THE WINETASTING NETWORK & CONSUMER DIRECT SOLUTIONS JOIN FORCES.

NEWLY MERGED ENTITY WILL SHIP MORE THAN 1,000,000 PACKAGES A YEAR DIRECTLY TO WINE CONSUMERS.

NAPA, CA (PRWEB) September 2, 2003 --- The Winetasting Network (formerly known as Winetasting.com), the leading direct marketing service provider to the California wine industry, today announced an agreement to merge with its largest distribution services competitor, Consumer Direct Solutions (CDS).    

While both the economy and the wine market are on a roller coaster, some wineries paying attention to the consumer-direct sales channel are thriving. And faced with challenges like oversupply, inventory backlog and price pressure, more and more wineries are making direct sales a priority.

The core of every winerys consumer-direct program is fulfillment. CDS provides that fulfillment and -- up until today -- has competed directly with the distribution services division of The Winetasting Network (WTN). The companies are next-door neighbors, who literally share a wall between their two warehouses. However, the benefits of merging go far beyond geographic convenience.

Both WTN and CDS are strong, successful and growing companies. Even so, CDS was in need of better technology, integrated systems and warehouse automation, while WTN needed to add more customer-focused leadership to manage its rapid growth. Because success in the distribution services business relies on economies of scale, both companies realized that consolidation was inevitable. A merger of the two strongest players made great sense.

Lesley Berglund, CEO of The Winetasting Network, said, The synergies between our two businesses are incredible. Steve and Rick Gant -- and their entire CDS team -- are well respected for their high level of customer service and winery satisfaction. We are best known for our systems, scale and integrated direct marketing solutions. Going forward, our collective winery partners will enjoy the best of both companies, with even higher service levels and more fully integrated technology solutions -- all at aggressively competitive prices."

Brothers Steve and Rick Gant, partners in CDS, will co-manage Winetastings expanded distribution services division -- now called WTN Fulfillment Solutions. Steve Gant said, We are very excited. We now offer our clients the technology solutions that they have been asking for. This merger is a match made in heaven." Rick Gant added, By combining forces, we have become the wine industrys singular choice for direct-to-consumer fulfillment."

Karen Roche, COO of the Winetasting Network, adds, At a million packages, we can take full advantage of our current technology investments and continue to add systems enhancements. This means we will be able to provide levels of service and capabilities not yet seen in the wine fulfillment industry."

About Consumer Direct Solutions
Steve and Rick Gant, along with their mother Sandy Koford Gant, founded CDS in 1998. They have successfully built their company through strong relationships between staff members and customers. Their personal and caring service assures wineries that they are the companys top priority. These strong family values have made CDS the industry leader in customer service.

About The Winetasting Network
Co-founded in 1991 by Lesley Berglund, WTN leverages its strong direct marketing and systems infrastructure through all of its divisions. For retail consumers, WTN offers the Ambrosia Catalogue of Fine Wine and Winetasting.com. For wineries, WTN provides both fulfillment and e-commerce services, and experienced consultation to help wineries grow their own consumer-direct sales programs.

For more information please contact: Lesley Berglund at (707) 265-1501 or lberglund@winetasting.com