Soon, wines to be available on Amazon

Amazon Inc embraces online wine sales

Amazon plans to sell wine directly to the consumers through an online marketplace stated representatives for various California wineries.

Amazon had stopped its wine sales and shipping when its partner New Vine Logistics had slipped into financial difficulties and had halted operations, in 2009.

Amazon wine marketplace

Its foray into online marketing in the coming weeks will help Amazon guard itself from the difficulty and cost of transporting the delicate glass bottles by ship and handing over the responsibility directly to the vineyards.

A workshop had been hosted by the Amazon authorities in a resort at Napa, California, and comprised of members of Napa Valley Vintners association accounting to nearly 100 wineries, confirmed Terry Hall a spokesperson of the group.

The details of the online marketplace were revealed and the online retailing giant is said to charge a 15% commission of the sale price, from the wineries. They will also be charged a fee of about $40 every month.

Opinions on Online wine sales

Online sales of wine is a tricky business because rules regarding wine sales differ from state-to–state and the wine needs to be delivered to a recipient who is within legal limits of age that is 21 years.

"I am intrigued by [the program]. It's attractive, from a financial perspective,” stated Paul Leary, president of Bespoke Collection from Napa who dispatch their wine by the Blackbird and Recuerdo labels. He did show an interest to sell his wines through Amazon.

Debi Cali, general manager of Baldacci Family Vineyards, in Napa said "We aren't licensed to sell in Massachusetts, for example, so someone interested in our wine wouldn't be able to get it shipped there, but in North Dakota they could get it," She feared online selling of wine could be confusing for the customer.

Wine.Com an online wine seller affirms less than 1% of the total sales of U.S wines are due to online sales.