KapWeine - Cape Wine Selection

What KapWeine - Cape Wine Selection does

KapWeine - Cape Wine Selection SA is a privately held Swiss specialty wine importer and retailer founded in 1996 and headquartered in Wädenswil, canton of Zurich. The company curates and distributes South African wines to the Swiss market through three primary channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform (shop.kapweine.ch), a showroom in Wädenswil, and The Tasting Room — a wine bar and event venue in Zurich Seefeld opened in June 2024. The product portfolio spans entry-level wines at approximately CHF 8.90 per bottle to premium magnums at CHF 44.00, with volume discounts ("Killer Deals") for orders of six or more bottles, plus adjacent South African food products (biltong, spices) and curated tasting sets.

The business model is pay-as-you-go direct sales supplemented by experiential/event revenue: KapWeine monetizes through The Tasting Room via ticketed tastings, corporate apéros, client events, art exhibitions, and private celebrations. Distribution is exclusively within Switzerland. The company targets Swiss wine enthusiasts and collectors as the primary segment, with secondary segments in corporate clients (gifting and event hire), Swiss-South Africa lifestyle connectors, and wine trade professionals reached through fairs such as Expovina Primavera. A charitable partnership with Friends of African Wildlife (CHF 1.50 per bottle donated) and cross-promotional partnerships with travel brands (Emirates, Club Med, ULLIFINK, Sabi Sabi Collection) extend the brand beyond a pure wine retailer into a South African lifestyle/experiential proposition.

Underlying technology is conventional: a standard e-commerce storefront, content/SEO properties, and event marketing. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML component, and no subscription or recurring revenue model. The company is operationally small (approximately 10 core staff, with one source citing ~30 including external "Cape Angels" supporters), bootstrapped with no external funding rounds disclosed, and has maintained continuous operation for over 30 years as the self-described leading specialist for South African wines in Switzerland.

Name

KapWeine - Cape Wine Selection

Legal name

KapWeine - Cape Wine Selection SA

Website

https://kapweine.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KapWeine is a Swiss specialty importer and retailer of South African wines, founded in 1996 in Wädenswil, operating an e-commerce shop, a showroom, and The Tasting Room event venue in Zurich Seefeld, serving Swiss wine enthusiasts, corporate clients, and lifestyle-focused consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Wine Retail

NAICS

Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (4453)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

Keywords

• South African wine import
• Specialty wine retail
• Wine e-commerce
• Wine tasting events
• Curated wine selection

Headquarters

HQ city

Wädenswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales (E-commerce & Retail): KapWeine generates revenue through the direct sale of South African wines via its online shop (shop.kapweine.ch) and its physical showroom/tasting room in Zurich. Sales include standard bottles, magnum formats, and special offers (Killer Deals, Hammer Deals). The company also sells wine accessories and South African food products (biltong, spices).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KapWeine is a Swiss specialty importer and retailer focused exclusively on South African wines, operating the online shop shop.kapweine.ch alongside the physical Tasting Room wine bar and event venue in Zurich Seefeld. The company curates a portfolio of South African producers, sells bottle formats from entry-level to premium magnums, and runs tastings, wine-themed events, and corporate apéros. The offering combines direct-to-consumer wine sales with experiential hospitality and editorial content on South African wine regions, food, and travel.

Product overview

KapWeine operates as a Swiss specialty wine retailer and experience company focused exclusively on South African wines. The core offering consists of an E-Shop for online wine sales and The Tasting Room, a wine bar and event venue in Zürich. The portfolio includes curated tasting sets, Wine of the Year awards recognizing exceptional South African producers, and charitable partnerships with wildlife conservation organizations. The company serves as the premier destination for South African wines in Switzerland, combining e-commerce with experiential hospitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E-Shop for South African Wines Online wine shop at shop.kapweine.ch offering the curated KapWeine range of South African wines, with categories including Killer Deals, Magnum Specials, Premium Selection, Bin-end Sales, and Tasting Sets. Filters by producer, region, grape variety, price, and critic ratings.
• The Tasting Room by KapWeine Wine bar, retail shop, and event venue in Zurich Seefeld offering South African wine tastings, corporate events, client apéros, travel presentations, art exhibitions, and private celebrations.
• Tasting Sets (Degustationssets) Curated wine tasting sets available for purchase from the e-shop, allowing customers to explore South African wine varieties and producers in a single bundle.
• Hosted Wine Events and Tastings Curated event hosting including wine tastings, masterclasses, corporate apéros, and themed lifestyle evenings featuring South African wine producers and travel partners such as Emirates, Club Med, ULLIFINK Tourism Marketing, and the Sabi Sabi Collection.
• Swartland Winery Lifestyle Range Addition Newly added South African producer range from Swartland Winery, including Bush Vine Chenin Blanc, Bush Vine Pinotage, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Idelia, integrated into the KapWeine portfolio and New Arrivals section.

