🇮🇹🇬🇧 Unico: il tappo made in Italy che sta cambiando le regole nel servizio del vino
Nel mondo del vino,
tradizione e innovazione si incontrano raramente in modo così armonioso come
nel caso di Unico – Pour Different,
il tappo multifunzionale che sta cambiando il modo di vivere e servire il vino.
Progettato da Mauro Di Girolamo e Tommaso Marzolini, fondatori della
startup fiorentina Exceed Lab, Unico
combina tecnologia, sostenibilità e design per offrire un'esperienza unica.
Con funzioni avanzate
come il sistema brevettato Safety Stop,
che impedisce fuoriuscite accidentali, e la tecnologia di stampa 3D a
sinterizzazione laser selettiva, Unico ha già catturato l’attenzione degli
esperti di design e del pubblico. Il prodotto, 100% Made in Italy, è stato
selezionato dall’ADI Design Index 2024,
aprendo la strada al prestigioso Compasso
d’Oro 2026.
In questa intervista
esclusiva, abbiamo avuto il piacere di parlare con Mauro Di Girolamo, uno degli
ideatori di questo progetto. Ci ha raccontato come una semplice idea nata per
caso, tra una bottiglia di vino e una risata, si sia trasformata in un prodotto
capace di ridefinire gli standard del settore. Scopriamo insieme la storia, le
sfide e le ambizioni di Unico.
E c’è di più! Per tutti i lettori, Mauro ha riservato una
promozione esclusiva per avere subito questo tappo rivoluzionario. Scrivimi in privato per scoprire i dettagli
e approfittare dell’offerta!
1. Unico rappresenta una vera rivoluzione nel servizio del vino. Qual è stata l'ispirazione iniziale dietro l'idea di creare un tappo multifunzionale e tecnologicamente avanzato come questo?
2. Durante lo sviluppo di Unico, quali sono state le principali sfide tecniche che avete affrontato e come siete riusciti a superarle?
3. La tecnologia brevettata "Safety Stop" è uno degli aspetti più innovativi del prodotto. Puoi spiegarci come funziona e quali vantaggi offre rispetto ai tappi tradizionali?
4. Essendo interamente progettato e realizzato in Italia, Unico unisce innovazione e artigianalità. Come avete integrato la tecnologia di stampa 3D a sinterizzazione laser selettiva nel processo produttivo?
5. Il design italiano è riconosciuto a livello mondiale. Come descriveresti il ruolo del design nel successo di Unico, sia dal punto di vista funzionale che estetico?
6. Guardando al futuro, quali sono i vostri obiettivi per Unico, soprattutto con l'espansione negli Stati Uniti e l'eventuale partecipazione al Compasso d'Oro 2026?
In the world of wine, tradition and innovation rarely come together as harmoniously as they do with Unico – Pour Different, the multifunctional stopper that is transforming the way we enjoy and serve wine. Designed by Mauro Di Girolamo and Tommaso Marzolini, founders of the Florence-based startup Exceed Lab, Unico combines technology, sustainability, and design to offer a truly unique experience.
With advanced features such as the patented Safety Stop system, which prevents accidental spills, and 3D printing technology using selective laser sintering, Unico has already captured the attention of design experts and the public. This 100% Made in Italy product has been selected for the ADI Design Index 2024, paving the way for the prestigious Compasso d’Oro 2026.
In this exclusive interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Mauro Di Girolamo, one of the creators of this project. He shared how a simple idea, born by chance over a bottle of wine and a laugh, evolved into a product capable of redefining industry standards. Let’s discover the story, challenges, and ambitions behind Unico together.
And there’s more! For all readers, Mauro has reserved an exclusive promotion to get your hands on this revolutionary stopper right away. Send me a private message to learn more and take advantage of this special offer!
1. Unico represents a true revolution in wine service. What was the initial inspiration behind the idea of creating such a multifunctional and technologically advanced stopper?
Our idea came about almost by chance. Tommaso and I have been longtime friends and have always been passionate about technology and innovation. Countless times we’ve found ourselves brainstorming new ideas and crazy inventions, and Unico was no exception. One evening, sitting in a restaurant with good food and a bottle of wine—something we both adore—we began reflecting on the myriad tools associated with wine service.
