Latest news with #Domaine
The Irish Sun
12-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Brit charged with £73m wine scam after he allegedly sold vino that didn't exist for £12k as he appears in New York court
A BRIT is facing charges in a New York court over his alleged connection to a major $99 million wine fraud. James Wellesley, 58, pleaded not guilty on Friday after he was extradited from the UK. Advertisement 7 James Wellesley, who allegedly sold vino that didn't exist for £12k Credit: Kent Police 7 The defendants are alleged to have solicited $99 million in investments from residents (picture is not of wine in question) Credit: Bonhams 7 The US Attorney's Office alleges that neither the wine collections not the wine itself actually exist Credit: Linkedin 7 Stephen Burton had been extradited from Morocco in 2023 Credit: Kent Police He has been detained on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Wellesley was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy The alleged Ponzi-style scheme involved getting investors to lend money to the wine collectors in return for regular interest payments. But the US Attorney's Office alleges that neither the wine collections not the wine itself actually exist. Advertisement This included Domaine de la Romanée-Conti - which is listed online for more than $17,000 per bottle. These loans were said to be secured against a stockpile of expensive wines. The defendants are alleged to have solicited $99 million in investments from residents of New York and other areas between 2017 and 2019. Wellesley's co-defendant Stephen Burton had been extradited from Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Breaking He had been trying to enter the north African country on a false Zimbabwean passport. 60-year-old Brit Burton has also pleaded not guilty to similar charges. Wellesley is reported to have had many aliases including Andrew Fuller and Andrew Templar. Shocking moment woman has full blown foot-stamping airport MELTDOWN at check-in Christopher Raia, assistant director in charge of the FBI New York office, said: "James Wellesley and his business partner allegedly concocted an elaborate scheme defrauding investors out of millions of dollars to finance their own personal expenses. Advertisement "Their alleged deceit spread across years and continents." If convicted, the two each face up to 20 years in prison. 7 The alleged Ponzi-style scheme involved getting investors to lend money to the wine collectors in return for regular interest payments 7 The defendants are alleged to have solicited $99 million in investments from residents of New York Credit: Kent Police Advertisement 7 The Brits are facing charges in a New York court Credit: Alamy Prosecutors allege the pair used loan proceeds "to make fraudulent interest payments to investors and for their own personal expenses". Ricky Patel, a Homeland Security special agent, said: "James Wellesley and his co-conspirator are accused of masterminding their nearly $100 million international fraud scheme that exploited the unsuspecting public, including New Yorkers, for their own selfish enrichment. "As alleged, the defendants claimed Advertisement "Let it be known, regardless of the nature of the transnational criminal scheme, HSI New York, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to adapt and evolve to fight global and domestic financial crimes wherever and whenever possible." Read more on the Irish Sun "Today's arraignment sends a message to all perpetrators of global fraud schemes that my office will work tirelessly to ensure they answer for crimes committed in the United States," said US attorney Joseph Nocella. "We will not rest in our efforts to seek justice for victims of fraud."
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Domaine Taps Industry Veterans to Lead Next Phase of Shopify B2B Growth
NEW YORK, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Domaine, the leading global Shopify design and development practice, today announced a significant investment in its business-to-business (B2B) offering, deepening its strategic partnership with Shopify. This move aims to further empower B2B companies, including manufacturers, distributors, and CPG brands, to grow revenue more efficiently by streamlining B2B operations and reducing the cost to serve wholesale customers. As part of this initiative, Domaine has appointed industry veterans Randy Higgins and Brad Borman as Managing Directors of B2B, both joining with decades of experience in digital commerce, B2B operations, and global B2B transformation across a variety of industries. Higgins previously served as Head of B2B Solutions at Merkle and Chief Strategy Officer at Shift7, a Merkle company. Borman was most recently SVP of Commerce Growth at Merkle, following his role as EVP of Growth and Partner at Shift7. Their leadership further positions Domaine to deliver even greater value to its clients as they navigate the rapidly evolving world of B2B commerce. "We are thrilled to welcome Randy and Brad to the Domaine leadership team," said Peter Humphrey, CEO of Domaine. "Their deep expertise and shared vision for transforming B2B commerce aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver exceptional commerce solutions to a wider—and growing—segment of the market." "Randy and I are honored to join the team at Domaine at such an exciting time in the evolution of B2B commerce," Borman said. "With more B2B revenue shifting to digital channels and Shopify investing heavily in enterprise-ready functionality, we see tremendous opportunity to help companies modernize how they sell to all of their customers. Domaine's technical roots and Shopify expertise give it the ideal foundation to lead this transformation." This investment marks another pivotal milestone in Domaine's history, as the company continues to expand its commerce capabilities and strengthen its collaboration with Shopify. By leveraging Shopify's