Inviting Users to Tap the Phone before Tipping Their Glass, Uproot Wines Announces Introduction of NFC Tags

Uproot Wines, the Napa Valley-based winery, announced plans today to include Near Field Communication (NFC) tags on all of its 2014 wine releases. Signaling a shift for tech-forward companies moving toward NFC, customers will instantly receive access to a variety of information and services in regards to the wine and how to enjoy it. Unique to Uproot’s NFC tagging, consumers will also be able to live text questions directly to co-founder and winemaker Greg Scheinfeld, making it a more personalized and accessible experience, no matter geographic location.

“After hearing Apple’s news that NFC technology will be part of the iPhone 6, we knew that NFC tags were the next step to further enhancing our customer’s experience with Uproot,” said Jay Levy, co-founder of Uproot Wines. “We’re embedding tons of new features into the back of the bottle that will make purchasing and enjoying Uproot Wines an even more interactive and personalized experience.”

Uproot Wines started breaking the mold in the wine industry when it launched in 2013 by introducing a first-of-its-kind Flavor Palette labeling system – a wordless, taste-based color code on the front of each bottle, which allows wine drinkers to understand the flavor profile of each varietal even before tasting. Every color block represents a tasting note in familiar flavors such as Mint Mojito, Pineapple Juice, Raspberry and Mandarin Orange, and the size of the block tells you how dominant each note is in the flavor profile.

Now, all of Uproot’s new releases will also feature an NFC tag that connects to each smartphone and allows customers to access to:

• Flavor Palette and tasting notes – the wordless label comes to life with information about each tasting note on the screen
• Pairing recommendations – One-of-a-kind pairing recommendations specially created for Uproot by its culinary partners
• Text the winemaker – have questions about the wines? The live texting feature allows customers direct interaction the winemaker
• Watch videos – easily access a series of videos featuring the Uproot team talking about the company, the wine and lifestyle tips
• Share what you’re drinking on social media – post images and updates on Twitter and Facebook; interact with other Uproot customers
• Quickly purchase wine – If your stock is running low or you find yourself with a last-minute purchasing need, the NFC tag feature makes it easy to purchase more wine

“Our customers are of the smartphone generation and have always been tapped in to the latest technologies,” said Scheinfeld. “Uproot is all about shaking up the wine industry and tapping in to the ‘Gen Wine’ millennial consumers. These tags are just one more way that people can enjoy our wine in an innovative fashion.”

For more information on Uproot Wines or to order, visit: www.drinkuproot.com. Follow the conversation about Uproot on Facebook, Instagram (@drinkuproot) and Twitter (@drinkuproot).