The verdict in three sentences
A 150-grower Bordeaux cooperative that sells 60 % of its volume abroad, in bulk and under its own brands, needs a site built for trade buyers in London, New York and Singapore: technical sheets per wine in 4 languages, an importer portal with FOB prices and sample requests. Agencies serving the wine trade quote 9,000 to 22,000 GBP in London or 12,000 to 30,000 USD in New York for this scope, over 6 to 9 weeks. The Kolonell grid covers the website at 1,220 to 5,340 EUR, and the secure importer portal is a simple application at 3,810 to 6,100 EUR.
What an importer checks before asking for samples
A buyer for a London merchant, a New York importer working under the three-tier system or a Singapore distributor supplying hotels receives Bordeaux offers every week. They sort them in minutes, often on the producer's website. They look for complete, downloadable technical sheets, indicative pricing or at least a clear range logic, formats and logistics, and proof that the producer can ship the promised volumes reliably.
The technical sheet is the centrepiece. It should exist for every wine, as a PDF and a web page, in the languages of the target markets.
| Technical sheet item | Expected detail | Use for the buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Appellation and blend | AOC, grape varieties in %, vine age, soils | shelf positioning |
| Winemaking and ageing | tank, barrel, months | sales story for their network |
| Analysis | alcohol, residual sugar, total acidity, SO2 | import compliance, US label approval |
| Awards and scores | competitions, critic scores, vintage | price justification |
| Formats and logistics | 75 cl, magnum, bag in box, 6-bottle cases, bottles per pallet | landed cost calculation |
| Availability | volumes by vintage, bulk or bottled | purchase planning |
For these three markets, English carries most of the work. Mandarin helps for Singapore and Greater China, and a French version stays useful for the cooperative's own network. The number of languages is set in the quote according to each market's share of volume.
The importer portal: FOB prices and samples
FOB prices are not published openly: they vary by volume, market and exclusive distribution agreement. A login-protected portal lets each approved buyer see their own price list, export documents and order history without ten email exchanges.
| Portal function | Content | Gain for the export team |
|---|---|---|
| FOB price list | price per wine, by volume tier, by market | no more spreadsheets by email |
| Export documents | analysis and origin certificates, logistics sheets | instant answers for customs and US COLA files |
| Sample requests | wine selection, address, courier | 2 to 3 days saved per request |
| Visuals and assets | bottle shots, labels, copy for distributors | distributor autonomy |
| Access by market | content filtered by country or exclusivity | respects distribution deals |
Regulation follows the publisher. A site published from France remains subject to the Loi Evin, even when aimed at trade buyers: content must stay factual, focused on origin, composition and wine characteristics, with an age gate and health notice. Importers' own sites follow local rules, such as the TTB framework in the US.
Budget compared: London or New York agency, freelancer, Kolonell grid
Market figures below are 2026 estimates.
| Criterion | Freelancer | Wine trade agency, London or New York | Kolonell grid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multilingual website | 3,500 to 8,000 GBP or USD | 9,000 to 22,000 GBP / 12,000 to 30,000 USD | 1,220 to 5,340 EUR by tier |
| Secure importer portal | rarely offered | 6,000 to 15,000 GBP or USD extra | simple application 3,810 to 6,100 EUR |
| Technical sheets per wine | simple template | template and PDF layout | web and PDF generated from one template |
| Languages | 1 to 2 | 3 to 5 | quoted on request |
| Timeline | 4 to 6 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks | 6 to 9 weeks |
| Monthly maintenance | ad hoc | 250 to 700 GBP or USD | 53 / 114 / 183 EUR |
Translation weighs heavily: 40 technical sheets of 250 words in 4 languages come to 30,000 words with precise tasting vocabulary. Have an agent or importer in each market proofread.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Tom, export manager of a 150-grower cooperative near Libourne, invests 4,500 EUR in a Premium-tier website and 5,000 EUR in a secure importer portal, 9,500 EUR in total.
Over 12 months, the site and trade fairs bring 4 new importers in London, New York and Singapore, each ordering one container of 12,000 bottles at 5.00 USD FOB. Additional revenue: 4 × 12,000 × 5.00 = 240,000 USD. At an 18 % gross margin, the cooperative earns 43,200 USD, roughly four times the investment in year one. The export team also saves about 6 hours a week on sending prices and documents.
FAQ
Should FOB prices be public?
No, FOB prices depend on volume and exclusivity. Show the range and formats openly, and keep prices inside the importer portal after account approval.
How many wines should go online?
Every wine available for export, often 20 to 40 for a cooperative. A wine without an online technical sheet is rarely requested as a sample.
What do US importers need from the site?
Full analysis data and label files speed up their COLA label approval and pricing through the three-tier chain. Having them downloadable can save 1 to 2 weeks on a first order.
How do we present bulk wine?
A dedicated page lists available volumes by appellation and vintage, in hectolitres, with a sample request form for négociants and brokers. Bulk prices stay negotiated case by case.
How long until launch?
Allow 6 to 9 weeks if technical sheets already exist. Translation into 4 languages often adds 2 to 3 weeks unless it starts at the beginning of the project.
Let's scope your project. An export site with multilingual technical sheets, an importer portal and sample requests is scoped from your range and priority markets, and delivered in 6 to 9 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
