DeLille Cellars

What DeLille Cellars does

DeLille Cellars is a privately-held Washington State winery founded in 1992 by Chris Upchurch, Jay A. Soloff, Greg Lill, and Charles Lill, headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, with a second venue opened in Seattle in 2025. The company produces a portfolio of 20+ wines across four collections (Essential, Exclusive, Cellar Reserve, Legacy), focused on Bordeaux-style blends (D2, Chaleur Estate, Four Flags, Harrison Hill), Rhône-style wines (Signature Syrah, Doyenne, Le Dessein GSM), single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from Red Mountain AVA vineyards, white Bordeaux-style blends (Chaleur Blanc, Métier Sauvignon Blanc), méthode champenoise sparkling wines (Forget-Me-Not Blanc de Blancs and Rosé), and Bandol-style rosé. Production relies on long-standing sourcing relationships with 14+ premier Washington vineyards, supplemented by the company's own Grand Ciel estate on Red Mountain AVA designed by founding winemaker Chris Upchurch.

The company's core technology is traditional, terroir-driven winemaking: barrel fermentation, Bordeaux blending, méthode champenoise production, and clonal vineyard selection. There is no disclosed AI/ML or proprietary digital technology stack; e-commerce runs on Commerce7 and private events on Tripleseat. Revenue is generated through four streams: direct-to-consumer wine sales (online, tasting room, restaurant by-the-glass/bottle), a four-tier Wine Club subscription (Estate, Reserve, Cellar, Chateau) with recurring quarterly or biannual shipments and member benefits, two on-site full-service restaurants (The Restaurant at DeLille Cellars in Woodinville, DeLille En Ville in Seattle) plus a three-story Tasting Room in the Old Redhook Brewery, and wholesale distribution through a national network to restaurants, hotels, and retailers in 25+ states. Corporate gifting provides a smaller B2B stream.

The go-to-market motion is hybrid: high-touch DTC at owned venues drives brand building, Wine Club subscriptions, and margin capture, while wholesale distribution extends reach into national on-premise and retail accounts. The customer base spans wine enthusiasts and collectors, food-and-wine diners, wine club members, corporate gifting buyers, and hospitality/tourism visitors. The winery is led operationally by CEO Tom Dugan, VP of Sales Janna Rinker, and Director of Winemaking and Viticulture Jason Gorski, with founding winemaker Chris Upchurch retained as a brand figure. Bacchus Capital, a wine-focused private equity firm, holds a minority investment from a 2013 funding round.

Name

DeLille Cellars

Legal name

DeLille Cellars

Website

https://delillecellars.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DeLille Cellars is a privately-held Washington State winery founded in 1992 that produces premium Bordeaux and Rhône-style blends, single varietals, and sparkling wines from Red Mountain AVA vineyards, selling direct-to-consumer through three owned venues, a four-tier wine club, and national wholesale distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Winery and Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Wine Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAB)

Keywords

• Premium wine production
• Bordeaux-style blends
• Wine club membership
• Wine tasting experiences
• Winery hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodinville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of 20+ wines through online shop, tasting room, and wine club. Includes Bordeaux blends (D2, Chaleur Estate, Four Flags), Rhône-style wines (Doyenne, Le Dessein), single varietals, sparkling wines, and rosé. Distribution to national restaurants and retailers.
2. Wine Club Memberships: Four membership tiers (Estate, Reserve, Cellar, Chateau) with quarterly or bi-annual shipments of 3-12 bottles. Offers complimentary tastings, exclusive events, discounts, and priority access to limited releases.
3. Restaurant Operations: Two restaurant locations (The Restaurant at DeLille in Woodinville, DeLille En Ville in Seattle) offering wine-centric dining, wine flights, and private event hosting. Generates revenue through food, beverage, and event bookings.
4. Private Events: Hosting private events across all three spaces (Tasting Room, The Restaurant, DeLille En Ville) for groups from 12 to 250+, including corporate events, weddings, and celebrations.
5. Corporate Gifting: Corporate gifting programs with customized wine selections, packaging options (black boxes, wood boxes), and add-ons including wine accessories and virtual tasting experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DeLille Cellars produces and sells over 20 premium wines, primarily Bordeaux-style and Rhône-style blends, single-varietal wines, and traditional method sparkling wines sourced from premier Washington State vineyards (notably Red Mountain AVA). The winery sells directly to consumers through its website, tasting room, wine club subscriptions, and two on-site restaurants (The Restaurant at DeLille in Woodinville and DeLille En Ville in Seattle), while also distributing nationally to restaurants and retailers through wholesale channels.

Product overview

DeLille Cellars is a Washington State winery founded in 1992, regarded as a top American producer of Bordeaux-style blends. The product portfolio centers on over 20 wines organized into four collections: Essential (D2, Chaleur Estate, Chaleur Blanc, Doyenne, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé, Signature Syrah), Exclusive (Le Dessein GSM, Roussanne, Minuit, Red Willow Blend), Cellar Reserve (Reserve Grenache, Reserve Red Blend), and Legacy (Grand Ciel Syrah, Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon, Harrison Hill). The winery also operates three hospitality venues—The Tasting Room in Woodinville, The Restaurant at DeLille Cellars (Top 10 Winery Restaurant in America), and DeLille En Ville in Seattle—offering wine-centric dining experiences. Additional offerings include The Wine Club at DeLille with four membership tiers and Corporate Gifting services. The portfolio emphasizes Bordeaux and Rhône-style blends sourced from premier Red Mountain AVA vineyards and other prestigious sites throughout the Columbia Valley.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Métier: A wine brand mentioned in navigation that received multiple awards in the 2023 PACK Design Awards.

