How an AI Sommelier Drove Wine Sales and Foot Traffic for Valentine's Day
The Challenge
Foley Wines and Mariano's wanted to create a differentiated Valentine's Day campaign that would drive both online pre-purchase and in-store foot traffic across Mariano's Chicago-area locations. The goal: make wine selection less intimidating, more personalized, and tied to a compelling seasonal hook — chocolate pairings.
The Solution
Working with Drink Agents, Fig1.ai designed and built a multi-channel AI experience:
AI Sommelier Pairing Finder
An interactive conversational experience where customers describe their taste preferences and receive personalized Foley wine + Lindt chocolate pairing recommendations.
Virtual Tasting Experience
A guided, AI-led virtual chocolate and wine tasting accessible from the campaign landing page.
Campaign Landing Page
A dedicated Drink Agents experience page housing the pairing finder, tasting experience, and purchase pathways.
In-Store QR Integration
The Fig1 pairing agent was activated via QR codes on Mariano's endcap displays, connecting the physical shopping experience directly to the AI sommelier.
Digital Campaign
Targeted digital advertising across the Chicago metro area driving awareness, pre-purchase, and store visits.
The Results
The pairing agent drove a 138% lift over base trend, with a 377% surge over Valentine's weekend, and contributed $42K in scanned retail sales during Period 1.
Why It Matters
This campaign demonstrates how AI can bridge the gap between online discovery and in-store purchase. Rather than replacing the human shopping experience, the AI sommelier enhanced it — giving customers confidence in their choices and a reason to visit the store. It's a model for how brands can use AI not as a gimmick, but as a genuine value-add for their customers.
AI Experiences That Live Anywhere
Fig.1 Engagement Agents can be deployed across nearly any customer touchpoint: Instagram link-in-bio, retailer websites, brand microsites, digital ads, QR codes, POS displays, trade events, and email or SMS campaigns. One build becomes a multi-purpose asset across the full marketing ecosystem.
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