Winestyr, a Chicago-based company that changes the way consumers discover and buy wine in America, has raised $3 million in funding led by Continental Investors. With this round of funding, Winestyr is going to bring its showroom model to new markets across the country and fuel digital growth of its wine subscription and wine gift products.
Winestyr has grown 100% year-over-year since 2014 and the company recently launched its first brick and mortar showroom in Chicago.
Winestyr founders (left to right: Chief Growth Officer Scott Washburn, Chief Executive Officer Bob Wilson, and Chief Operating Officer John Wilson at Winestyr’s Chicago West Loop Showroom) / Credit: Winestyr
“Our appointment-only showroom model has been hugely successful because it gives us the opportunity to prove that we are the only wine service that selects nothing but top-quality, small-production wines from the country’s best wine producers. Our growing portfolio of over 120 real wineries speaks for itself,” said Wilson in a statement. “Once people try a selection of wines from our portfolio and learn more about what we do, they quickly understand the Winestyr difference. New members leave our showroom excited to tell their friends about the wine club they just joined.”
Winestyr’s Direct-to-Consumer wine marketplace gets around traditional wholesalers and retailers with proprietary technology developed in-house. This enables Winestyr to offer wines to consumers that usually cannot be found in restaurants or store shelves.
“The wine industry is perfectly ripe for the innovative curated commerce experience that Winestyr delivers. We are excited to work with the team to scale this unique marketplace in a compliant fashion while giving our community of tech savvy wine enthusiasts an Amazon-prime like customer experience,” added Paul Purcell of Continental Investors.
