Vins & Passions
Vins & Passions is a Bordeaux-based B2B wine merchant founded in 2004 that distributes Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux, primeurs, and Petits Châteaux to professional wine importers and merchants across 82 international markets via direct field sales and trade fairs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersBordeaux, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Vins & Passions does
Vins & Passions is a Bordeaux-based B2B wine merchant founded in 2004 by Renaud Lecoq and Jacques Carteau, specializing in the distribution of Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux to professional buyers internationally. The company offers approximately 250 crus across 103 vintages (from 1920 to the most recent), 150 primeur allocations across all major châteaux, and a complementary selection of Petits Châteaux and Crus Bourgeois for value-oriented buyers. Underlying infrastructure includes a temperature- and humidity-controlled warehouse with capacity for over 600,000 bottles, supporting both trading operations and ancillary storage services for clients.
The company serves wine merchants, importers, and traders across 82 markets through a direct field sales model—8 traveling sales staff cover Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, supplemented by a strong presence at major wine trade fairs (VINEXPO, ProWine Shanghai/Hong Kong, Semaine des Primeurs). The firm is recognized among the top 10 most influential Bordeaux traders. Through its sister company Constance Fine Wines, Vins & Passions extends distribution to French estates and other prestigious world wine regions.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time B2B transactions on wine sales, with pricing in Euros on quote-based terms, 60-day net payment, and additional revenue from storage fees (1% of sale price after 60 days for uncollected inventory). The company is privately held by its founders with no disclosed external institutional investors, operates as a Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS) in France, and is headquartered at 5 rue Binaud, Bordeaux.
Vins & Passions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vins & Passions
- Legal name
- Vins & Passions
- Website
- https://vins-passions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vins & Passions is a Bordeaux-based B2B wine merchant founded in 2004 that distributes Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux, primeurs, and Petits Châteaux to professional wine importers and merchants across 82 international markets via direct field sales and trade fairs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vins & Passions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wine Distribution
- NAICS
- Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Premium, Rare & Collectible Alcohol Retail (Fine Wine/Spirits) (CRANAAAJ)
Keywords
Where Vins & Passions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bordeaux
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vins & Passions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Grand Crus Classés de Bordeaux Trading: Sale of Bordeaux Grand Crus wines from a ready-to-ship range of approximately 250 crus across more than 103 vintages (from 1920 to the most recent). One-time transaction-based revenue model.
- Primeurs (Wine Futures): Wine futures sales where customers pre-purchase wines before they are bottled. Includes 150 primeur allocations in all the Grands Châteaux. Customers pay in installments.
- Petits Châteaux Selection: Selection of estate wines and Crus Bourgeois with attractive quality-to-price ratio for international partners. One-time transaction sales.
- Wine Storage Services: Secure warehouse storage for Bordeaux wines with temperature and humidity control. Storage fees apply for uncollected wines after 60 calendar days (1% of sale price).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Professional B2B pricing for wine merchants and importers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Vins & Passions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vins & Passions is a Bordeaux-based wine merchant that distributes Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux wines, Petits Châteaux, and primeurs (wine futures) to professional buyers — wine merchants and importers — in 82 international markets. The company maintains a ready-to-ship inventory of approximately 250 wines across more than 103 vintages and 150 primeur allocations, complemented by secure temperature and humidity controlled warehouse storage.
Product overview
Vins & Passions operates as a single unified wine merchant offering, centered on Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux wines. The core product portfolio consists of approximately 250 wines across 103+ vintages (1920–present), supplemented by Petits Châteaux and Crus Bourgeois selections, and a primeur (wine futures) program. The company also offers secure, climate-controlled warehouse storage services as an ancillary offering. A sister brand, Constance Fine Wines, extends distribution capabilities to French estates and other world wine regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux Premium classified Bordeaux wines from prestigious châteaux, offering approximately 250 wines across more than 103 vintages from 1920 to the most recent, plus 150 primeur allocations from major estates. Targeted at professional wine merchants and importers in 82 international markets.
- Petits Châteaux Selection of smaller estate wines and Crus Bourgeois chosen for their quality-to-price ratio, aligned with Vins & Passions' philosophy for international partners serving broader market segments.
- Primeurs (Wine Futures) Early purchase program for upcoming Bordeaux vintages directly from the châteaux, allowing professional customers to secure 150 allocations across all Grands Châteaux before the wines are bottled, with installment-based payment terms.
