Kivelstadt Cellars

What Kivelstadt Cellars does

Kivelstadt Cellars is a founder-owned, Sonoma, California-based craft winery established in 2007 by Jordan Kivelstadt with an initial 125 cases of Syrah from a family estate in Bennett Valley. The company produces a portfolio of approximately 17 wines across three sub-brands: the core Kivelstadt Cellars line (Rhône-style blends, Chardonnay, rosé), the experimental KC Labs line (orange/skin-contact whites, field blends such as Sonomasuolo and Gravignon Blanc), and a premium Heritage Vineyard Series featuring rare varietals like '1877' Carignane and '1950' Charbono. Winemaking emphasizes organic vineyard sourcing, native fermentations, minimal intervention, and limited new oak; only about 11% of grapes come from the company's own Bennett Valley estate, with the balance sourced from partnering organic vineyards across Northern California.

The business operates a diversified direct-to-consumer and hospitality model. Revenue streams include e-commerce bottle sales ($22–$59 per 750ml), a bi-annual wine-club membership (Lounge 6-bottle and Estate 12-bottle tiers with early-cancellation fees), a $50/$150 monthly Kivelstadt Community Membership cross-usable across the family of companies, a tasting lounge and estate vineyard by-appointment tasting, a Wine Garden event venue, off-site mobile tastings within 50 miles of Sonoma Square, and an on-site restaurant, Bloom Carneros. A B2B Custom Wine Program offers private-label production for 50–1,500 cases including vineyard, compliance, and sales-strategy consulting. Distribution is direct-to-consumer in the US (excluding Alabama, Utah, and Mississippi), with no disclosed wholesale or three-tier distribution, no disclosed external funding, and a team of 1–10 employees.

Name

Kivelstadt Cellars

Legal name

Kivelstadt Cellars

Website

https://kivelstadtcellars.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kivelstadt Cellars is a Sonoma, California-based craft winery producing minimal-intervention, organically sourced Rhône-style and natural wines across three sub-brands (core, KC Labs, Heritage Vineyard Series). It sells direct-to-consumer via e-commerce, wine club, tasting lounge, mobile tastings, and an adjacent restaurant, Bloom Carneros.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Winery / Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban Wineries (No/Minimal Vineyard) (THAFALAF), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

Keywords

• Craft wine production
• Organic winemaking
• Wine club memberships
• Custom wine labels
• Wine tasting experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Sonoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales: One-time purchase of wines through e-commerce website. Wines range from $22-$59 per bottle. 17 products available across White, Red, Pink & Orange, and Sparkling categories. Shipping available to most US states with flat-rate pricing.
2. Wine Club Memberships: Recurring subscription revenue from two membership tiers: Kivelstadt Cellars Membership (Lounge Tier 6 bottles or Estate Tier 12 bottles, shipped twice yearly in Spring & Fall) and Kivelstadt Community Membership ($50 or $150 monthly flat-rate for locals). Early cancellation fees apply.
3. Restaurant Revenue (Bloom Carneros): On-site restaurant operated as Bloom Carneros, an outdoor gathering place serving lunch, bites, and dinner. Restaurant is part of the family of companies, with wine garden events venue adjacent.
4. Custom Wine Services: B2B service helping clients create custom wine labels. Case counts from 50 to 1500. Services include vineyard management consultation, grape sourcing, winemaking, bottling, compliance, and sales strategy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kivelstadt Cellars manufactures and sells minimal-intervention wines from organically farmed California vineyards under three sub-brands: core Kivelstadt Cellars varietals, the experimental KC Labs line (including orange wines), and the premium Heritage Vineyard Series. The company also runs a custom wine private-label program for outside clients, multiple on-site and mobile tasting experiences, two wine club memberships (Cellars twice-yearly and Community monthly), and an adjacent restaurant, Bloom Carneros. Wines are sold directly to consumers via e-commerce (shipped to most US states), the tasting lounge, wine club shipments, and on-site restaurant service.