Products and services

• D2 Red Blend

Quantifiable outcome

• Named Top 10 Winery Restaurant in America by USA TODAY for two consecutive years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• The One Voice CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Washington wine industry coalition uniting major wine companies including The Mark Wine Group, Precept Wine and Spirits, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, DeLille Cellars, Terlato Wines, and O'Neill Vintners & Distillers. Strategic partnership with Washington State Wine Commission aims to elevate Washington's wine category in national on-premise accounts through collective positioning in elite restaurant, hotel, and travel sectors.
• Washington State Wine CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial state wine commission partnering with The One Voice Council coalition to promote Washington wines nationally, focusing on securing prominent placement in elite national restaurant, hotel, and travel sectors.
• Harrison Hill VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired rights to Harrison Hill vineyard in Snipes Mountain AVA in 1994, home to some of the oldest vines in Washington (now over 50 years old). Produces one of the state's most sought-after 'first growth' wines.
• Grand Ciel VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeLille's state-of-the-art estate vineyard on Red Mountain AVA. Meticulously designed by Founding Winemaker Chris Upchurch with specific clone selection, orientation, and trellising for highest quality production.
• Ciel du Cheval VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Red Mountain vineyard source for Roussanne and other varietals. Key vineyard for DeLille's Bordeaux and Rhône-style wines.
• Red Willow VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYakima Valley vineyard providing fruit for DeLille's wines. Introduced by David Lake during his consultancy period.
• Sagemoor VineyardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing supplier of fruit including Sagemoor Bacchus Vineyard in Columbia Valley. Produces Riesling and other varietals for DeLille.
• Klipsun VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Mountain vineyard contributing to Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Known for very rich and ripe fruit with plum brandy nuances.
• Upchurch VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Mountain vineyard providing fruit with distinctive floral aspects from Clone 2 Cabernet Sauvignon, offering violets and faded roses along with rich fruit.
• Boushey VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington vineyard source for DeLille's winemaking portfolio, contributing to the breadth of their vineyard sourcing strategy.
• DuBrul VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Mountain AVA vineyard contributing to DeLille's wines, part of the Grand Cru vineyard sourcing network.
• Discovery VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorse Heaven Hills vineyard source for DeLille's portfolio, expanding geographic diversity of vineyard sourcing.
• Quintessence VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVineyard source for Minuit blend (Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon), blending with Red Willow to create the acclaimed wine.
• Shaw VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVineyard source for Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon single varietal, showcasing distinctive Red Mountain terroir.
• Herkimer CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee partner for DeLille En Ville café service, providing coffee offerings at the Seattle location.
• Olsen VineyardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership secured to ensure future quality of Chaleur Blanc production, securing long-term supply of high-quality fruit.
• Blackwood Canyon VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington vineyard included in DeLille's sourcing network for their portfolio of wines.
• David Lake, MWmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavid Lake, Master of Wine and head winemaker at Associated Vintners/Columbia Winery, consulted for DeLille during their first decade. Key introductions to vineyard sources including Red Mountain sites and Red Willow, and guidance on creating Washington's first white Bordeaux-style blend.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Leonetti Cellar: Leonetti Cellar is a Washington State boutique winery in Walla Walla producing premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends, with similarly elite critical acclaim and a comparable direct-to-consumer, mailing-list-driven distribution model to DeLille.
• Cayuse Vineyards: Cayuse is a Walla Walla Rhône-style specialist with a similar DTC, allocation-based model and cult following. Both wineries champion Washington State's potential beyond Cabernet, though Cayuse focuses exclusively on Rhône varietals while DeLille blends Bordeaux and Rhône styles.
• Quilceda Creek Vintners: Quilceda Creek is a Washington State cult Cabernet Sauvignon producer that has received multiple 100-point scores from Robert Parker, comparable to DeLille in its premium positioning, single-region focus, and limited-production allocation model.
• K Vintners: K Vintners is a Charles Smith-led Washington Rhône-style producer with strong brand recognition and DTC focus, sharing DeLille's emphasis on single-vineyard expressions from Walla Walla vineyards.
• Stag's Leap Wine Cellars: Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is a Napa Valley producer of premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends with comparable critical acclaim and DTC tasting room focus, representing DeLille's California analogue in positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Chateau Ste. Michelle: Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington State's largest and most established winery, with broad national distribution across multiple price points. As the dominant Washington player and a One Voice Council partner with DeLille, it sets the category context in which DeLille competes at the premium end.

Emerging players

• Canvasback Winery: Canvasback is a Washington Cabernet-focused boutique winery backed by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, targeting premium Red Mountain fruit with a comparable DTC and limited wholesale model to DeLille.
• Beaux Frères: Beaux Frères is an Oregon premium Pinot Noir producer with a similar boutique, estate-focused, and DTC-driven model. While it focuses on Burgundy-style rather than Bordeaux-style wines, it competes in the same Pacific Northwest ultra-premium tier as DeLille.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfcNqzBFaea6CjKmxLHjUKA
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeLilleCellars
• Instagraminstagram.com/delillecellars
• Pinterestpinterest.com/delillecellars
• Xx.com/DeLILLECELLARS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delille-cellars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DeLille Cellars