Good Grape Wine Company

March 31 2008

Wine Blog Sold in Estimated US $1200.00 Transaction

Popular Wine Blog is Sold in First-Ever Wine Blog Acquisition for an Estimated U.S. $1200.00 and other Considerations

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 1, 2008— Popular wine blog, Good Grape, a site started in January 2006, has been sold to Happy Mutants, LLC, the parent company to Boing Boing, the Internet’s most traffic’ed weblog.

In a statement, a Happy Mutants principal who declined to be directly quoted said, “We wanted to buy a wine blog because, well, you know, it seems like wine is pretty hot these days, and this guy was the cheapest we talked to.  We talked to a dude, maybe his name was Ash, no, Oak something, no, oh, I don’t know, it was something related to a tree and anyways he wouldn’t sell because he was actually serious about wine and then we talked to a couple of Doctors, not real doctors, like doctors in college or something, I love college girls, whoops, did I say that, and, anyways, they wanted too much money, so we landed on this guy who practically low-balled himself before we even offered a number.  We would have given him $2500 before he blurted out $1200.  Frankly, we just want the URL, but the guy wanted to sign a consulting contract and non-compete.  $50 a month for two years sounded pretty good to us.”

Jeff, Writer and Editor at Good Grape said, “I am happy we were able to maximize shareholder value and I look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship over the two years of my consulting contract.  Boing Boing is noted for being a ‘Directory of Wonderful Things’ and I think Good Grape will harmonize perfectly with their vision for expanding into vinous ‘wonderful things,’ plus they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.  I have a family and I look forward to spending more quality time with them in the future.  My unborn son and daughter need a father, and maybe a Dad too after they are born.”

The acquisition closes on April 1, 2008 in an all cash transaction with additional considerations.  Boing Boing is purchasing the content, URL and all imagery associated with the site.  Jeff, the blog writer and chief voice, will not continue with Boing Boing.

Jeff noted, “This really culminates a 12 month run that started last April 1, when I was named one of Oprah’s friends.  I am very happy for Boing Boing and I am sure they will continue the Good Grape tradition just fine.  In fact, I have received emails from people suggesting that a monkey could writer better then myself (sic), so my contributions are really immaterial to the future of the site.” 

When asked why he sold, Jeff noted, without a hint of irony or NBA-star like ego mania for speaking in the third person, “Everybody has a price.  Jeff has to do what is right for Jeff.  I am taking a loss on the deal based on how much it cost me to have the site designed, but a bird in the hand is worth two bushes, I always say.  The early bird gets the apple, if you know what I mean.  Frankly, I felt like the timing was right, my wife asked me every week if my time spent was yielding any money and I kept telling her that the quarterly $7 Amazon.com referral fees were money enough.  Finally, I was able to prove her wrong.  After taxes and the write-off, we will celebrate at French Laundry.  I may have to ante in for her portion, but I am sure I will have enough for mine.  Of course, we’ll have to fly there too because I live in the middle of the Midwest.”

Jeff noted that ideas are plentiful, but execution is what matters, a formula for his run of success over two years with Good Grape.  Ever the entrepreneur, he plans to start a new site under the guise of one of the following names: 

1)  Bung & Punt
2)  Pomace & Lees
3)  Reverand Grape
4)  Mog Grog
5)  Wine is the new black

Jeff invites readers of his blog to submit a comment with their vote for the name of the next incarnation of his unique take on wine. 

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