North Bay Business Journal

IBG gets $7 million funding round

NAPA — IBG, formerly Inertia Beverage Group, closed a $7 million round of additional funding to support soon-to-be launched enhancements to its wine direct-shipping services to consumers and trade accounts.

Warehouses in direct-shipping venture with Napa startup

PETALUMA and SANTA ROSA — Two competing wine casegoods warehouses in Sonoma County this spring plan to collaborate on a new direct-to-consumer shipping venture through a recently launched local provider of wine order fulfillment and regulatory compliance services.

Inertia names new CEO

NAPA — Wine direct-to-consumer and direct-to-trade conduit Inertia Beverage Group named Joseph Waechter as its new chief executive officer, effective March 4. Mr. Waechter is the former president and CEO of DHL Worldwide Express and worked most recently as managing director of California Pacific Capital.

2009 year of economy, energy

It was a year dominated by a struggling economy that touched virtually everyone.

Inertia lands $14 million in additional funding

NAPA — Wine direct-to-consumer and direct-to-trade conduit Inertia Beverage Group today said it obtained $14 million in capital from existing and new investors, named a new chairman of the board and expanded its customer base by 40 to 350 in the past three months.

Inertia says New Vine bankruptcy filing doesn’t involve operations

NAPA — The new owner of New Vine of Napa today said a bankruptcy filing by New Vine Inc. won’t affect operations of the large wine-order fulfillment provider.

Amazon drops move into wine sales

NORTH COAST — The Internet retail giant Amazon.com has dropped plans to sell wine.

“I can confirm Amazon will not be getting into the wine business,” said Tracy Ogden, a spokesman for the Seattle-based company. He declined to elaborate.

Inertia wins New Vine assets in $4.5M bid

SAN FRANCISCO – Napa-based wine e-commerce conduit Inertia Beverage Group acquired the assets of Napa-based wine order fulfillment provider New Vine Inc. for $4.5 million in a foreclosure auction sale here today.

Inertia Beverage launches direct-to-trade shipments

NAPA – Inertia Beverage Group reached a milestone this month toward its goal of simplifying the trade wine buying process to the point-and-click convenience U.S. consumers in many states have enjoyed in the past several years.

New Vine foreclosure auction delayed two weeks

NAPA – Inertia Beverage Group, a Napa-based wine order direct-to-consumer and direct-to-trade conduit, Monday evening announced it has rescheduled the bulk foreclosure sale of assets of wine-order-fulfillment provider New Vine Inc., originally scheduled to start Tuesday morning, to July 27 to allow registered and potential bidders more time to evaluate the items.

Wine: Napa printer acquires St. Helena firm; 3-liter ‘Mini-Barrel’ offered

Printing Services Napa Valley at the beginning of April acquired St. Helena commercial printer Albright Printing & Design from Tim Doran, whose family started it as Doran’s Printing, sold it in November 2002 and regained ownership recently. … Several new North Coast wineries and tasting rooms have opened or received a green light recently. … ***

In wine packaging news, 585 Wine Partners of Sonoma launched a 3-liter “Mini-Barrel” format for the Red Truck brand in Wal-Mart Stores’ Sam’s Club chain, with a wider retail rollout planned this year. … Andrews & Thornley Construction of Napa in mid-March started reconstruction on Napa Valley Vintners’ new headquarters in the former Jackse Winery in St. Helena. … The Academy of Wine Communications, a Napa-based trade group for wine marketing and publicity professionals, has new officials as the organization looks to expand membership beyond Napa and Sonoma counties and reach new-generation media such as blogs and social networks. … In wine shipping news, Inertia Beverage Group of Napa launched WineREvolution.com to allow restaurants and retailers in 12 states to purchase 60-plus brands not commonly distributed via traditional wholesalers. … Cork stopper distributor M.A. Silva Corks USA in Santa Rosa was certified by the Green Business Program Sonoma County, coordinated by the Sonoma County Economic Development Board and the Business Environmental Alliance. … Wine People items