Ultra-Premium Vintner Genius Wines In Chapt 7 Liquidation, Online Auction Set

Note: This is part 1 of a 2-part series.

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The bankruptcy of a high-end, yet never-profitable boutique Sonoma County vintner has left behind a trail of lawsuits, broken relationships, anger and frustration among a once-tight group of Canadian citizens, one of whom remains the owner of a prized, ultra-premium Chalk Hill AVA vineyard near Healdsburg.

The winegrower, Genius Wines of Windsor, has filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy liquidation. The action follows three years of declining income, a personal bankruptcy by its owner  and the loss by its Canadian owner of a legal battle in the province of Alberta which is currently in a U.S. court for enforcement.

An auction of all its bottled wine has been scheduled for August 25 but still requires final court approval. A court filing has stated  that more than 2,600 gallons of bulk wine has “inconsequential value.”

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Also In This Article:

The full text of the following sections is available to premium subscribers of Wine Executive News.

• Winery insolvent despite initial financial appearances

• Bulk wine value “inconsequential”– Trustee

• Hearing scheduled to approve auction

• Only asset of value — bottled wine — to be sold at auction

• Most of wine to be auctioned is lower-priced white wine

• Full court documents available for Wine Executive News Premium Subscribers.

  • Initial Chapter 7 Petition (includes financials, creditors and more)
  • Amended Statement Of Financial Affairs (updated petition section)
  • Motion To Sell Wine Inventory Free And Clear Of Liens
  • Motion To Abandon Bulk Wine Inventory

 Next in this 2-part series: How did the Genius Wine train wreck happen?

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