- Warehouse Storage Services Temperature and humidity controlled storage facility with precise regulation and security systems ensuring optimal preservation of wines, offering capacity for over 600,000 bottles. Storage fees of 1% of sale price apply for wines not collected within 60 calendar days of notification.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reached top level of Bordeaux wine merchants in only 21 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Vins & Passions
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vins & Passions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Vins & Passions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Constance Fine WinescoreConstance Fine Wines is the sister company of Vins & Passions, specialized in distributing and representing Great Estates from France and the World's most beautiful wine regions. They share the same philosophy of excellence and partnership approach.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Vins & Passions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Corney & Barrow: Long-established UK fine-wine merchant with strong Bordeaux relationships and trade/customer distribution across multiple markets. Comparable in B2B Bordeaux specialization, en primeur offering, and breadth of vintage coverage.
- Zachys: US fine-wine auction house and merchant with active Bordeaux trading and storage operations. Comparable in B2B trading of premium Bordeaux and reliance on provenance/storage infrastructure.
- Justerini & Brooks: Diageo-owned fine-wine merchant focused on Bordeaux and Burgundy, supplying private clients and trade accounts globally. Directly comparable in en primeur program, vintage depth, and B2B distribution model.
- Berry Bros. & Rudd: Historic London wine merchant with deep Bordeaux sourcing and a global professional and private client base. Comparable in long-standing château relationships, en primeur program, and breadth of vintage coverage.
- Farr Vintners: US- and UK-based fine-wine merchant specializing in Bordeaux en primeur and back-vintages for trade and private clients. Closely comparable in B2B primeur model and professional buyer focus.
- Millésima: Leading French fine-wine merchant headquartered in Bordeaux with global B2B and consumer reach across Bordeaux Grands Crus, primeurs, and back-vintages. Directly comparable in product focus (Grand Crus Classés) and customer base (international wine merchants and importers).
- Bordeaux Index: UK-headquartered fine-wine merchant and trading platform specializing in Bordeaux en primeur and back-vintages for professional and collector buyers. Closely comparable in inventory breadth, primeur allocation strategy, and international B2B customer mix.
- Acker Merrall & Condit: US fine-wine auction house and merchant with significant Bordeaux trading activity across back-vintages and primeurs. Comparable in trading high-value Bordeaux to professional and collector buyers, with shared back-vintage inventory dynamics.
Others
- Wine-Searcher: Global wine price-comparison and marketplace platform enabling buyers to source Bordeaux directly from merchants and châteaux. Adjacent infrastructure provider that influences competitive dynamics in fine-wine distribution rather than directly competing for trade accounts.
Broad incumbents
- Sotheby's Wine: Global auction house with a dedicated wine division trading Bordeaux collectibles and rare vintages to high-net-worth and trade buyers. Overlaps in collectible back-vintage Bordeaux but operates at much larger scale and broader luxury scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vins & Passions social profiles
Digital presenceVins & Passions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vins & Passions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Vins & Passions subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Vins & Passions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vins & Passions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vins & Passions
What does Vins & Passions do?
Vins & Passions is a Bordeaux-based wine merchant that distributes Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux wines, Petits Châteaux, and primeurs (wine futures) to professional buyers — wine merchants and importers — in 82 international markets. The company maintains a ready-to-ship inventory of approximately 250 wines across more than 103 vintages and 150 primeur allocations, complemented by secure temperature and humidity controlled warehouse storage.
Is Vins & Passions a public or private company?
Vins & Passions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vins & Passions founded?
Vins & Passions was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vins & Passions based?
Vins & Passions is headquartered in Bordeaux, France, in the Europe region.
How does Vins & Passions make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Grand Crus Classés de Bordeaux Trading is the primary driver. The others are primeurs (Wine Futures), petits Châteaux Selection and wine Storage Services.
Who are Vins & Passions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Corney & Barrow, Zachys, Justerini & Brooks, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Farr Vintners, Millésima, Bordeaux Index and Acker Merrall & Condit. Wine-Searcher is listed as an others. Sotheby's Wine is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Vins & Passions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vins & Passions.
What industry is Vins & Passions in?
Vins & Passions's product category is Wine Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRANABAB, Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants), with a secondary code of CRANAAAJ, Premium, Rare & Collectible Alcohol Retail (Fine Wine/Spirits). Its NAICS code is 424820 and its SIC code is 5180.