Calling all wine connoisseurs. You can now travel and bring home a bottle without worrying about breaking it mid-flight. FlyWithWine created VinGardeValise, the first and only suitcase specifically designed to protect wine bottles. Founders Ronald Scharman and Ryan Neergaard appeared on Shark Tank but didn’t get a deal. FlyWithWine filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2024 and has since ceased operations.
Meet the Founders
Director of business development, Ryan Neergaard, was a long-time Shark Tank fan. He is also a certified sommelier and spent his early career working in restaurants in Napa, California. Over 13 years, he’s mastered the art of fusing wine sciences and business strategies.
Former CEO, Ron Scharman, has a similar background, but with a longer track record. Scharman has been a wine mogul for over 20 years. Eight of those years were spent at Sonoma State University, teaching wine business and developing relations with industry leaders.
The Birth of FlyWithWine
The idea for the company started with a problem that many wine collectors are familiar with. Ron was in Burgundy and discovered a fine winery. He wanted to take home a bottle, but his options were to either ship it or pack it himself in a cheap container.
When he got back home, he thought of a better solution. That’s when he linked up with Ryan and a couple of product designers to create a suitcase with a specialized compartment for wine bottles and other beverages.
FlyWithWine launched in 2016 and sold over 50,000 units in 500 locations. In 2022, they released VinXplorer, the backpack version of their flagship product. A year later, they showcased their product on season 15 of Shark Tank.
After Shark Tank
Getting on the show was a ‘lifetime achievement award,’ for Ron and Ryan but entering with a $6.25 million valuation made things challenging.
Despite lifetime sales of $19 million and a presence in high-end retailers such as Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, and Williams Sonoma, FlyWithWine faced significant financial challenges. Profitability remained elusive despite the boost from Shark Tank, and control by a primary investor further complicated operations.
By mid-2024, FlyWithWine filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations. In December 2023, Amazon stopped lending money and they had to turn to more expensive financing to stay afloat.
Amazon stopped lending money in December, after 6 years, Scharman said. FlyWithWine was then forced to replace that money with very expensive financing, he said. Since FlyWithWine acted as the official distributor for VinGardeValise, the products can still be purchased on vingardevalise.com. Erin Forster of Forster VGV has taken over orders and will honor warranties.
The suitcase ranges anywhere from $289.95 to $379.95, while VinXplorer backpacks can go from $159.95 to $199.95. The $379.95 suitcase was their best-selling item on Amazon.
