RTG Capital has led the first round of investment for wineapp China, helping the fast-growing on-demand wine platform bring on key investors and raised multimillion-dollar round in funding. Together with the funding — which was co-invested by Gracejoy Capital — RTG Capital has brought on former Moët Hennessy CEO Christophe Navarre to serve as wineapp China’s board advisor.
Founded in 2017, wineapp, which was the first on-demand wine platform in Europe, has gained an immense following in London. Wineapp China was established in Shanghai two years later in tandem with the launch of a high-end wine experience store. wineapp’s unique business model creates a community of loyal wine lovers by converting visitors from its offline experiential stores to users of its online commerce platform, where customers can order from a collection of 500+ wines. By the end of 2022, there were seven offline experience stores in China, with wineapp’s online presence and delivery covering nearly 100 cities.
An impressive 30-minute-to-home delivery service is currently available in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Shenzhen. The company is now looking to further expand its presence in Shanghai and capture the growing market in other Chinese cities.
Captions: Christophe Navarre
Christophe Navarre has been working with wineapp China since November 2022. A well-respected veteran in the top-shelf alcohol industry, Mr. Navarre joined the LVMH Group, the world’s leading luxury goods company, in 1997 as President and CEO of JAS Hennessy & Co. He was deeply involved in the company’s restructuring and is credited with securing its leading position in the cognac industry.
In May 2001, he was appointed CEO of Moët-Hennessy, the Wine and Spirits division of LVMH, where he managed a large number of prestigious alcohol brands, including Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Ruinart, Krug, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, and Belvedere. Currently serving as Chairman of the board of Comexposium, a board member of SBM (Société des Bains de Mer) in Monaco and a board member of Advini. Mr. Navarre has also acquired the Château Farguet winery in Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux. He is also a member of the board and an investor in Vivino, Alain Ducasse Group, Seven Tails Distillers Ltd, and Dominique London NV.
Captions: Wineapp China experience center wines with up to 500 different varieties of wine
“We are excited to welcome such a veteran as a board advisor,” says David He, Founder and CEO of wineapp China. “Mr. Navarre brings with him a wealth of industry experience that will help take wineapp China to the next chapter.”
“With Mr. Navarre joining as a board advisor for wineapp China, the platform will be able to better achieve its strategic goals,” says RTG Capital Managing Director, Carl Chan. “Navarre’s advice and strategic development plans will deepen wineapp China’s relationship with European wineries and ultimately drive it to greater success in innovation, technology, and products.”