Findleton Estate Winery

What Findleton Estate Winery does

Findleton Estate Winery is a family-owned boutique winery operating from a single estate at 3,000-foot elevation in the Sierra Foothills of El Dorado County, California (Camino, Apple Hill area). The winery produces approximately 2,500 cases of wine annually across 18+ varietals including estate-grown Pinot Noir from Kevin's Vineyard, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Zinfandel, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Barbera, Sangiovese, Grenache, GSM blends, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, and a distinctive cold-pressed Apple Wine from locally sourced Granny Smith apples. Fruit is also sourced from Williamson, Marchini, Cooper, and Geisler & Baron vineyards. Winemaking is led by Carrie Golden (M.S. Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis; formerly of Continuum Estate with Tim Mondavi), using traditional techniques—French oak aging, weekly lees stirring (batonage), and selective malolactic fermentation—with no disclosed automation or digital production technology. Founder Tom Findleton transitioned from a 30-year commercial contracting career; co-owner Pamela Findleton is an artist whose original paintings appear on labels and in the on-site tasting room gallery.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with three revenue streams: (1) retail wine sales priced $16–$39 per bottle (most $22–$29) via an e-commerce storefront at finzinwines.com and a tasting room open 11am–5pm Friday–Monday at 3500 Carson Road; (2) a FEW Wine Club subscription shipping four bottles quarterly at $78 with 25% retail discount, exclusive events, and preferred access to limited releases; and (3) digital gift cards in $25–$100 denominations with no expiration. Customers include wine enthusiasts and collectors, regional tourists visiting the Apple Hill/Camino wine corridor, and art collectors engaging with the gallery component. Distribution is exclusively domestic DTC, with membership in the Carson Road Wineries Association supporting tourism draw.

The operation is entirely family-run: Tom and Pamela Findleton as owners, with five children—Angela Findleton Cardinalli (tasting room/wine club manager), Tommy Findleton (artistic creations), Jeanetta Findleton (labels/graphic design), Kevin Findleton (winemaking/vineyard management), and Carrie Golden (winemaker)—plus grandson Clayton handling marketing, supported by six grandchildren. No external investors, parent company, funding rounds, or institutional capital are referenced in the data. The winery has accumulated 18+ competition awards across 2012–2022, including California State Fair Double Gold and Best of Region designations.

Name

Findleton Estate Winery

Legal name

Findleton Estate Winery

Website

https://finzinwines.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Findleton Estate Winery is a family-owned boutique winery in El Dorado County, California, producing approximately 2,500 cases annually of 18+ varietals. It sells direct-to-consumer via a tasting room, e-commerce site, and quarterly Wine Club, with art gallery integration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Winery / Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (312130)

akta.pro primary industry

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Estate wine production
• Wine club membership
• Winery tasting room
• Direct-to-consumer wine
• Sierra Foothill wines

Headquarters

HQ city

Carson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of wines through e-commerce website and tasting room. Includes variety of varietals including estate wines and sourced fruit wines.
2. Wine Club Membership: Quarterly shipments of four bottles at discounted price of $78. Members receive 25% discount off retail wine prices, exclusive event invitations, preferred access to limited production wines, and early access to new vintages.
3. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards with denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100. Never expires. Recipient applies code at checkout.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Findleton Estate Winery produces and sells small-lot boutique wines (approximately 2,500 cases per year across 18+ varietals) from its Sierra Foothills estate in El Dorado County, California. Sales occur through direct-to-consumer channels—an on-site tasting room, an e-commerce website, and a Wine Club (FEW) subscription with quarterly shipments. The winery also features an art gallery displaying original artwork by Pamela Findleton.

