# Our Group

[Coterie Holdings](https://coterieholdings.com/) is a fine wine group of fully-owned and part-owned businesses that encompass the buying, storage, selling, moving, and drinking of fine wine.

WineFi has been part-owned by Coterie since near inception. In Q1 2025, they became our largest minority shareholder. Their CEO, [Michael Saunders](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-saunders-8933a26/), sits on WineFi's board of directors, and we collaborate closely as a group.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/W2ttRnJjRZXwUt0ICM2H" alt=""><figcaption><p>The Coterie Holdings Network</p></figcaption></figure>

By working together as a group, we have access to brokerage channels off-limits to all but the largest merchants.

Through a purpose-built bonded warehouse facility, [Coterie Vaults](https://coterievaults.com/), we have preferential storage and insurance rates. Through [Lay & Wheeler](https://www.laywheeler.com/), we are able to stage exclusive events for our clients under their own brands. Through Jera, private clients can borrow against the value of their wine portfolios.

WineFi's relationship with Coterie Holdings offers us an "unfair advantage" that puts us in a unique position to better serve our clients.

## Other Coterie Businesses

The group encompasses a number of businesses either fully or part-owned by Coterie Holdings.&#x20;

### Lay & Wheeler

<figure><img src="/files/ryP6eeGD6cWz2Pd1DXrB" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Lay & Wheeler are a leading fine wine merchant, with offices in Suffolk and London, UK. They pride themselves on a global reach that allows them to ensure their clients enjoy fine wine from anywhere in the world.

WineFi works with Lay & Wheeler to offer a number of exclusive tastings, dinners and other events for our clients.

### Hallgarten & Novum

<figure><img src="/files/zf7YPEj8twhH9yWvnj7y" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Hallgarten & Novum imports, distributes and supplies wine to the premium on-trade and off-trade from family-run producers across the world.

They have over forty experienced and dedicated account managers based throughout the UK and a passionate team of wine specialists at their head office.

### Coterie Vaults

<figure><img src="/files/CoKMnF7T0Rf3h5ijHJD0" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Coterie Vaults is a purpose-built fine wine warehouse, ensuring that assets are stored in impeccable condition.&#x20;

WineFi has an agreement with Coterie Vaults, allowing us to store and insure our clients' portfolios with them at preferential rates.

### Jera

<figure><img src="/files/TL90zgfjNq63biM88lcs" alt="" width="301"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Jera offers advantageous loan terms secured by fine wine. Recognising wine as a valuable asset that appreciates over time, they provide financial solutions that respect and harness its growing worth.

With Jera, you can borrow against the value of your wine collection, for the very first time.

### Lay & Wheeler Trading

<div data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="/files/Ny8YpAdZqMEr4aNDEv12" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Lay & Wheeler Trading (previously IG Wines) are a fine wine merchant - established in 2011 and operating as a distinct but collaborative entity to Lay & Wheeler.

### Global Wine Solutions

<figure><img src="/files/vpo5JfaVztwRoc8Yq8LU" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Global Wine Solutions' specialist procurement team source and deliver the world's finest and most sought-after wines to luxury yachts around the world.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://manifesto.winefi.co/about-us/our-group.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
