Terms and Conditions of Sale

Last updated: April 2026

Preamble

These Terms and Conditions of Sale ("T&Cs") govern all purchases made through the website www.grandcruandetiquette.com, operated by Grand Cru & Etiquette ("GC&E", "we", "us").

GC&E is a private advisory practice and independent media founded in Paris in 2025, specialising in wine, cultural intelligence and professional distinction. Its commercial activities include a paid membership programme, the sale of physical and digital publications, private advisory engagements, and in-person workshops.

By placing an order on the Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and accepted these T&Cs in full. These T&Cs apply to the exclusion of any other terms, including those of any third-party platform.

These T&Cs are governed by French law. They are written in English as a courtesy to our international audience.

1. Seller Information

Grand Cru & Etiquette (GC&E) 60 rue François 1er 75008 Paris, France Website: www.grandcruandetiquette.com Contact: via the Contact section of the Site

2. Products and Services Covered

These T&Cs apply to the following categories of purchase:

  • The GC&E Membership — monthly or annual subscription to exclusive editorial content and related benefits

  • Physical Publications — printed books and editions shipped to the purchaser's address

  • Digital Publications — downloadable or immediately accessible digital review

  • Private Advisory Engagement — bespoke one-to-one advisory service for executives and senior professionals

  • In-Person Workshops — wine and cultural intelligence sessions held in Paris or at specified locations

Each category is subject to the specific conditions set out in the relevant section below, in addition to the general provisions applicable to all purchases.

3. Prices

All prices are published in euros (€) and are inclusive of all applicable French taxes (VAT included) at the rate in force at the time of purchase.

GC&E reserves the right to modify its prices at any time. The price applicable to any given order is the price displayed on the Site at the time the order is confirmed. Price changes do not affect orders already confirmed.

For the Private Advisory Engagement, a written quote is provided prior to any commitment. The quote is valid for 30 days from the date of issue, unless otherwise stated.

Prices do not include shipping costs for physical publications, which are calculated and displayed separately at checkout based on the delivery address.

4. Order Process and Confirmation

  • 4.1 Digital products and membership: Orders for digital publications and membership subscriptions are placed through the Site's secure checkout. The order is confirmed upon receipt of payment. A confirmation email is sent to the address provided at checkout. This email constitutes the contract between GC&E and the purchaser.

  • 4.2 Physical publications: Orders for printed books are placed through the Site's secure checkout. The order is confirmed upon receipt of payment and stock availability. A confirmation email is sent within 48 hours. In the event that a title is out of stock or unavailable for dispatch within the stated timeframe, GC&E will notify the purchaser and offer either a revised dispatch date or a full refund.

  • 4.3 Private Advisory Engagement: The advisory engagement is not purchased directly through the checkout. It is initiated through a discovery conversation and formalised by a written agreement between GC&E and the client. That written agreement governs all terms specific to the engagement — scope, duration, format, pricing and confidentiality — and takes precedence over these T&Cs in any matter it expressly covers.

  • 4.4 In-Person Workshops: Workshop registrations are confirmed upon receipt of payment. Attendance is personal and non-transferable except as provided in Section 8 below. Confirmation of registration and practical details (address, schedule, requirements) are sent by email within 5 business days of payment.

5. Payment

Payment is processed exclusively through secure third-party payment providers (Stripe and/or PayPal). GC&E does not store payment card data.

For membership subscriptions, payment is collected automatically at the start of each billing period (monthly or annual) until the subscription is cancelled in accordance with Section 7.

An invoice is generated automatically upon purchase and is available in the purchaser's account. A paper invoice can be provided upon written request.

Quotes for the Private Advisory Engagement must be paid in accordance with the payment schedule set out in the written agreement, which typically provides for a deposit upon signature and the balance prior to commencement.

6. Delivery and Access

  • 6.1 The GC&E Membership: Access is granted immediately upon payment confirmation. Content is accessible through the member area of the Site using the credentials created at the time of subscription. GC&E makes all reasonable efforts to ensure continuous availability of member content but does not guarantee uninterrupted access.

  • 6.2 Digital Publications: Download links or access credentials are sent to the email address provided at checkout within one hour of payment confirmation. In the event of a technical failure, GC&E will resend access within 24 hours upon request through the Contact section.

