WTN Services™ Expands Distribution of South African Wines Through Partnership with Heritage Link Brands

NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WTN Services™ has enhanced its agreement with Heritage Link Brands to feature its portfolio of fine wines through its Winetasting Network®, www.winetasting.com, and Geerlings and Wade, www.geerwade.com, consumer direct sales channels, as well as its soon-to-launch WineTradeDirect™ programs.

Heritage Link Brands is the preeminent importer and distributor of wine from the African continent and its Diaspora. It is the largest company in the United States dedicated to importing and distributing wine produced by indigenous African vintners and people of African descent throughout the world.

Selena Cuffe, President and CEO of Heritage Link Brands, LLC, says, "We were inspired to found Heritage Link Brands after learning at the Soweto Wine Festival that black producers are grossly underrepresented within the wine industry in both South Africa and the rest of the world. Today, we import African wine internationally to those who value positive and fit living, and care about how the products they consume are produced. Our consumers recognize the health benefits of moderate wine consumption and strive for happiness and balance in their lives."

Chris Edwards, Vice President & General Manager, WTN Services™, states, "Our relationship with Heritage Link Brands and Selena has been quite successful at providing high quality wines from this important region to our customers. We are particularly happy to offer the wonderful Seven Sisters brand and help inform the general public of the important work being done by these dedicated individuals."

Seven Sisters is a collection of seven wines created by the seven Brutus sisters from Paternoster, on the western coast of South Africa. Originally banished from their homes during apartheid, the sisters returned to their homeland 20 years later to establish a fine wine program that excels today. The wines, carefully selected to match the styles and personalities of each sister, celebrate their bond and devotion to one another, their deep-rooted affection for their homeland and their quest for human dignity and determination in the face of hardship.

The Seven Sisters enterprise is a monumental accomplishment for the women considering that less than two percent of the $3 billion South African wine industry is owned by blacks, even though they comprise 80 percent of the country’s population and their cheap labor was the engine that propelled the industry’s growth during apartheid.

Vivian Kleynhans of Seven Sisters, says, "To us, the wine business is more than an opportunity to make a living. It is also an opportunity to reclaim precious times lost. Although emerging black wine businesses in South Africa still have a long way to go, partnerships like ours are helping to turn the page on apartheid’s painful legacy, while bringing American wine lovers award-winning wines of top quality."

Each of the Seven Sisters wines is paired to a sister's personality and named for her: Yolanda - Chenin Blanc ($12.99); Odelia - Bukettraube, similar to muscat ($12.99); Twena - Rosé ($12.99); Vivian - Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99); Dawn - Pinotage / Shiraz ($14.99); June - Merlot ($14.99); Carol - Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99).

The Seven Sisters "Vivian" is the first South African wine to be selected by American Airlines for premium class service worldwide, while the Seven Sisters “Odelia” is featured on the wine list at Oprah Winfrey's private chef's restaurant, Table 52, in Chicago.

The wines may be ordered through Wine Tasting Network at www.winetasting.com or Geerlings and Wade at www.geerwade.com.

More information on Heritage Link Brands may be found at www.heritagelinkbrands.com and more information on Seven Sisters is located at http://sevensisters.co.za/.

About: WTN Services™ www.wtnservices.com and the Winetasting Network® a division of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. WTN Services™, Ambrosiawine.com®, www.ambrosiawine.com Geerlings and Wade® www.geerwade.com and the Winetasting Network® www.winetasting.com are the wine services and wine marketing companies of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc “Gift Shop”. The 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. "Gift Shop" also includes gourmet gifts such as popcorn and specialty treats from The Popcorn Factory(R) (1-800-541-2676 or www.thepopcornfactory.com); exceptional cookies and baked gifts from Cheryl&Co.(R) (1-800-443-8124 or www.cherylandco.com); premium chocolates and confections from Fannie May Confections Brands(R) (www.fanniemay.com and www.harrylondon.com); gourmet foods from Greatfood.com(R) (www.greatfood.com); wine gifts from Ambrosia(R) (www.ambrosia.com); gift baskets from 1-800-BASKETS.COM(R) (www.1800baskets.com) and DesignPac(R) as well as Home Decor and Children's Gifts from Plow & Hearth(R) (1-800-627-1712 or www.plowandhearth.com), Wind & Weather(R) (www.windandweather.com), HearthSong(R) (www.hearthsong.com) and Magic Cabin(R) (www.magiccabin.com).

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