Quantifiable outcome

• CHF 3,300 donated to Friends of African Wildlife from 2,200+ bottles sold

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EmiratesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Emirates airline collaborated with KapWeine and Club Med for an event at The Tasting Room in Zurich, promoting travel to South Africa via Dubai. The partnership showcased comfortable travel connections to South African destinations.
• Club MedminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Club Med partnered with KapWeine and Emirates to present their new South Africa Beach & Safari Resort on the Dolphin Coast at The Tasting Room event. The partnership combined wine, travel, and hospitality content.
• ULLIFINK Tourism MarketingcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026ULLIFINK Tourism Marketing collaborated with KapWeine on multiple events at The Tasting Room, promoting South African travel experiences. The partnership has included events featuring the Sabi Sabi Collection and other luxury South African hospitality brands.
• Sabi Sabi CollectionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sabi Sabi Collection (luxury safari and hospitality brand) participated in a The Tasting Room event alongside ULLIFINK Tourism Marketing and KapWeine. Jan Scholtz, General Manager, presented the Claremont Boutique Hotel and Sandringham Private Game Reserve.
• Commanderie de Bordeaux Suisse RomandeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026KapWeine supported an event where Lady May (Glenelly Estate) was honored at the Sommer-Chapitre of the Commanderie de Bordeaux Suisse Romande in Vevey. The event connected Bordeaux and South African wine culture.
• Jedlitschka GalleryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Jedlitschka Gallery collaborated with KapWeine during the Grand Opening of The Tasting Room, hosting an art vernissage with Patrizia Casagranda's sculptures. The sculpture garden was featured as part of the event experience.
• Friends of African WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023KapWeine has an ongoing charitable partnership with Friends of African Wildlife, a Swiss organization supporting wildlife conservation and community projects in Africa (Save a Rhino, Dog 4 Rhinos, Eye in the Sky, Community 4 Conservation). KapWeine donates CHF 1.50 per bottle sold, with over CHF 3,300 donated from 2,200+ bottles sold. A charity competition was organized offering Anthonij Rupert Optima large format bottles as prizes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mövenpick Wein: Switzerland's largest specialty wine retailer with online shop and physical stores, offering curated international portfolios. Directly competes with KapWeine for Swiss wine enthusiasts across price tiers.
• Vinello: German online specialty wine retailer with curated international portfolio and tasting/event programming. Comparable in GTM motion to KapWeine's e-shop plus experiential layer.
• Wine.com: Largest US online wine retailer with extensive international assortment, critic ratings, and editorial content. Closest scale peer for KapWeine's e-commerce + content + ratings approach.
• Wein & Co: Austrian specialty wine retailer combining physical wine bars/shops with a broad international assortment. Comparable hybrid retail + experiential model in a German-speaking market.
• Gerstl Weinwebshop: Swiss specialty wine retailer focused on premium and international bottles with strong critic-rating integration. Competes directly for Swiss collectors and gift buyers.
• Hawesko Weinversand: Germany's leading mail-order and online specialty wine retailer with broad international assortment including South African labels. Closest direct peer by business model (curated e-commerce + physical retail) outside Switzerland.

Emerging players

• Winc: US wine subscription and DTC retailer that curates and private-labels wines for members. Comparable in being a digitally-native curated wine retailer with recurring-revenue mechanics.
• Vivino: Global wine marketplace and rating app with marketplace/retail integrations. Comparable in emphasizing critic + community ratings and discovery, but at much larger scale and as a marketplace rather than specialist importer.
• B-21 Wine & Spirits: US specialty wine retailer with explicit South African wine category emphasis and producer spotlights. Comparable niche-origin focus, though operating in a different geography.

Others

• Wines of South Africa (WOSA): South African wine industry trade body that promotes South African wine exports globally. Not a competitor but a critical ecosystem partner whose marketing campaigns amplify KapWeine's specialty positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kapweine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KapWeine - Cape Wine Selection