Wine Lovers Unite!
WinesPlus.com says it plans to launch a new component of its consumer Web site, a "winery consortium" or hub where online consumers have access to the Web sites of small wineries in the U.S. and abroad. The consortium will also provide a forum where boutique producers can reach a wide audience of Internet-savvy "oenophiles," or wine lovers. The consortium will go live in two weeks with an initial focus on Central Coast wineries.
The company will host wineries with no monthly charges and no setup fees, it says. It will function as a winery "incubator," providing access to its established Web site and real-time inventory.
Sante Fe Springs, Calif.-based WinesPlus.com claims to be the only wine e-tailer to hold a three-tiered license from the state of California that enables it to function as a retailer, distributor and importer. As a licensed importer, WinesPlus.com is able not only to host small-batch international producers, it also can import the wines themselves. Concurrently, the boutique wine makers who join the site get international exposure through the consortium link and through the company's partnership with an affiliate European site.
The company expects to have over 200 U.S. wineries signed up by the end of the year, followed by an expansion to South America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Each month, WinesPlus.com will showcase one member of the consortium with a map of its location, tasting room hours, reviews of its wines and other details.
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