Wine Sales Web Site and Amazon.com Announce Partnership

Daniel Sogg
Posted: April 18, 2000

WineShopper.com, the Northern California-based Internet wine sales start-up, today announced a partnership with Amazon.com, one of the leading retailers on the Internet.

At their San Francisco press conference, the partners revealed that last year Amazon purchased a 45 percent stake in WineShopper for $30 million. As part of the deal, Amazon will provide marketing services that have yet to be specified.

WineShopper launched its Web site for sales within California on April 10. The company hopes to make its service available to more than 70 percent of American consumers by the end of the year.

Both Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and WineShopper CEO Peter Sisson were on hand to make the partnership announcement.

"Amazon.com will help introduce its customers to the new shopping experience at WineShopper.com," Sisson explained.

WineShopper complies with existing alcoholic beverage laws by working exclusively through the "three-tier" distribution system of wineries, wholesalers and retailers. So far, more than 550 wineries and importers and 250 wholesalers in 45 states have joined the WineShopper system, Sisson said.

Wine Spectator is a content provider to WineShopper, which will include selected editorial material and access to Wine Spectator's extensive database of ratings and tasting notes.

Read more about Wineshopper.com: