San Francisco, Calif.—Universal Wine Wholesalers announced its acquisition of the San Francisco Wine Exchange, a wine marketing, sales and import firm. The acquisition allows SFWE founder Hugh Thacher to retire at the end of the year. Universal Wine Wholesalers is owned by Jose Maria Barale, the owner and principal of Brazilian energy firm Grupo Alubar, and Diego Lo Prete the former head of global marketing and communications at Group Codorniu in Barcelona, Spain. Lo Prete will assume the role of SFWE president.