PourPlays

PourPlays Journal

PourPlays Launches the First Gamified Wine Education Platform, Making Wine Discovery Engaging, Rewarding, and Fun for a New Generation

PourPlays introduces a Play–Learn–Win platform combining mobile games, AI-powered discovery, live tastings, and real wine rewards.

Two people discovering wine with the PourPlays experience over dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | July 2026

Through a Play–Learn–Win model, PourPlays combines mobile games, AI-powered wine discovery, live tastings, and real wine coupons—connecting wine lovers and wineries in a platform built for the way people learn today.

FORT MYERS, FL — PourPlays today announced the launch of its gamified wine education and discovery platform, alongside the beta release of PairPlays, its debut mobile game. Built for the next generation of wine consumers—people who are more inclined to learn online, at speed, and in gamified ways than to spend hours in a tasting room, PourPlays transforms wine discovery into an engaging, playful experience that is both rewarding and genuinely educational.

The wine industry is under significant pressure. Consumption is declining, oversupply has pushed roughly 40% of wine volume onto discount, and the tools brands have historically relied on—fragmented promotions, in-person tastings, and DTC subscription boxes—have struggled to retain a younger, faster-moving audience. PourPlays was built to solve these challenges simultaneously, creating education, gaming, collecting, and coupon loops that foster communication, daily engagement, and affiliate wine sales.

The Problem With Wine Today

Wine is one of the world's oldest cultural traditions, but the industry has not kept pace with modern audiences. Communication between wineries, retailers, and consumers rarely happens outside of a transaction. Small brands struggle to reach new buyers. Discounts are fragmented and confusing. Traditional tastings are limited in reach. Subscription clubs lose customers the moment a box arrives. And younger consumers, who expect interactive and gamified engagement, are instead handed stuffy tasting notes and broken coupon links.

PourPlays believes these challenges stem from a fundamental disconnect in how wine education is delivered. The solution is not another tasting room or another subscription box, it is a platform that meets consumers where they already are: on their phones, learning fast, and expecting to be rewarded for their time.

The Solution: A Play–Learn–Win Platform

PourPlays is a gamified B2B and B2C wine education and promotion platform that serves as a bridge between two key groups in the wine ecosystem: the wineries and retailers who want to reach engaged consumers, and the wine enthusiasts who want to discover, learn, and be rewarded.

For wineries and retailers: PourPlays provides a direct channel to profile their brand, communicate with consumers, conduct AI and live tastings, and issue promotions—including Regular Coupons and Golden Coupons worth up to 99% off. Partner wineries also gain first-party market intelligence on consumer behavior and purchase preferences.

For consumers: PourPlays offers a seamless journey into the world of wine—packed with games, live tastings, expert content, AI-powered pairing tools, social features, and a centralized database of wine coupons and promotions. Access begins free through a Freemium tier, with a Premium option unlocking the full coupon and rewards suite.

Introducing PairPlays

PairPlays, PourPlays' first game, is a food and wine pairing course disguised as a tetris-like mobile game. Players catch falling objects that pair well with foods, wines, and grape varietals, earning points and unlocking real wine coupons along the way. Wrong and missed answers are reviewed after every round, reinforcing learning and building genuine knowledge over time.

Players begin as Casual Drinkers and progress up a five-stage education ladder: Enthusiast, Connoisseur, Sommelier, and finally Master. Every level features three play modes across seven pairing rounds covering Red, White, Dessert, Sparkling, Grape, Region, and Bonus. Players win every time they log in: after each round they unlock Wine Cellar cards and coupons, while Daily, Weekly, and Monthly leaderboard leaders win Golden Coupons redeemable for bottles, cases, and annual subscriptions at up to 99% off.

“We don’t want to sell wine—we want to make wine a game,” said Byron Bennett, Founder and CEO of PourPlays. “The wine industry has given younger consumers every reason to look elsewhere. PourPlays gives them every reason to come back—and stay.”

Affiliate Partnerships

PourPlays launches with active affiliate integrations with Wine.com, Total Wine, and FlexOffers, earning a commission on wine sales driven through the platform. These integrations give players immediate access to real wine purchases behind the coupons they earn in-game, closing the loop between discovery and buying from day one.

Inbound interest has also been received from wineries including Adair Family Wines, Agajanian Vineyards, Domaine de Chevigneux, Domaine Della, Paumanok Vineyards, and The Wine Group—industry players eager to reach and engage a next-generation wine audience.

Pre-Seed Raise

PourPlays is raising a $250,000 pre-seed round at 20% equity, currently open to qualified investors. Projected pre-tax returns are 1.8× in 2026, 12.8× in 2027, and 34.8× in 2028.

View PourPlays investor materials.

About the Team

PourPlays is led by a multidisciplinary team spanning wine, technology, finance, and marketing:

  • Byron Bennett, CEO & Founder: With over 20 years in the wine industry, Byron has served as founder of Discovery Wines in New York City, creator of the VitiVini wine board game, and author of Wine 101. His career spans credit analysis, investment banking, asset management, pharmaceuticals, consumer retail, fintech, and maritime transportation—experience that fuels practical innovation and disciplined strategic planning. Wharton School graduate.
  • Luis E. Rivera Cuyar, CTO: Founder of Riv Lux Media. A Brooklyn-based creative technologist with 10+ years in digital media, photography, and cinematography, Luis built PairPlays and expanded it to 15 levels. With a comprehensive understanding of media, communications, markets, and diverse social demographics, he brings the technical and creative edge to push PourPlays forward. New York Film Academy alumnus.
  • Tenisha Ramsay, CMO: A revenue-focused marketing executive with 12+ years building integrated B2B strategy for financial and professional services firms. Proven results include a 30% increase in web traffic, a 25% rise in final pitch selections, and an underwriting cycle reduced from 90 to 30 days. Founder of Rebel Soul Lifestyle Brands. Currently completing an MSc in Wine & Hospitality Management at KEDGE Business School and WSET Level 3.
  • Noah Schwartz, Content & Education: Born in Oregon, educated at Vassar College, and shaped by 10 years in London, Noah fell into the world of wine through a series of courses with legendary educator Michael Schuster and never looked back. He earned his WSET Level 4 Diploma (DipWSET) in 2017 and was awarded The Amorim Scholarship for achieving the highest U.S. WSET Level 3 score. A prolific wine writer who regularly visits producers in the U.S. and Europe, Noah tastes over 2,000 wines each year.
  • Sunny Fraser M.S., LMHC, Content & Education: A global wine, spirits, and food communicator, consultant, and digital creator, Sunny is a former winery owner, inventor of the award-winning Wine Tube, and WIA Expert Judge. Known through her digital brand @sunnyonscene as a trusted voice on wine, travel, and lifestyle, she brings a rare combination of CEO and COO experience, creative talent, and licensed mental health expertise to the PourPlays team.

About PourPlays

PourPlays is a gamified wine education and discovery platform headquartered in Fort Myers, FL. Through games, AI, live tastings, and a centralized coupon ecosystem, PourPlays transforms the way people discover and enjoy wine—one play at a time. PairPlays, the platform's debut mobile game, is available now in beta. Visit PourPlays.

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