a lot of trials and errors, James was finally able to make things work and the final product was ready in 2009, leading to the foundation of Copa di Vino.
When the product first came out, the most common question that people had was regarding the shelf life of the product. James managed to innovate the design of the single-serve bottle in a way that would retain the taste and quality of the wine without ruining the flavor profile.
Copa di Vino on Shark Tank
James appeared in the second season of Shark Tank, asking for $300,000 for 5% equity. To counter that pitch, Kevin O’Leary offered him $500,000 for 51% of the company. James rejected the deal citing that the stakes were too high.
Although Copa di Vino managed to secure pretty great sales and climbed to a $5 million valuation, the company struggled with inventory issues.
Later, James took his business back on Shark Tank in season 3, where he asked for the same amount. Three sharks came together to offer a joint deal of $600,000 for 30% equity. However, seeing Jame’s attitude, the shark pulled out.
Copa di Vino after Shark Tank
Following their Shark Tank appearances, the company has grown exponentially. They even acquired Splash Beverage Group and grew their annual sales to over $6 million, which is mind-boggling. As of 2024, the business has a valuation of $90 million.
FAQs
1. Is Copa di Vino successful?
Although many people said initially that the company would not sustain itself in the long run even after the initial success of Shark Tank, the company is flourishing.
2. Who is the owner of Copa di Vino?
The entire Martin family is the owner of Copa di Vino but James Martin is the one who saw the potential and was able to transform the fate of the business and give it the success it has today.
3. Where is Copa de Vino now?
With the consistent growth that Copa de Vino gained initially, it didn’t take the brand long to get acquired by Splash Beverages, so that’s where the company is right now.
