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Vinotemp

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Vinotemp International
Vinotemp
Company typePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1985
FounderFrancis Ravel
Headquarters732 S Racetrack Rd, ,
Number of locations
25 (2024)
Areas served
Key people
India Hynes (CEO)
ProductsWine storage, cooling systems
Brands
  • Apex
  • Brama
  • Cellartec
  • Element
  • Epicurianist
  • Sonoma Wine Hardware
  • Vinotemp
  • Wine-mate
Number of employees
100 (2017)
Websitevinotemp.com

Vinotemp International is a manufacturer of wine storage units. It manufactures and distributes wine cabinets, racking, cooling systems, and wine cellars.[1]

History

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Vinotemp was founded in 1985 in Los Angeles, California by Francis Ravel. Ravel initially produced and sold wine before transitioning into making wine cabinets.[citation needed] In 1993, Ravel created a self-contained wine cooling unit, which would come to be one of the companies most lucrative products.[2]

In 2005 India Ravel-Hynes became CEO of Vinotemp. Hynes developed patents for the design and function of different wine storage products.[citation needed]

While the products were manufactured in Los Angeles, Vinotemp opened an office in Irvine, California, in 2011, to allow for an administrative expansion of accounting as well as design and marketing.[3] In 2013, the company faced criticism after it was revealed that they included a clause in their Terms of Service penalizing customers for negative reviews.[4] This clause no longer appears in the company's Terms of Service after such practices were outlawed under the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016.

In 2016, Vinotemp was ranked #44 in Orange County Business Journal's list of top women-owned businesses in Orange County.[5] The company moved its headquarters to Henderson, Nevada in 2019.

Currently, Vinotemp manufacturers its wood cabinets in the U.S. and its metal coolers are made in Europe and China.[6][7]

Brands

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Vinotemp currently owns the brands Epicureanist,[8] Element,[9] Wine-Mate,[10] Cellartec, Apex (a high-end wine rack manufacturer that Vinotemp purchased in 2010),[11] and Sonoma Wine Hardware.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "CELLAR SPLENDOR \ CLIMATE-CONTROLLED WINE ROOMS THE LATEST TREND.(At Home)". The Cincinnati Post. 3 July 2004. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  2. ^ "UL Online Certifications Directory". UL. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  3. ^ Casacchia, Chris (2 November 2017). "Maker of Wine Cabinets, Coolers Moves to Irvine". Orange County Business Journal. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  4. ^ http://scotchtape.ductwhisky.com/2013/12/vinotemp-imposes-horrible-anti-consumer.html
  5. ^ "Women-Owned Businesses" (PDF). Orange County Business Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  6. ^ McCarthy, Bonnie. "Disappearing walls and trophy tubs: Nine notable innovations for a modern home". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  7. ^ Krepshaw, Brian. "Vinotemp wine and beverage fridge does it with mirrors". CNET. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  8. ^ Krepshaw, Brian. "Your cocktail is a button-push away". CNET. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Vinotemp Brings Out New Dual-Zone Wine Storage Coolers". Health & Beauty Close-Up. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  10. ^ Hodgins, Paul (3 October 2017). "Orange County's Vinotemp is expanding, looking for workers". Orange County Register. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Vinotemp International Acquires the Assets of Seattle-Based Wine Storage Giant to Create a New Company: Apex Wine Cellars and Saunas" (Press release). Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  12. ^ Grocott, Jeff (19 August 2005). "The Not-So-Big Chill". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 21 November 2017.