WTN Services™/The Winetasting Network® and Sonoma Wine Company Join Forces to Offer Complete Services From “Vine to Dine”

NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WTN Services™/The Winetasting Network®, a division of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., and the wine industry leader in fulfillment and direct-to-consumer marketing services, has entered into an exclusive agreement with Sonoma Wine Company, California’s largest, full-service crush-to-bottle contract winery to offer cross platform services to their respective clients, providing the wine industry’s first resource for complete services from “vine to dine”. Clients of both companies will now have the ability to be supported through the entire winemaking process - from custom crushing and blending, bottling and labeling through storage, compliance, distribution and sales.

“We have enjoyed a very successful history of working together, and have decided to take it to the next level with this exclusive agreement”

“There is no one on our side of the equation that offers the portfolio of services that we do, from grape processing to case goods storage, which effectively helps to significantly reduce overall supply chain expenses,” stated Mark Castaldi, Director of Strategic Planning at Sonoma Wine Company. “Now that we have partnered with WTN Services, our customers can literally bring the grapes in the field right to their customers’ dining room tables. It’s quite exciting,” Castaldi added.

In addition, the consumer also benefits, as this partnership leverages two respective market leaders, bringing the consumer closer to the vine with an economic manufacturing and logistics flow that also tips its hat to environmental sensitivity.

WTN Services™/The Winetasting Network® has already been providing fulfillment services for many Sonoma Wine Company clients, and conversely, Sonoma Wine Company has been a valued resource for many of the brands WTN Services™ affiliates Winetasting.com and Geerlings & Wade produce, ensuring a smooth and efficient partnership process.

“We have enjoyed a very successful history of working together, and have decided to take it to the next level with this exclusive agreement,” stated Chris Edwards, Vice President and General Manager of WTN Services™/The Winetasting Network®. “Our clients will now have instant flexibility in the field, and we are looking forward to providing strategic, pro-active and innovative logistics, fulfillment and direct-to-consumer services to Sonoma Wine Company clients. It’s really a complete custom winery experience, providing medium and large tier wineries a comprehensive solution, with expert support each step of the way,” Edwards added.

About Sonoma Wine Company:

Sonoma Wine Company is a full-service crush-to-bottle contract winery partnering with wine producers from all over Northern California to crush, ferment, barrel, bottle and warehouse wine programs of all sizes. Every year we crush over 7,500 tons, bottle in excess of five million cases and barrel storage and services for over 65,000 barrels of wine for our clients both large and small all while using some of the most environmentally sustainable winemaking practices in the industry. With six modern facilities throughout Sonoma County (and now one in Napa County) we can accommodate nearly any program. With superior customer service and a wide array of equipment including state-of-the-art crush facilities, over two million gallons of stainless cooperage, six modern bottling lines, including alternative packaging, and warehousing and fulfillment services, we can tailor our facilities and highly experienced staff to match your program so you can spend the time connecting with your distributors, building your customer base and growing your brands. At Sonoma Wine Company we have tailored our business to match the size of almost any wine program from private label to large contract producers. Whether you’re producing 5000 cases or 500,000 cases, as your brand grows, we will always grow with you.

About WTN Services™/The Winetasting Network®:

WTN Services™/The Winetasting Network® are subsidiaries of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., the world’s leading florist and gift shop. For more than 30 years, 1-800-FLOWERS® (1-800-356-9377 or www.1800flowers.com) has been providing customers with fresh flowers and the finest selection of plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections, balloons and plush stuffed animals perfect for every occasion. As always, 100% satisfaction is guaranteed. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM’s Mobile Flower & Gift Center was named winner of the RIS (Retail Info Systems) 2010 Mobile App of the Year Award in the “Best Shopping” category. The Company was also recognized by Computerworld magazine as a Premier 100 IT Leader for 2010. The Company’s BloomNet® international floral wire service (www.mybloomnet.net) provides a broad range of quality products and value-added services designed to help professional florists grow their businesses profitably. The 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. “Gift Shop” also includes gourmet gifts such as popcorn and specialty treats from The Popcorn Factory® (1-800-541-2676 or www.thepopcornfactory.com); cookies and baked gifts from Cheryl&Co.® (1-800-443-8124 or www.cherylandco.com); premium chocolates and confections from Fannie May® confections brands (www.fanniemay.com and www.harrylondon.com); wine gifts from The Winetasting NetworkSM (www.winetasting.com) and Geerlings&WadeSM (www.geerwade.com); gift baskets from 1-800-BASKETS.COM® (www.1800baskets.com) as well as Celebrations® (www.celebrations.com), a new premier online destination for fabulous party ideas and planning tips. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is involved in a broad range of corporate social responsibility initiatives including continuous expansion and enhancement of its environmentally friendly “green” programs as well as various philanthropic and charitable efforts. Shares in 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, ticker symbol: FLWS.