An Aix-en-Provence-based company called Espace Drive has revealed its new self-service wine vending machine, Cave O Vin, which offers producers a space to sell directly to consumers via secure, refrigerated lockers around the clock.
Known as Cave O Vin, the automated system could soon become a common sight along French roadsides. Developed in response to logistical and legal barriers faced by wine producers, the machines offer a low-maintenance way for winemakers to sell directly to consumers without the expense of staff or a traditional shop space.
The dispensers are modular, refrigerated lockers that allow buyers to place an order online and collect bottles by scanning a QR code. Age verification is required via a photo ID upload before a transaction can be processed. The lockers offer optimal storage conditions with temperature-controlled compartments—typically set at 14°C for reds, and adjustable to 8 to 10°C for whites and sparkling wines. Units range in capacity from 60 to 1,000 bottles and can be installed in supermarkets, wine cellars, hotel forecourts, public squares or on roadsides.
According to Connexion France, authorisation from local mayors will be required before producers can install a machine, which can be automatically shut down in areas where alcohol sales are governed by time restrictions.
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Espace Drive, a subsidiary of the Altéor Group, first began designing automated vending systems for items such as cheese, charcuterie and fresh produce.
“We were approached by vineyards to see if we could do the same for wines,” Stéphany Bonnard, General Director of Altéor, is quoted by Connexion France. “Having a shop on-site requires hiring someone to manage it. This way, no one has to be on-site all the time.”
The project emerged in response to France’s Evin Law, which prohibits conventional drive-through alcohol sales.
“We had to find a workaround,” added Bonnard in her comments, before noting that Espace Drive’s in-house design team developed both the software and secure mechanisms required for compliance.
Unlike traditional points of sale, Cave O Vin units operate autonomously and are managed through a digital interface. Producers can monitor stock levels in real time, set up access parameters and offer a click-and-collect experience without being physically present.
“It’s a practical and premium solution for distributing bottles outside regular opening hours,” says a company spokesperson.
Some French winegrowers are already experimenting with the new system, which is based on a rental model that costs vineyards approximately €1,230 per month per machine.
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Photo source: Cave O Vin