Buying wine is no longer limited to local stores. People now use apps like Vivino to scan wine labels, read reviews, compare prices, and buy directly online. Vivino has changed how wine lovers choose and shop for wine—and it’s a model many want to follow.

If you’re thinking of creating your wine marketplace, this guide will help you. We’ll explain how Vivino works, what features your platform needs, what tools to use, how to handle payments and legal rules, and how much it might cost to build.

Let’s start by understanding what makes Vivino such a trusted wine platform.

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What Makes Vivino a Standout Wine Marketplace?

Vivino is one of the most popular wine apps in the world. It helps people find the right wine by using their phone to scan a label. After the scan, users see ratings, reviews, prices, and even where to buy the wine.

Here’s what makes Vivino special:

  • Wine Label Scanner: Just take a photo of the wine label, and the app shows all the details instantly.
  • User Reviews and Ratings: People can read real feedback from other buyers, which helps them decide what to buy.
  • Wide Wine Listings: Vivino lists wines from many sellers, so users can compare and choose the one that suits their taste and budget.
  • Personal Suggestions: The app shows wines based on a user’s past ratings and likes.
  • Mobile and Web Access: Users can access Vivino from their phones or desktops easily.

These features make the buying experience smooth and helpful. If you’re planning to build a similar platform, these are the features you should aim to include.

Core Features to Include in a Vivino-Style Wine Marketplace

Core Features to Include in a Vivino-Style Wine Marketplace

If you want your wine marketplace to work well, it must be easy to use for both buyers and sellers. Below are the key features your platform should include.

For Buyers

  • Search and Filters: Let users search wines by type, region, grape, price, or year.
  • Label Scanner: Users can take a photo of a wine label to get instant details.
  • Ratings and Reviews: Add a system where users can share their feedback and rate wines.
  • Suggestions Based on Taste: Show wine recommendations based on what they’ve liked or rated before.
  • User Profiles: Allow users to save favorite wines, track orders, and manage their details.

For Sellers

  • Seller Dashboard: A place where wine vendors can add products, check orders, and see sales reports.
  • Stock Management: Let sellers update stock, prices, and availability.
  • Shipping Settings: Add shipping zones, delivery charges, and expected timelines.
  • Sales Reports: Help sellers track income, orders, and product performance.

For Admin (You)

  • Approve or Reject Vendors: Control who can sell on your platform.
  • Set Commissions or Fees: Decide how much the platform earns from each sale.
  • Tax and Legal Settings: Add regional taxes and age-check rules.
  • Content Tools: Add banners, blogs, and help pages to guide users.

Want to Launch a Wine App That Works Like Vivino?

We build powerful wine marketplaces with label scanners, reviews, and seller tools.

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Smart Tools That Can Set Your Platform Apart

These features help your wine marketplace run smoothly and grow with more users over time.

To stand out from regular wine stores, your marketplace should offer extra tools that help users make better decisions. These small additions can make a big difference.

Wine Label Scanner

Let users take a photo of any wine bottle to see reviews, ratings, and prices instantly—just like Vivino. You can add this using image recognition tools like Google Vision or AWS Rekognition.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Help users match wines with food. For example, suggest red wine with steak or white wine with fish. This makes the buying process easier and more useful.

AI-Powered Recommendations

Show users wines they might like based on their past orders or ratings. This keeps them engaged and helps increase sales.

Location-Based Listings

Display products available in the user’s region only. This avoids delivery issues and improves the user experience.

Wine Quiz (Optional)

Add a fun quiz to learn about the user’s taste, then suggest wines based on the result. This adds a personal touch.

These tools can turn your marketplace into a go-to platform for wine lovers.

How Vivino Operates and What Can be Implemented?

How Vivino Operates and What Can be Implemented?

Before building your online wine store, it’s important to decide how your marketplace will earn money. Vivino uses a mix of models that you can also follow or modify based on your goals.

Commission on Sales

Vivino earns a small percentage each time someone buys wine through the app. You can apply this by setting a commission rate for each seller on your platform.

Paid Promotions

Sellers can pay to feature their wines in top search results or homepage banners. This gives them more visibility and gives you an extra source of income.

Affiliate Partnerships

Vivino also redirects users to partner stores and earns money from referrals. If you don’t want to handle orders directly, you can start with this model.

Data Insights (Advanced Option)

With a large user base, you can also offer wine trend reports and feedback to wineries. This is optional and useful once your platform grows.

👉 Tip: You don’t have to use all these at once. Start simple—with commissions or subscriptions—and expand later as your platform grows.