Product overview

Findleton Estate Winery is a small, family-owned boutique winery producing approximately 2,500 cases of wine per year from its estate vineyard in the Sierra Foothills of El Dorado County, California. The winery offers a diverse portfolio of over 18 varietals including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Zinfandel, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Barbera, Sangiovese, Grenache, GSM blends, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and specialty wines such as Apple Wine and Late Harvest Zinfandel Port. The winery also provides Wine Club membership with quarterly shipments and a tasting room experience featuring wine tasting paired with an art gallery experience showcasing Pamela Findleton's artwork. Additionally, digital gift cards are available in denominations from $25 to $100.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2018 El Dorado County Cabernet Franc Cabernet Franc aged in 30% new French oak for 23 months. Full bodied with complex bouquet of cherries, oak, vanilla with hint of green pepper. For wine consumers seeking full-bodied red varietals.
• Findleton Estate Apple Wine 2017 Apple wine produced from 100% Granny Smith Apples harvested from Apple Hill, Camino. Cold pressed, tank fermented, and aged in neutral oak barrels for eight months without malolactic fermentation to retain fresh fruit flavors. For wine enthusiasts seeking a non-grape varietal.
• 2018 El Dorado County Estate Pinot Noir Estate grown Pinot Noir from Kevin's Vineyard with cool weather and chalky volcanic soils. Aged in 25% new French oak for 9 months. Distinctly Burgundian style. For wine enthusiasts seeking estate-grown Burgundian-style Pinot Noir.
• 2018 Findleton El Dorado Mourvèdre Mourvèdre from Marchini Vineyard. Hand picked, destemmed and crushed, fermented with 30% whole berries, barrel aged for 14 months with 20% new oak. Perfumed with red berries, flowers, vanilla bean, and Indian spices. For wine consumers seeking Rhône-style reds.
• 2018 Findleton El Dorado Barbera Barbera from Cooper Vineyard. Medium to full bodied with rich nose of dark cherries, cassis, sweet chocolate, undertones of lavender, licorice root, and wild plums. For wine enthusiasts seeking Italian-style reds.
• 2016 Findleton Sierra Foothill Zinfandel Zinfandel from Sierra Foothills featuring label artwork "Fin Zin". Exhibits aromas of strawberry, briar, anise, clove, tobacco, and woodsmoke. For wine consumers seeking bold Zinfandel reds.
• 2014 Findleton El Dorado Reserve Syrah Reserve Syrah from Williamson Vineyard in Placerville. Named after Pamela Findleton's "Raven Red" painting. Deep red-purple with bouquet of boysenberry preserves, cassis, hints of sassafras, clove and incense. For wine enthusiasts seeking reserve Syrah.
• 2018 Findleton El Dorado Syrah (Willi's Syrah) Syrah named after Pamela Findleton's "Willi's Wine Bar" painting inspired by Paris. European style with smoke, earth and berry intertwining. For wine consumers seeking Old World-style Syrah.
• 2019 El Dorado County Viognier Viognier with floral aromatics, ripe stone fruit and slight sweetness on finish. Designed as an accompaniment to spicy foods. For wine enthusiasts seeking aromatic white varietals.
• 2020 El Dorado County Chardonnay Chardonnay from Geisler & Baron Vineyards featuring artwork "Women of the Vines". Early oak integration during fermentation with 100% new French oak, weekly batonage, and malolactic fermentation. For wine consumers seeking oak-influenced Chardonnays.
• 2017 Petite Sirah Dark intense fiery wine with nice balance, dark fruit and long finish. For wine consumers seeking bold, structured reds.
• 2019 Sangiovese Sangiovese from Cooper Vineyards in Amador County. Soft and velvety with full red fruit, strawberry frappe and creamy vanilla notes. For wine enthusiasts seeking Italian-style reds.
• 2019 Fume Blanc Fume Blanc from Cooper vineyard. Pale gold color with tropical bouquet, stone fruit, ripe pear, Meyer lemon and citrus cream. For wine consumers seeking oak-influenced Sauvignon Blanc.
• 2017 Alicante Bouschet Alicante Bouschet from Cooper Vineyards in Amador County. Full bodied velvety wine with uncommon red fleshed grape giving dark inky color. Shows black cherry, dark chocolate and earthy sultriness. For wine enthusiasts seeking unique varietals.
• 2018 Rose of Grenache Rosé wine from Grenache. For wine consumers seeking dry rosé styles.
• 2018 Stonehaven Pinot Noir Pinot Noir from Stonehaven vineyard. For wine consumers seeking Pinot Noir.
• 2018 Picasso Red Blend of 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Mourvèdre. Medium bodied with rich red fruit, balanced tannin and plum spice. For wine consumers seeking blended reds.
• 2016 Grenache Grenache from Marchini Vineyards. Light in color but rich creamy mouthfeel with bright red fruits like strawberry and raspberry nuanced with spice. For wine enthusiasts seeking Rhône-style varietals.
• 2018 Rhône Island Red GSM Blend GSM blend from Marchini Vineyard. 50% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 17% Mourvèdre. Complex and layered with plum, dark cherry cola, balanced tannin and warm spice. For wine consumers seeking Rhône-style blends.