We agreed that there were perhaps too many alternatives and that something was missing: a tool that could integrate them all in an elegant form. That’s when the idea of seriously working on it started to take shape. But something was still missing. We wanted to introduce something truly new.
While handling the bottle and imagining possible features, things literally got out of hand! The bottle tipped over, spilling wine across the table. What followed was a whirlwind of waiters trying to clean up, stained chairs and tables, and some inevitable laughter in the background. All eyes in the restaurant were on us.
That was the missing piece! A stopper that not only integrates the most common functions but also prevents accidents like ours while keeping the bottle open for proper aeration. The solution was right in front of us! From that moment, we embarked on a challenging journey of research and development, and after about a year and a half, Unico was born!
Unico might seem like a simple object—and that’s a good thing—but its internal geometry is incredibly complex. The challenge was “measuring out” every tenth of a millimeter! Incorporating five functions into a space as small as the neck of a bottle is a truly intricate exercise. Every detail is meticulously calibrated to ensure the wine flows smoothly and without gurgling, while air flows through the same channel as the wine.
In standard stoppers, wine and air are usually routed through separate channels. For Unico, they must organize themselves in just 10mm of space. Add to that the technological balance of the Safety Stop and the Easy Open function, which not only allows you to close and reopen Unico but also resets it if the Safety Stop is triggered. There are countless challenges I could tell you about!
From this perspective, 3D printing became an invaluable tool, enabling us to rapidly develop numerous prototypes to solve near-impossible challenges. Of course, without a lot of passion, experience, and determination, none of this would have been possible. Our “stubbornness” was key to achieving this milestone!
The Safety Stop is something that didn’t exist before Unico. It’s a perfect balance of magnetic interactions between its metallic components. During pouring, the bottle can be tilted at any angle without activating the system. However, if the bottle is knocked over, as when it tips on a table, that’s when the system kicks in!
The internal sphere moves from an unstable equilibrium position to a stable one. It detaches from the bottom of the stopper and instantly shoots up to the top, where it stays, preventing any wine from spilling. I know—it doesn’t sound simple, and it isn’t!
The advantage is that now the stopper does all the work! Traditional stoppers hold the contents, but they’re passive and require user attention. They only work if you insert them into the bottle! Unico completely revolutionizes the concept of a stopper. It’s the first “active” stopper ever created. You no longer have to worry—it does everything you need. You can leave the bottle open at the table to let the wine breathe, but if there’s an “incident,” Unico has you covered!
3D printing wasn’t just useful during the design and prototyping phase. We actually decided to use this production method for the final product. That’s how we manufacture it! For the curious, we’ve created a short video on our Instagram page showing how it’s done.
Typically, 3D printing isn’t a “recommended” choice because it comes with higher costs and requires significant post-production work. However, we wanted it to remain a distinctive feature of our product. Plus, due to its unique geometry, Unico cannot be reproduced using any other manufacturing method! It’s a blend of technology and craftsmanship, true to Italian tradition—and we’re proud of that.
Many people simplistically associate design with something that has a “strange shape.” Unfortunately, that’s not enough! Design is a creative and interdisciplinary process that combines aesthetics, functionality, and innovation to create objects, systems, spaces, or experiences that meet specific needs. It requires need analysis, creativity, aesthetics, sustainability, and technology.
Luciano Galimberti, president of the ADI Design Index, emphasized this during the presentation of the exhibition where Unico was showcased this year. The fact that leading experts in Italian and international design recognized these qualities in our product validates Unico’s design excellence.
This recognition has given us incredible momentum in promoting Unico, and we’re confident the journey toward the Compasso d’Oro 2026 will be full of exciting developments!
Our goal, in addition to giving Unico the exposure it deserves in Europe and overseas, is to make it a spearhead for developing new products we’re already envisioning. Being selected for the ADI Design Index as one of the best Italian design projects of 2024 was a recognition that solidified our confidence in this project and is pushing us to take further steps.
Winning the prestigious Compasso d’Oro in 2026 would be extraordinary for us! But for now, it’s not time to daydream—we’re keeping our feet on the ground and pushing forward!
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E non scordarti: Sii curioso e assaggia sempre qualcosa di nuovo 🍷
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