top-tier B2B platform, Domaine aims to provide scalable, cost-effective solutions that optimize digital channels and unlock new growth opportunities for Domaine customers. Combined with world-class commerce delivery capabilities, the addition of Higgins and Borman's experience in global B2B transformation and complex systems integration further solidifies Domaine's position as a leader in modern commerce solutions. Learn more about Domaine's new B2B offerings here. About Domaine: Domaine is the leading global Shopify design and development practice. The business supports over 100 brands on the Shopify platform and has a delivery footprint spanning the US, Canada, and Europe. BV Investment Partners (BV), a middle-market private equity firm with deep expertise in the IT services sector, is the financial sponsor partnering with the existing executive team to support this next chapter of growth and expansion. Learn more at Contact: Chelsey DebalsiVP of Marketing, View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Domaine Worldwide LLC Sign in to access your portfolio
San Francisco Chronicle
08-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
This S.F. wine shop is slashing prices. Here's the catch
A San Francisco wine shop is selling wines at a phenomenal discount, but caveat emptor. They may be extremely funky. Near the entrance of Little Vine, a shop in North Beach, sits an eclectic collection of natural wines like Piedmont's Cascina degli Ulivi and the Roussillon's Domaine de Majas that owner Jay Esopenko has deemed 'too natty.' Esopenko has marked the bottles from as high as $65 down to $15 or less because he believes these wines might be flawed. Whether riddled with volatile acidity, mouse, excessive brettanomyces or some unknowable symphony of bacteria, these are not wines that Esopenko felt comfortable selling at full price to his customers. This natty inventory problem arose after the recent departure of Little Vine's longtime wine buyer, who will remain anonymous in this column. 'He had such a high tolerance for flaws,' said Esopenko, who also owns the Russian Hill wine bar Union Larder. 'But he was really passionate about them. He could hand-sell these wines that he loved.' When that employee left, Esopenko took over the wine buying along with another employee, Alicia Hentemann. As they started to taste some of the bottles in the shop, they grew concerned. A bottle of Movia Modri Pinot Noir, from Slovenia, 'was just not right in my opinion,' he said. 'And it's on the shelf for $65.' Yet he knew that funky, even flawed wines have their fans in San Francisco, and that he might be able to make some natural wine lovers very happy. As soon as he marked down the Modri to $15, he sold his remaining 10 bottles within 24 hours. Esopenko discovered that the Domaine de Majas rosé suffered from bottle variation: Some bottles tasted good, some were objectionable. He slashed its price from about $20 to $5. 'At $5, it's your gamble,' he said. Luckily, some folks seem to have gotten good bottles and have returned to buy more. This isn't the first time Little Vine has broken out the discount bin. The shop usually offers a $15 section in early January, as a way of clearing out the previous year's inventory. Wines whose labels have been torn, whites or rosés that have likely passed their prime, or a bottle that just never sold — 'it cleans the slate for me,' Esopenko said. To be clear, Esopenko likes natural wine. When he opened Little Vine in 2012, he was stocking minimally manipulated wines from importers like Selection Massale that were radical for San Francisco at the time. Everything he sells at Little Vine and Union Larder, he said, are 'handmade and low-intervention.' He simply cannot abide the extreme flaws. 'I don't want to sound old, but I just don't get it,' he said. 'I love the wildness of good natural wine. But if something obviously has some problems, I just can't overlook that.'
The Independent
28-04-2025
- The Independent
Domaine de Vieux Mareuil, France hotel review
A collection of family-owned private villas equipped for luxurious stays in the breathtaking Périgord region of France – ideal for a short stay or a family gathering in the countryside, with great wine and fine French fare Predating what is now known as the Dordogne, the historical Périgord department in south-west France is split into four 'colours' based on regional and geographical points of interest. Blanc for its chalk cliffs, noir for the abundance of truffles, pourpre for its red wines and vert for its forests. Domaine de Vieux Mareuil can be found in the Périgord Vert area, surrounded by woodland and greenery. Laetitia Morlat created Domaine de Vieux Mareuil in the late 1990s where she grew up and much of her family still resides. She has many stories to tell: walking back through the woods in the early hours of the morning after teenage parties or watching her children embracing slow living in Périgord. The private villas – four in total, with a fifth planned – are dotted around the area, each with a distinct personality but the thread running through is Morlat's design eye and attention to detail. Allowing private, quiet moments with loved ones in homes that embrace nature. The vibe Each property has close connections to the family: one a home previously lived in by Morlat's parents, while another is the place where Morlat and her husband spent their honeymoon. They have been painstakingly renovated into luxurious private villas, bringing together a sharp interior design masterfully arranging old pieces uncovered during renovations and contemporary style, all with the intrigue and history of French architecture. This review focuses on Château de Chanet, an imposing medieval country house filled with plush soft furnishings, art made by local artists and touches of history salvaged from the rubble of the old buildings. Think playful wallpaper, expensive fabrics and hand-selected antiques. The