AP/Bebeto Matthews Amazon is killing Amazon Wine to focus on services like Prime Now.
- Amazon is killing Amazon Wine at the end of the year.
- The decision is apparently rooted in legal issues.
- Amazon will still sell wine, thanks to its acquisition of Whole Foods and the growth of Amazon Fresh and Prime Now.
Amazon is killing its online wine business after roughly five years.
The e-commerce giant alerted Amazon Wine retailers on Monday that its online wine store will shutter at the end of 2017, TechCrunch reported. Amazon Wine allowed third-party wine makers and sellers to sell their products online through Amazon.
Despite the death of Amazon Wine, Amazon isn't completely exiting the booze business.
According to TechCrunch and Recode, the company was forced to kill Amazon Wine after its acquisition of Whole Foods - and Whole Foods' wine business.
Under existing laws, it's difficult for Amazon to both sell its own wine and sell and advertise wine from third parties. Amazon will continue to sell wine at Whole Foods, as well as through delivery services such as Amazon Fresh and Prime Now.