  • 6.3 Physical Publications Physical books are dispatched within the timeframe stated on the relevant product page at the time of purchase. Delivery times are indicative and may vary depending on destination and carrier. GC&E ships using tracked services. The risk of loss or damage passes to the purchaser upon handover to the carrier.

  • If a shipment is lost or arrives damaged, the purchaser must notify GC&E within 14 days of the expected delivery date. GC&E will arrange a replacement or refund as appropriate.

  • 6.4 Private Advisory Engagement: Sessions are delivered on dates mutually agreed in writing between GC&E and the client. Remote sessions are conducted by telephone or video call. In-person sessions take place in Paris unless otherwise agreed. The client is responsible for ensuring they are available at the agreed time. Sessions cannot be transferred to third parties.

  • 6.5 In-Person Workshops: Workshops are held on the dates and at the locations specified at the time of registration. Attendance is restricted to registered individuals. Guests or substitutes may be accepted only with prior written authorisation from GC&E (see Section 8).

7. Right of Withdrawal

In accordance with Articles L.221-18 et seq. of the French Code de la consommation, consumers resident in France and the European Union have a right of withdrawal of 14 calendar days from the date of purchase for services not yet commenced and for physical goods not yet dispatched.

The following specific rules apply by product category:

  • 7.1 The GC&E Membership: The right of withdrawal applies for 14 days from the date of initial subscription, provided the purchaser has not yet accessed any member-exclusive content. By accessing member content before the expiry of the 14-day period, the purchaser expressly waives their right of withdrawal in accordance with Article L.221-28 of the Code de la consommation. This waiver is confirmed at the time of checkout.

  • 7.2 Digital Publications: The right of withdrawal does not apply once the digital file has been downloaded or accessed, in accordance with Article L.221-28 (13°) of the Code de la consommation, provided the purchaser has given prior express consent to the immediate supply and acknowledged the loss of the withdrawal right. This acknowledgement is collected at the time of checkout.

  • Where the purchaser has not yet accessed or downloaded the file, withdrawal may be requested within 14 days of purchase by contacting GC&E through the Contact section.

  • 7.3 Physical Publications: The right of withdrawal applies for 14 days from the date of receipt of the physical book. To exercise this right, the purchaser must notify GC&E in writing through the Contact section within the 14-day period and return the item in its original condition and packaging. Return shipping costs are borne by the purchaser. GC&E will issue a full refund of the purchase price within 14 days of receiving the returned item.

  • 7.4 Private Advisory Engagement: A 14-day withdrawal period applies from the date of signature of the written agreement, unless the client has requested in writing that the engagement begin before the end of that period, thereby expressly waiving the right to withdraw. Once sessions have commenced, the right of withdrawal no longer applies to sessions already delivered.

  • 7.5 In-Person Workshops: In accordance with Article L.221-28 (12°) of the Code de la consommation, the right of withdrawal does not apply to services provided on a specific date or during a specific period. Workshop registrations are therefore subject to the cancellation policy set out in Section 8.

8. Cancellation, Rescheduling and Refund Policy

  • 8.1 The GC&E Membership

    • Monthly subscriptions: may be cancelled at any time through the member account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No refund is issued for the unused days of the current period.

    • Annual subscriptions: may be cancelled at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the annual term. No partial refund is issued for the unused portion of the annual term, except where the right of withdrawal applies (see Section 7.1) or where GC&E has materially failed to deliver the membership benefits.

    In the event that GC&E permanently discontinues the membership programme, all active annual subscribers will receive a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of their term.

  • 8.2 Digital Publications: No refunds are issued once a digital publication has been downloaded or accessed. Where a technical defect in the file prevents access, GC&E will provide a corrected file or a full refund at the purchaser's option.

  • 8.3 Physical Publications: Returns are accepted within 14 days of receipt for items in their original, unopened condition. Return shipping costs are borne by the purchaser. Refunds are processed within 14 days of GC&E receiving the returned item.

    Items that are damaged, annotated or missing their original packaging will not be accepted for return.

  • 8.4 Private Advisory Engagement: Cancellation and rescheduling terms are set out in the written agreement signed by both parties. As a general principle: sessions cancelled by the client with more than 48 hours' notice may be rescheduled once without charge. Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice are forfeited. Sessions cancelled by GC&E for reasons within GC&E's control will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time at no additional cost to the client.

