From Vineyard to Underwriting: Insights from InsTech’s Tech Decanter Wine Tasting

This week, we had the pleasure of joining the InsTech community once again for the Tech Decanter Wine Tasting at Norton Rose Fulbright in London, an evening where insurance innovation meets the craft of winemaking. 

This year was particularly meaningful for us: it marked the second year in a row that inari proudly sponsored the event, continuing our commitment to supporting the conversations, connections and forward-thinking ideas that shape the future of insurance. 

And thanks to our colleague Pablo, who represented both inari and his family’s historic winery, Bodegas Ayuso, this year’s session offered a unique perspective on how two seemingly distant worlds, underwriting and winemaking, have more in common than might appear. 

The Art of Winemaking and the Craft of Underwriting 

Great wine doesn’t happen by accident. 
Neither does great underwriting. 

Both rely on structure, intuition, technology and time. In fact, the process from grape to bottle mirrors the way a submission becomes a policy: 

1. Cultivation → Submission Intake 

A winemaker begins by understanding terroir, soil and grape variety. 
Underwriters begin with clean, high-quality data. 
Kitsune’s ingestion and AI-powered triage ensure every submission starts on the right foot. 

2. Fermentation → Underwriting Workflow 

Raw grapes only reveal their true character through controlled transformation. 
The same thing with risk submission. Kitsune supports underwriters’ decision-making with structured workflows, automated risk assessment, and process orchestration from quote to bind. 

3. Aging → Post-Bind Management 

Wine matures over months or years; policies evolve across their lifecycle. 
Endorsements, renewals, bordereaux and reporting all sit in one place within our API-first workbench. 

4. Craft + Technology 

Even the greatest wineries embrace modern tools, not to replace the winemaker’s craft, but to free up time for what truly matters: refining flavour, perfecting technique… and, naturally, enjoying the occasional glass. 

In underwriting, the same applies. 

By automating manual steps, reducing rework and lowering operational risk, Kitsune gives underwriters the freedom to focus on what they do best: assessing risk, building relationships, and making confident decisions, all faster and with less risk. Because with the right technology, you spend less time wrestling with spreadsheets… and more time celebrating the good things, whether that’s a great placement or a great vintage wine. 

Bringing Two Traditions Together 

As returning sponsors, we were excited to once again share four wines from Bodegas Ayuso, from the bright Azares Chardonnay to the iconic Estola Selección Tempranillo. Alongside our fellow sponsors EY, Concirrus, Coherent and PKF Littlejohn, the evening’s selection showcased winemaking regions and techniques that deserve wider recognition. 

But more than a tasting, the event served as a reminder of what drives both winemakers and underwriters: the pursuit of excellence, consistency, and innovation. 

A Toast to the InsTech Community 

Thank you to InsTech for hosting another outstanding edition of the Tech Decanter, and to Norton Rose Fulbright for your generous hospitality. 

Whether conversations centred on underwriting, technology, or the stories behind each bottle, we loved reconnecting with the community, and we’re proud to continue supporting this event year after year. 

Here’s to collaboration, innovation, and many more vintages ahead.