Vivino faces £235,000 fine in Sweden

Vivino has been accused by Sweden’s Systembolaget of illegally selling wine.

The Vivino App’s new wine sale feature means that it is accused of breaking the monopoly Systembolaget operates in Sweden. Systembolaget claimed in a statement When Vivino sells alcoholic beverages to Swedish consumers through distance sales, it is operating a retail trade business in Sweden and consequently acting in violation of the law.

Vivino CEO Heini Zachariassen described the way they offer wine in a recent interview with the UK Wine Show, saying we want to build the biggest market place in wine...then take a marketing fee.

If the legal challenge is successful, Vivino may be made to remove the sales functionality from the app or withdraw from the Swedish market.