service With a team covering housekeeping, laundry and full-service fine dining, practically everything is taken off your hands for the duration of your stay. Activities for kids, special meals and even – if your budget allows – helicopter transfers to and from the airport. From the welcome cocktail to an unpacking service and activities, the staff are polite, knowledgeable and friendly, and are at your disposal for the duration of your visit. Bed and bath The Château de Chanet – surrounded by 14 hectares of land – has a 23-person capacity spanning 11 rooms, each with a distinct design flair. With a maze of rooms that lead upstairs and along corridors, half the fun is exploring and finding where you'll be staying. There's even a whimsical room at the top of a fairytale tower with a mezzanine seating area and panoramic countryside views. Some of the nine bathrooms have stunning free-standing baths with plush seating that you could spend a whole afternoon enjoying. Marie Antoinette would have felt right at home. Food and drink Ingredients at Domaine de Vieux Mareuil are grown on the property or sourced from local suppliers within 15km of the estate. Leave it all up to the private chef, and you're sure to find French classics impeccably made: rich, buttery foie gras that's famous in the region, cep mushrooms and truffles that are found in abundance in Périgord Vert. Duck, veal and seafood are often on the menu, and the desserts – orange blossom crème brûlée, for example – are unforgettable. It's imperative to indulge in the local Bergerac wines, too: red is the real winner, along with sweet wines from Monbazillac. Book a tasting experience at a local vineyard and find a new favourite. The Château de Chanet has an intimate dining room with a table that almost fills the whole space. The table will be beautifully dressed, candlelit and flowing with local wines and fine food. Or opt for an outdoor meal in the warmer months and drink in wonderful views with your wine. Facilities Facilities vary by villa – Château de Chanet has a heated swimming pool, a relaxation room with a billiards table, games and a projector with screen for a movie night. Book the movie experience and enjoy locally made cocktails, popcorn, snacks and blankets. Fitness facilities include courts for padel and petanque, or just go for rambling country walks. Disability access The Château de Chanet has wheelchair-accessible rooms in a new custom-built part of the building, which has slightly less historical intrigue. Pet policy Pets are allowed. Check in/check out? Customise your check-in or check-out according to your needs. Minimum four nights' stay. Family-friendly? Yes. Bespoke activities for children are available. At a glance Best thing: Switching off your phone and listening to the birds on the outdoor seating. Perfect for: An overnight wedding party or ultra-luxury family escape. Not right for: A city break or holidaying on a budget. Address: Varies by villa; office address is 3-5 Rue Paul Brégeat, 24340 Mareuil en Périgord, France
The Sun
27-04-2025
- The Sun
The French town that looks more like Italy – with Roman buildings and huge music festival
TERRACOTTA rooftops, Roman arches and a major music festival attract tourists to a town in France - which looks more like Italy. Clisson, located in the Loire-Atlantique department of western France, is home to only 3,000 people but is a hidden gem not to be missed. 4 4 The French town is often compared to Italy, sitting at the crux of two rivers in the Loire-Atlantique region. The village underwent a radical transformation in the the early 19th century, following devastation caused by the French Revolution. When rebuilt by the Cacault brothers, who had fallen in love with Tuscan design whilst on their travels, Clisson gained its Italian feel. As a result, the town features unique Italian architecture compared to neighbouring French towns. Perhaps the most apparently Italian-inspired attraction in the town is the Domaine de la Garenne Lemot. This neo-Palladian villa is surrounded by pristinely landscaped gardens with an plants and classical statues reminiscent of Roman countryside homes. Another exquisite example of architecture in the town is the Château de Clisson which dominates the town's skyline. The 13th century Château towers over the Sèvre Nantaise River and is surrounded by other Mediterranean-inspired buildings. The Sèvre Nantaise River weaves through the town, which makes it a popular place for paddle-boarding, kayaking and riverside wandering. Many of the walks along the edge of the river also boast shady spots, perfect for admiring the town's architecture whilst enjoying a picnic. Inside the French menopause retreat The Pont de la Vallée, a bridge stretching over part of the Sèvre Nantaise, is also iconic to Clisson. In particular, it is unique due to its wooden structure, which often makes it a favoured spot for pictures. In the town itself, visitors can enjoy the Halles de Clisson, which is a covered market dating back to the 14th century. Clisson also sits at the heart of the Muscadet wine region, where it is surrounded by vineyards that produce crisp white wines. Many of the wineries remain uncrowded, offering more intimate tastings, where visitors can really get to know the vineyard, its wine and winemakers. For travellers who find themselves in Clisson in June, the town bustles with a festival that juxtaposes its picturesque image. 4 Hellfest is one of Europe 's biggest metal music festivals and each year over 180,000 people gather to enjoy a rock music from a range of artists. One of the headline acts this year will be Muse - the creators of 'Supermassive Black Hole'. For holidaymakers visiting the city of Nantes, Clission is the ideal day trip or weekend getaway, as well as a pretty holiday destination in its own right. Elsewhere in France is a town that looks like Cornwall. And here's a town in England that looks like something in the Swiss Alps. 4