  • 8.5 In-Person Workshops

    Cancellations by the participant:

    • More than 5 business days before the workshop date: full refund, minus a €15 administrative fee.

    • Between 2 and 5 business days before the workshop date: 50% refund. The remaining credit may be applied to a future session within 6 months.

    • Less than 2 business days before the workshop date, or after the workshop has commenced: no refund. The registration may be transferred to another named individual, subject to prior written notification to GC&E at least 24 hours before the session.

  • One rescheduling is permitted per registration, subject to availability, under the following conditions:

    • More than 3 calendar days before the workshop: free of charge.

    • Within 3 calendar days: a rescheduling fee of €25 per participant applies.

    • Once the workshop has commenced or concluded: rescheduling is not permitted.

    Special or one-off workshops may be subject to stricter cancellation terms, which will be communicated at the time of registration.

    Cancellation by GC&E: in the event that GC&E cancels a workshop for any reason, registered participants will be offered either a full refund or transfer of their registration to a future session of equivalent value.

9. Liability

GC&E commits to delivering its services with professional care and competence. However, GC&E's liability in connection with its products and services is limited as follows:

  • GC&E is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential loss arising from the use of its products or services, including but not limited to loss of profit, loss of opportunity or reputational harm.

  • The content published on the Site and delivered as part of any service is for informational and educational purposes. Clients are solely responsible for any decisions taken on the basis of information or advice received from GC&E.

  • GC&E's total liability for any claim arising under these T&Cs shall not exceed the total amount paid by the client to GC&E for the specific product or service giving rise to the claim.

  • Nothing in these T&Cs limits GC&E's liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, or for fraudulent misrepresentation.

10. Personal Data

GC&E processes the personal data of its clients in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, Regulation EU 2016/679) and applicable French data protection law.

Data collected through the checkout process is used solely for the purpose of processing and fulfilling orders, managing subscriptions, and communicating with clients about their purchases. It is not sold or shared with third parties other than payment processors and, where necessary, shipping carriers.

Clients have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict or port their personal data, and to object to its processing, by contacting GC&E through the Contact section of the Site. Complaints may be addressed to the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) at www.cnil.fr.

For full details of GC&E's data processing practices, please refer to the Privacy Policy published on the Site.

11. Affiliate Links

Certain editorial content on the Site may contain affiliate links to third-party retailers. GC&E may receive a commission when a purchase is made through such a link, at no additional cost to the purchaser. The existence of an affiliate relationship does not influence the editorial content of the Site. When an affiliate link is present, GC&E systematically discloses it with a notice.

GC&E does not sell alcoholic beverages and is not a licensed retailer or distributor of wine or spirits. Any transaction made through an affiliate link is between the purchaser and the relevant third-party retailer, and is governed exclusively by that retailer's own terms and conditions. GC&E accepts no responsibility for such transactions.

12. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from circumstances beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, strikes, government actions, pandemic, or infrastructure failure. In such circumstances, the affected party will notify the other as soon as reasonably practicable, and both parties will cooperate in good faith to find a reasonable solution, which may include rescheduling or, where performance becomes permanently impossible, a pro-rata refund.

13. Modifications

GC&E reserves the right to modify these T&Cs at any time. The version applicable to any order is the version in force on the date the order is confirmed. Active subscribers will be notified of material changes to the T&Cs affecting their subscription with a minimum of 30 days' notice.

14. Consumer Mediation

In the event of a dispute that cannot be resolved amicably, consumers resident in France and the European Union have the right to refer the matter to a certified consumer mediator free of charge, in accordance with Articles L.612-1 et seq. of the Code de la consommation.

Details of the relevant mediator will be provided upon request through the Contact section of the Site, or may be found via the French government platform: https://www.economie.gouv.fr/mediation-conso

European Union residents may also use the European Commission's online dispute resolution platform: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These T&Cs are governed in all respects by French law.

In the event of a dispute that cannot be resolved through mediation, the competent courts shall be those of Paris, France, subject to any mandatory jurisdiction rules applicable in the consumer's country of residence.

16. Contact

For any question relating to an order, a subscription, a return, or these T&Cs, please contact GC&E through the Contact section of the Site: www.grandcruandetiquette.com/contact