How it all started
VID is a unique and innovative drink that combines the worlds of coffee and wine, enriched with carbonation.Since 2018, we have been working with unstinting enthusiasm to share this unique experience with everyone. Our ambition is based on uniqueness, quality and an innovative approach that is reflected in every sip of VID.
The idea
The idea was born on 31.03.2018 at a gathering of friends. We were already thinking then that this idea could be turned into something of quality and a defining product. At that time we had no idea what we were going to do. We worked on the idea every day from the beginning of April until, after a month and a half or two months of experimentation, we created the flavour and got a strong, characterful, concentrated concentrate that we started tasting in our environment. These people liked the flavour and found it interesting. We further developed our drink and by July we had found the ingredients with the perfect proportions that the original recipe was based on.
In July 2018, we visited an accredited laboratory to have the drink tested. The results were favourable, which led us to conclude that it was a safe product that could be placed on the market. VID contains natural ingredients and, if stored in the right way (in a cool place out of the sun), it will ferment in the same way as wine.
From July to October 2018, we held tastings in Eger and Budapest, mainly for professionals, restaurant and bar owners. The feedback continued to be positive and reflected that we had created something new, which surprised even experienced professionals.
The aroma is slightly citrusy and coffee-like. Tasting the product, sweet, bitter and sour flavours meet at the same time.
On 28 November 2018, we conducted a consumer survey among 60 companies. At that time, 3 versions of the VID had already been born. The basic version, made with rosé wine, is called Twilight, the red version is called Nightfall and the white version is called Dawn. The event was also a public opinion poll to find out which of the 3 variants people liked best. The tasting went well and we finally got to see how completely lay people with different tastes relate to our product. “Really special and interesting” was how 99% of people described our product. We felt good that everything was sold out. It made us think that if so many people like the drink, it might be worthwhile to create a brand and a brand identity. We then started to wonder what carbonation would bring out of the flavour components? We tested it and were pleasantly surprised. The carbonation brought out the harmony between the flavours even more.
In 2018, we decided to start building the manufacturing plant. We had to manage on borrowed funds, which forced us to take cautious and prudent steps. Doing something that no one has done before is a difficult mission. We continued experimenting with the drink unabated back in December, when we introduced new flavours and processes in its preparation.
We are evolving
January also started with both of us working full-time to set up the plant. We had time to work after 8-9pm all week, including weekends.
The premises of the plant occupy about 100 square metres, the renovation of which and the purchase of start-up tools and equipment were also self-financed. In February and March, the workshop work was well underway, and we also started to work on the image. Around this time, we held a tasting in Buda at the Kóstolom wine bar, where we had a very good discussion with Zsolt Pintér and his staff.
Through a friend we were invited to Sheperd's Market Wine House in England for a tasting. At the same time we also introduced VID to an Argentinian steak house in Brigthon. The tastings went well and both places were open to our product. They indicated to us that as soon as we were ready for large-scale distribution they would be back to discuss future collaborations. During this time, we realised that when marketing abroad, the attitude of the population in the country to wine gastronomy must be taken into account. We came home with many useful experiences.
After that, the main project of the year was the continuation of the construction of the plant...
Positively
This year, in addition to the construction of the plant, equipment was ordered and installed in accordance with HACCP guidelines. As the pandemic has slowed down our work, we have postponed our official launch planned for 2021. Nevertheless, we took the situation positively, because we were able to perfect our process and prepare the ground for market launch in the time available. In the last month of the year, we bottled a few bottles of VID to observe how the drink behaves in the long term under the right conditions.
Entering the market
In the run-up to the official launch, we started to contact retailers who could help us get the drink to our target audience. The VID was present at the tasting level at the Budapest gourmet festival, where it received a positive response, and then made its debut in Káptalantóti at the Közért presszó, where it was also a success. We also went to events, festivals to gain experience and toured the country as customers. By the beginning of the summer we had put the finishing touches to the plant and everything was in place. We tried to invest more time in marketing on social media platforms.
The time we have waited four years for has come. Our idea went to market on August 1st 2022. On the day of the launch, we received an order - as it turned out, the producer of Among the Sharks - and were invited to the show, where we were happy to participate. We were proud of our product, and the process of producing and selling it began in earnest. We learnt the first steps of producing and selling drinks. We participated in the Instyle Pictured Oranges event, where our product was showcased as a cocktail base. At the end of the year, we were invited to a Halloween party, where we also found that the amount we had made sold out. This was the year where we debuted the draught version of VID. We closed the year 2022 with the filming, which was a milestone in VID's and our lives.
Experience
This year has brought unexpected turns, new knowledge and experiences. Although we did not get any investment in the Sharks, we did get positive reviews, which served as an additional motivation for us. This year we also participated in a couple of sporting events as eponymous and one of the main sponsors.
We took part in our first outings. The biggest festival of the year where we appeared was the Debrecen Wine and Jazz Festival. The weather was not kind, but the consumers welcomed VID positively. We started to get the installations we needed for our stands. We closed the year with production and events. A special form of mulled VID made its debut at Advent 2023 in Eger. This was a preparation for 2024, as we decided to go on a road show around the country and take the festival season by storm.
