Apprentice star launches flavoured wine

The runner-up of BBC1’s The Apprentice, Vana Koutsolmitis, has launched her own brand of flavoured wines with Virgin Wines following her defeat last night.

VinobyVana – a range of low alcohol, aromatised, wine-based drinks – comprise of a blend of rosé with natural fruit flavours that will be available exclusively on Virgin Wines today.

Described as a “twist on the traditional wines people know and love”, flavoured wine has been a huge trend in France since 2013, is the fastest growing beverage by volume worth €82.5m in sales.

‘The first in the VinobyVana range is Pink Grapefruit”, said Vana, who has a masters in business administration from Oxford University and undergraduate degree in science from Cornell University in New York. “It’s a vibrant, refreshing drink which is low in alcohol – only 8% – and can be served on ice. It really appeals to anyone who enjoys fun, fruity, alcoholic drinks.”

Vana’s interest in wine began during her university days where she took a wine course at Cornell, organising several wine dating events. She hit upon the idea while travelling in the South of France last year, partnering with fellow MBA graduate, Joris Magenti, and entrepreneur and CEO of Virgin Wines, Jay Wright, to launch the range.

“Vana is really hitting an untapped market with VinobyVana, but this isn’t the sole reason we’ve decided to support her business venture – which is quite a different product offering for Virgin Wines”, said Wright. “It was also her entrepreneurial spirit and her genuine passion for connecting people with wine, going so far as conjuring up wine dating schemes. That is the kind of spirit, innovation, and risk we want to promote and support in the wine industry. It’s the Virgin way of doing things.”

The company has taken a first order of 15,000 bottles and will be selling VinobyVana Pink Grapefruit by the case (or 6 or 12 bottles) at £5.99 per bottle RRP.

Plumber Joseph Valente was named this year’s winner of The Apprentice, beating Vana Koutsolmitis to receive £250,000 and the chance to do business with Lord Alan Sugar.