• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Tech

Smart Wine Dispenser Catching Fire on Kickstarter

By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 10, 2016, 5:23 PM ET

After launching its Kickstarter campaign on April 7th, it took only 15 hours for the Somm wine dispenser to attract $100,000 in backing from oenophiles, with most ponying up $199 to get the sleek machine by Christmas. It features an array of ‘smart’ features and uses custom containers– think of it as a Keurig for wine.

The containers are called Sylos, and hold about three bottle’s worth of wine. They also communicate with the machine, which adjusts things like temperature and aeration depending on what kind of wine it’s pouring. And at least during the pre-order period, they’re reasonably priced, ranging from the equivalent of $5 to $39 a bottle.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

On top of a custom pour, the machine promises to track a user’s palate, and give tips on what other wines they might like, through a connected smartphone app.

Though there’s rising awareness that crowdfunded projects don’t always follow through on their promises, Synek, the company behind the Somm, has a solid track record. In 2014, they crowdfunded and created a countertop beer dispenser which shares several features with the Somm.

The company has also shown it can navigate some pitfalls of the pod-based coffee systems that seem to have inspired its machines. Though the Keurig K-cup has been criticized as an environmental plague, Synek claims the Somm’s containers have 70% less CO2 impact than bottles.

Keurig Green Mountain has also courted controversy by attempting to make its machines incompatible with any coffee pods it didn’t make itself. That promised obvious benefits to the company’s bottom line by locking in customers, but produced serious consumer backlash.

For more on the business of wine, watch our video:

But with its beer machine, Synek has gone in the opposite direction, introducing several add-ons that make it easier to use the machine with various beers, including homebrews.

The crowdfunding tracking site Kicktraq currently projects that the Somm will raise more than $1 million by May 10th, when the campaign ends. Those who reserve the Somm early will be getting a pretty nice discount on the $299 projected retail price.

About the Author
By David Z. Morris
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Photo: Sam Altman
EconomyMarkets
Man charged in arson attack on Sam Altman’s house had AI CEO kill list, prosecutors say
By Jim EdwardsApril 14, 2026
22 minutes ago
Exclusive: Chad Rigetti’s Sygaldry raises $139 million to bring quantum hardware to AI data centers
NewslettersTerm Sheet
Exclusive: Chad Rigetti’s Sygaldry raises $139 million to bring quantum hardware to AI data centers
By Allie GarfinkleApril 14, 2026
60 minutes ago
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (center) and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei (right), not holding hands, in New Delhi on February 19, 2026. (Photo by Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images)
NewslettersFortune Tech
OpenAI revenue chief accuses rival Anthropic of goosing revenue projections
By Andrew NuscaApril 14, 2026
2 hours ago
Dario Amodei
AIAnthropic
Anthropic is facing a wave of user backlash over reports of performance issues with its Claude AI chatbot
By Beatrice NolanApril 14, 2026
2 hours ago
Like Elon Musk, he was coding at 12 and became one of Google’s youngest ever CMOs—but now says Gen Z are better off ice skating than learning to code
SuccessCareers
Like Elon Musk, he was coding at 12 and became one of Google’s youngest ever CMOs—but now says Gen Z are better off ice skating than learning to code
By Orianna Rosa RoyleApril 14, 2026
4 hours ago
sam altman
LawOpenAI
Meet the man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman: a 20-year-old AI doomer
By Juan Lozano, Lekan Oyekanmi and The Associated PressApril 13, 2026
13 hours ago

Most Popular

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated again—a week after gifting millions to a college, she's just given $70 million to Meals on Wheels America
Success
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated again—a week after gifting millions to a college, she's just given $70 million to Meals on Wheels America
By Fortune EditorsApril 13, 2026
20 hours ago
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
Economy
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
2 days ago
'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
Politics
'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of April 13, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of April 13, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 13, 2026
22 hours ago
Current price of gold as of April 13, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of April 13, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 13, 2026
22 hours ago
U.S. naval blockade on Iran will trigger a currency devaluation spiral and hyperinflation, potentially ending the war more quickly, analyst says
Economy
U.S. naval blockade on Iran will trigger a currency devaluation spiral and hyperinflation, potentially ending the war more quickly, analyst says
By Fortune EditorsApril 13, 2026
19 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.