• 2019 Grand Reserve Malbec Malbec from Sun Mountain Vineyard. Deep, dark and purple with notes of Black Plum, Pipe Tobacco, Chocolate, Spice and Smoke. For wine enthusiasts seeking reserve Malbec.
• 2014 Late Harvest Zinfandel Port Reserve Zin Port dessert wine. Rich velvety flavors of raspberry jam, dark chocolate, and nutty marzipan finish. Pairs with chocolate or rich French cheese. For wine consumers seeking dessert wines.
• 2010 Napa Valley Merlot Exclusive one time release of 35 cases. 100% Napa Valley Merlot from rocky well draining soil. Hand picked, aged 22 months in new François Frères and Taransaud French oak barrels. For collectors seeking limited release Napa Merlot.
• 2018 Red Coat Bordeaux Blend Blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. French Saint Emilion style. Full bodied but extremely smooth Bordeaux wine. Silver Medal at 2019 California State Fair. For wine enthusiasts seeking Bordeaux-style blends.
• 2018 Parrothead Red Special blend of Primitivo, Sangiovese and Barbera. Tribute to Garratt Wilkin and band "The Parrotheads". Medium bodied with incredible balance. Gold Medal in Red Blend category at 2015 El Dorado County Commercial Wine Competition. For wine consumers seeking unique blended reds.
• 2018 Late Harvest Zinfandel Bold, balanced smooth wine showing dark berries and spice. Slightly sweet with 2% sugar residual. For wine consumers seeking slightly sweet Zinfandel.
• 2018 Primitivo Primitivo wine from El Dorado County. For wine enthusiasts seeking Italian-style reds.
• 2018 Carignon Carignon wine from El Dorado County. For wine enthusiasts seeking Mediterranean-style varietals.
• Gift Card Digital gift cards with values of $25, $50, $75, or $100. Never expires. Recipient enters code at checkout to subtract from order total. For gift-givers purchasing wine for friends and family.
• Wine Club Membership (FEW) Quarterly shipments of four bottles of wine at a discounted price ($78). Members receive 25% discount off retail prices, invitations to exclusive events, preferred access to limited production wines, and option to buy before public release. For wine enthusiasts seeking recurring access to limited production wines.
• Tasting Room Experience Tasting room located at 3500 Carson Road, Camino, CA. Open 11am-5pm Friday-Monday. Features award-winning wines and original artwork by Pamela Findleton. "Sunday's on the Patio" service available. For wine tourists and local visitors seeking tastings and art experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18+ wine competition awards including multiple Double Gold medals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• C.G. Di Arie Winery: Family-owned El Dorado County estate winery with a tasting room and small-lot varietals. Comparable in scale, DTC distribution, and premium Sierra Foothills positioning.
• Miraflores Winery: El Dorado County estate winery with a tasting room and DTC sales in the Sierra Foothills. Comparable as a small-lot, family-run producer serving similar Apple Hill-area wine tourism customers.
• Iron Hub Winery: Family-owned Sierra Foothills boutique winery with a tasting room and wine club in El Dorado County. Directly comparable in DTC subscription model, varietal range, and tasting-room-led DTC sales.
• Lava Cap Winery: Family-owned El Dorado County estate winery with estate vineyards in the Sierra Foothills and a tasting room. Comparable in boutique estate production, varietal breadth, and DTC distribution approach.
• Madroña Vineyards: Family-owned El Dorado County estate winery producing estate-grown varietals from high-elevation vineyards. Closely comparable in scale, DTC tasting-room model, and Sierra Foothills boutique positioning.
• Renaissance Vineyard & Winery: Sierra Foothills estate winery with vineyard, tasting room, and small-lot wine production. Comparable as a high-elevation estate producer in the same broader Sierra Foothills region.
• Crystal Basin Cellars: El Dorado County boutique winery producing small-lot varietals with a tasting-room focus. Comparable in production scale, DTC channels, and Sierra Foothills wine tourism customer base.
• Domaine de la Terre Rouge: Sierra Foothills (Amador County) boutique estate winery focused on Rhone varietals with DTC tasting room sales. Comparable in estate-grown, varietal-focused boutique production and DTC model.
• Boeger Winery: Family-owned boutique estate winery in Placerville, El Dorado County. Directly comparable as a multi-generational, small-lot producer sourcing from estate and local Sierra Foothills vineyards with a tasting-room-led DTC model.

Regional players

• Fiddletown Cellars: Small-lot Sierra Foothills winery based in Amador County with tasting room and DTC focus. Comparable as a boutique producer serving the same regional wine tourism corridor, though based in a neighboring county.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FinWinery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Findleton Estate Winery