Must Read: Best Shopify Themes For Wine Retailers

Scanner Integration: What Powers Vivino’s Wine ID System

One of the best things about Vivino is its wine label scanner. Users just take a photo of any wine bottle, and the app shows all the details—like name, ratings, reviews, and price.

If you want to add a similar feature to your platform, here’s what you need to know:

How It Works

  • The user opens the scanner in the app
  • They point the camera at a wine label
  • The system matches the image with a wine in the database
  • It shows wine details, reviews, and buying options

Tools You Can Use

You don’t need to build it from scratch. You can use ready tools like:

  • Google Vision API
  • Amazon Rekognition
  • Custom-trained image models (if you have wine data)

You’ll also need a large and clean wine image database. Start with the most popular wines first, then grow the list over time.

Why It Helps

  • Makes your app interactive and fun
  • Helps users find a wine even if they don’t remember its name
  • Saves time and improves the shopping experience

Payment and Checkout Systems You’ll Need

A smooth checkout experience is key to running a successful wine marketplace. If users can’t pay easily or face errors, they may leave your site.

Here’s what you should include:

Payment Options

  • Credit and Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
  • UPI and Wallets (Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal)
  • Buy Now, Pay Later (Optional, for certain regions)
  • Multi-currency Support if you’re selling in more than one country

Tax Settings

  • Add country or state-based tax rates
  • Show tax clearly during checkout
  • Make sure wine tax laws are followed for each region

Age Verification

Selling alcohol online requires age checks. Add:

  • A pop-up asking for the date of birth
  • An ID upload (if required in your region)
  • A checkbox to confirm the user is over the legal drinking age

Checkout Features

  • Add-to-cart and direct-buy options
  • Delivery address and PIN code check
  • Order summary with total cost
  • Email or SMS confirmation after purchase
  • Easy refund or return policy (if allowed for your region)

A fast and secure payment setup builds trust and helps users complete their orders without hassle.

Legal Setup: What Vivino Got Right with Alcohol Compliance

Selling wine online comes with rules. Vivino follows them well, and your platform should too.

Key Legal Points:

  • Age Check: Ask users to confirm their age before they can order.
  • Licensing: Only allow sellers who have a valid alcohol license.
  • Region Rules: Some states or countries don’t allow alcohol delivery. Set up delivery zones.
  • Clear Terms: Show disclaimers, return rules, and delivery timelines on product pages.

👉 Tip: Always consult a local legal expert before going live.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Wine Marketplace Like Vivino?

The cost of building a wine marketplace depends on features, platform type (web or app), design needs, and development time. Here’s a rough estimate to help you plan:

Feature/ModuleEstimated Cost (USD)
UI/UX Design$2,000 – $4,000
Web Development (Frontend + Backend)$7,000 – $12,000
Mobile App (Android & iOS)$6,000 – $10,000
Scanner Integration$2,000 – $4,000
Admin Dashboard$2,000 – $5,000
Seller Panel Setup$1,500 – $3,000
Payment & Tax Integration$1,000 – $2,500
Age Verification + Legal Tools$800 – $2,000
Testing & Launch$1,000 – $2,000
Total Estimated Range$22,000 – $44,500+

So, if you’re planning to build a wine marketplace like Vivino with core features, mobile app support, scanner integration, and admin tools, the total development cost may range between $22,000 – $45,000.

This amount can go higher if you add custom AI features, advanced logistics tools, or plan for a multi-country launch. If you’re starting small, you can build a basic version first and expand it later.

Build Your Own Wine Marketplace with CartCoders

At CartCoders, we help you create full-featured wine marketplaces—just like Vivino. Whether you want to support multiple sellers, add a label scanner, or build a mobile-friendly wine store, our team can make it happen.

What We Offer:

  • Custom web and mobile development
  • Scanner and rating system integration
  • Seller and admin dashboard setup
  • Payment, tax, and legal configuration
  • Fast, secure, and scalable code

We don’t sell pre-made templates—we build your wine marketplace the way you want it.

👉 Ready to get started? Get a Free Quote

Final Thoughts

Building a wine marketplace like Vivino may sound complex, but with the right plan, it’s fully possible. Focus on the features that matter most—like product search, reviews, scanner tools, seller dashboards, and smooth payments.

Add legal checks to stay compliant, and design your platform to be easy for both sellers and buyers.

Vivino’s success shows there’s a strong demand for wine discovery and buying in one place. With your platform, you can tap into that same audience and offer something unique.If you want expert help with planning, design, or development, contact CartCoders.

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