Despite owning no taxis , Uber is the biggest public transportation company in the world . Likewise Airbnb , which despite being the largest provider of accommodation , doesn ’ t own any hotels .

Now , the sharing economy is spreading to the vineyards , and Naked Wines Managing Director , Greg Banbury , reveals how the Australian arm of the online startup he founded with eight others 10 years ago , including Richard Branson ’ s former right-hand man Rowan Gormley , is bridging the gap between its 45 winemakers and consumers in a unique business model .

“ We ’ ve got a very specific purpose – and that purpose is to revolutionise the wine industry ,” he says . “ One of the ways we describe Naked Wines is , ‘ it ’ s a dating agency for winemakers and wine drinkers ’ – we ’ re connecting someone who loves the product , our angels , with someone

118 June 2018