Wine Club pioneer Global Wine Company “decommissions” itself, sources say it has been acquired by a competitor.

Wine Club pioneer Global Wine Company “decommissions” itself, sources say it has been acquired by a competitor.
High-profile, wine expert-driven wine shipper,  Global Wine Club (GWC) of San Rafael has “decommissioned “itself and may have been acquired by a competitor.

 

The sale and “decommissioning” may have been hastened by increased competition in the direct-to-consumer market and by the New York State Liquor Authority’s aggressive campaign against direct shipments.

 

GWC failed to respond to Wine Industry Insight requests for comment and information.

 

Before “decommissioning,” GWC’s web site looked like this. But today, visitors to the company web site  are currently greeted with:

Company quietly went dark.

The company may have pulled the plug in June according to the LinkedIn account of Kristen Decker, Global Wine Co’s former president, which lists that as her final month with the company.

 

According to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), Decker was the CEO and Treasurer of Global Wine Company whose sole stockholder is the Peter T. Paul Living Trust.

 

Paul is the founder and chairman of Headlands Asset Management, a private investment firm located in San Rafael, CA.

 

Decker is also CFO of Headlands Asset. According to the Calif ABC, she also serves as the CFO of Paul’s winery, Peter Paul Wines.

 

Global Wine Company was founded in 2003 by Simon Littler. The company was a pioneer in the wine club fulfillment services area and had as a number of high-profile clients including Williams-Sonoma, New York Times, Food and Wine Magazine, Michael Chiarello’s Napastyle, Omaha Steaks and KQED.

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Also In This Article:

• In the best of times, NY Times launches wine club with GWC

• 2010: Sale  to Paul forced by inventory overage and intense competition

• Global Wine Co loses NY Times wine club when local partners quit

• 2016: Turn-around, didn’t turn far enough around, Paul reportedly sells to competitor

• Did NY liquor regulators push force GWC over the edge?

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