Wine Balloon was founded and is owned by Eric Corti, who invented the wine preservation device after noticing how much wine he and his wife were wasting to oxidation once a bottle was opened. The product uses a medical-grade balloon inserted into the bottle and inflated with a special pump, creating an airtight seal that keeps wine fresh longer.
After appearing on Shark Tank, Corti eventually rebranded the company from Wine Balloon to Air Cork. Under that new name, the business found real commercial traction, generating an estimated $7 million in annual revenue by 2023 — a strong result for a product that started as a solution to one household’s wine-waste problem.
Quick Facts
| Original Brand | Wine Balloon |
|---|---|
| Current Brand Name | Air Cork |
| Founder & Owner | Eric Corti |
| Product | Wine preservation device (inflatable medical-grade balloon seal) |
| 2023 Annual Revenue | ~$7 million |
| Notable Exposure | Shark Tank |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| Pre-launch | Eric Corti develops the wine-preservation concept after experiencing wine waste from oxidation at home |
| Season 3 | Wine Balloon appears on Shark Tank, gaining national exposure |
| Post-Shark Tank | Corti rebrands the company from Wine Balloon to Air Cork |
| 2023 | Air Cork reaches approximately $7 million in annual revenue |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Eric Corti has remained the driving force and owner behind the product through both its original Wine Balloon branding and its later Air Cork rebrand.
- The company’s growth to roughly $7 million in annual revenue by 2023 reflects one of the more successful post-Shark-Tank commercial trajectories among home-goods products featured on the show.
- The rebrand from “Wine Balloon” to “Air Cork” suggests a deliberate positioning shift toward a name that more directly signals the product’s function as a wine-preservation seal.
FAQ
Who owns Wine Balloon?
Eric Corti, the product’s inventor, owns the company — now rebranded as Air Cork.
Is Wine Balloon still called that?
No. The company rebranded to Air Cork after its Shark Tank appearance.
