// Naked Wines launches $5m (£3.9m) support fund for winemakers disrupted by Covid-19
// Fund aims to help winemakers affected by the closure of restaurants, tasting rooms & retail stores
// Available to independent winemakers looking to sell their wines in Naked Wines USA, UK & Australia
Naked Wines has announced a new $5 million (£3.9 million) support fund to help winemakers disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The fund is available to independent winemakers all over the world who have been affected by the closure of restaurants, tasting rooms and traditional retail stores amid lockdowns.
To help this community of winemakers, Naked Wines is making the support fund immediately available to buy their wine.
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The online alcohol retailer also said it would give the winemakers access to its 500,000 Angel customers in the US, UK and Australia, and the chance of a permanent listing.
Naked Wines said the winemakers wanting to avail of the fund must meet the following criteria:
- Be an independent wine producer or winemaker
- Need to display a proven track record of quality
- Show evidence of Covid business impact
- Have cleared any importer/agent exclusivity arrangements
“I’m excited to announce the $5 million Naked Wines Covid Support Fund,” group chief executive Nick Devlin said.
“One of the many unfortunate fall-outs of the current pandemic is that small winemakers reliant on traditional channels are going to suffer.
“We’d like to invite the most talented of them a way out of this; and to our customers, access to unique and delicious wines we haven’t been able to get hold of before.”
Naked Wines global wine director Eamon FitzGerald said: “I’ve already heard from countless winemakers about the struggles ahead – given our unique platform and passionate customer base, it feels right to launch this initiative to help the industry.
“I’d encourage all independent winemakers looking for either long-term relationships or one-off cash deals to apply.
“Naked Wines offers talented winemakers a direct route to market, so you can spend your time making your wines taste delicious, rather than worrying about selling them.”
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