Winnington Fine Wines Ltd – scarper leaving investors short of wine

Winnington Fine Wines Ltd: 'We offer a comprehensive service'

Unfortunately this service appears not to extend to buying investors' wines

Winnington Fine Wines Ltd is yet another short-lived, fly-by-night wine investment company. Formed on the 23rd January 2012 the company stayed around long enough to trouser investors' funds – apparently buying a small proportion of the wine ordered.

Winnington Fine Wines Ltd modestly called themselves 'a leading wine broker' but they were active for only a year at most before pulling the plug and disappearing from the 4th Floor, 40 Marsh Wall, Docklands, London W14. The sole director of Winnington Fine Wines Ltd was Mrs Narif Aziz born on 25th July 1972. Winnington's annual return is overdue, now accounts have been filed and the company is in the process of being struck off with the first Gazette on 21.5.13.

Winnington shared this address near Canary Wharf with two other companies – Creating Success Ltd (proposal to strike off – first Gazette on 11,6.13)  and Gig UK Investments Ltd (dissolved 7.5.13). Again a Mrs Narif Aziz was the sole director but this time born on 13.1.1958. Either she is the child bride of the Mrs Aziz, who is the director of Winnington Fine Wines Ltd, or botox and other cosmetic surgery procedures have worked wonders. 

What is not known at this stage is how much wine Winnington Fine Wines Ltd bought and how much their clients hoped they had bought. One couple who paid out £27,000 while dealing with a broker called Adam Brown – almost certainly not his real name – are devasted to discover that only a small fraction of their wine actually exists in their account at London City Bond. At some stage during its brief life Winnington Fine Wines Ltd did have an account at LCB but this is now closed. 

Clients of Winnington, who discover that they have wine missing, should make sure they file a compolaint through ActionFraud.  

Given the number of scam wine investment companies it is amazing that anyone cold called about wine investment doesn't immediately associate wine investment with ostrich eggs or emails (Nigerian 419s) purportedly from President Mobutu's widow eager to deposit at least £20 million in your bank account.

Equally I'm also amazed that any wine investment company that likes to think it is legitimate would consider cold calling as an appropriate sales tactic. 

A previous post on Winnington Fine Wines Ltd and an article from The Mirror.  

Worldwide Wine Investments Ltd

Message from a concerned client with Worldwide Wine Investments Ltd of Milton Keynes:  

'I was wondering if you have any information on Worldwide Wine Investments Ltd?

I invested £2300 with this company back in November, for a case of en primeur wine, which was due to be delivered to the London City Bond in Spring 2012. I had a phone call from my bank 2 weeks ago asking about the transaction, as the companies account was under investigation by the bank.

I have tried to contact World Wide Wines last Friday and also yesterday with no answer. And today I have spoken to the Offices where they were based (Business Environment, 500 Avebury Boulevard) and they have ceased trading at the office block as of yesterday evening. So it is looking very much like they have done a runner with mine and other peoples money and not delivered the product.

I have spoken to the London City Bond, and they have said they have stock there but not a lot. And obviously don't have any information on the wine I have purchased.

I was just wondering if you could assist with any information and if I stand any chance of getting my money back. Or if there is any chance these people will get caught?'

I suggest that one possibility that concerned clients of Worldwide Wine Investments Ltd should consider is to explore the fraud recovery service offered by Grant Thornton – see here.  In relation to possible wine investment fraud enquiries, you can also telephone James Kehoe at Grant Thornton on 020-7865 2165. The other avenue is to make a complaint to the Companies Investigation branch of the Insolvenecy Service – see here. 

 

Concerned about your wine investment? Offer of assistance by Grant Thornton UK

Where's my Margaux? Where's my Lafite? Where's my Latour? 

Cellars of Château Margaux

Following the BBC's Money Box item on wine investment last Saturday, plus Paul Lewis's appearance that day on BBC Breakfast, the spotlight is firmly on wine investment scams. In February I posted details of a scheme run by Grant Thornton who may be able to assist you if you feel that you have been ripped off. For example if you discover that the bonded warehouse, where you thought your precious wine investment was safely, has either no record of the company you dealt with company or no record of you. 

Here is the post with details of Grant Thornton's UK LLP FinD team. 

If there are another companies that offer a similar service to Grant Thornton, I will be happy to post details here. 

There will be more on wine investment on BBC Money Box on Saturday starting at noon.