Product overview

Kivelstadt Cellars is a Sonoma-based winery producing wines from organically farmed California vineyards with minimal intervention winemaking. The portfolio centers on three wine sub-brands: the core Kivelstadt Cellars line featuring standard varietals (Mother of Invention, Twice Removed, Sonomasuolo, Chardonnay), the experimental KC Labs line for innovative expressions like orange wines and fruit blends, and the premium Heritage Vineyard Series showcasing rare varietals such as '1870' Charbono and '1877' Carignane. Beyond bottle sales, the company operates a custom wine labeling service, three tasting experiences (Lounge, Vineyard Tour, and Off-Site), a wine club membership with two shipment tiers, a local-focused Community Membership, and an adjacent restaurant called Bloom Carneros.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KC Labs: Sub-brand featuring experimental and innovative wines, including orange wines and field blends. Products include KC Labs Gravignon Blanc, KC Labs Sonomasuolo, and Skin Contact wines.
• Heritage Vineyard Series

Products and services

• Kivelstadt Cellars Standard Wines Core consumer-facing wine lineup from Kivelstadt Cellars covering white, rosé, red, and sparkling styles, sold direct via the winery e-commerce site and tasting lounge to wine enthusiasts ranging from casual drinkers to connoisseurs.
• KC Labs Experimental Kivelstadt Cellars sub-brand of limited-production, innovative wines featuring techniques like orange wine (skin-contact) production and fruit-wine blends (e.g., Gravignon Blanc = Sauvignon Blanc + Gravenstein apples).
• Heritage Vineyard Series Premium Kivelstadt Cellars wine line sourced from rare and historic California vineyards, featuring unusual varietals such as '1877' Carignane and '1950' Charbono, each priced at $59 per bottle.
• Custom Wine Program Bespoke private-label wine service for outside clients (businesses or individuals) wanting to create their own wine brand, with case counts from 50 to 1500 and full-service oversight from vineyard management and grape sourcing through winemaking, bottling, compliance, and sales strategy consultation.
• Lounge Tasting Guided flight tasting experience at the Kivelstadt Cellars tasting lounge in Sonoma, with multiple flight options priced at $30–$40 per person; shared bites from adjacent Bloom Carneros restaurant can be added, and the lounge is kid- and dog-friendly.
• Vineyard Tasting & Tour Private by-appointment tasting and walking tour at Kivelstadt's Bennett Valley estate vineyard, featuring Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Gamay Noir vines with views of the estate's organic vineyard.
• Private Events / Wine Garden Half-acre outdoor event venue in Carneros, CA, adjacent to Bloom Carneros restaurant and Kivelstadt Cellars winery, available for private bookings including corporate events, celebrations, and group tastings, with on-site catering from Bloom.
• Off-Site / In-Home Tasting Mobile wine tasting experience within 50 miles of Sonoma Square, where Kivelstadt brings a curated flight including a sparkling toast and four 2oz pours per guest to a private venue for up to 20 guests; wine club members' first in-home tasting is complimentary.
• Kivelstadt Cellars Membership (Lounge & Estate Tiers) Subscription wine club with two tiers — Lounge (6 bottles) and Estate (12 bottles) — shipped twice yearly in Spring & Fall, offering customizable selections, 10% on-premise discount, early event ticket access, and member-exclusive wines.
• Kivelstadt Community Membership Monthly flat-rate community membership for local Sonoma residents at $50 or $150 per month, with credits that roll over and are usable across the family of companies (Kivelstadt Cellars and Bloom Carneros) for wine, food, and events; minimum 6 monthly charges with early cancellation fees.
• Bloom Carneros Restaurant Outdoor restaurant and gathering place in Sonoma Valley serving lunch, bites, and dinner, adjacent to the Kivelstadt Cellars tasting room and serving Kivelstadt wines by the glass and bottle; part of the family of companies with cross-promotion for the Community Membership.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of first California producers to perfect orange wine production
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hot DropsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Hot Drops hot sauce company to create KC Lab x Hot Drops Challenge tasting experience. Four KC Labs wines paired with four handcrafted hot sauces and crispy chicken bites from Bloom. Limited-time experience designed to spark conversation and discover how wines transform spice.
• Bloom CarneroscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBloom Carneros is an outdoor restaurant located adjacent to Kivelstadt Cellars tasting room. Part of family of companies under same ownership. Cross-promotional relationship: Bloom provides food for tastings and events, Kivelstadt wines are featured. Both venues share the Wine Garden event space. Community membership works at both locations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Donkey & Goat Winery: Berkeley-based small-lot winery specializing in natural, minimal-intervention Rhône and Burgundian varietals with a strong DTC and wine club model. Directly comparable in philosophy, varietal focus, and small production scale to Kivelstadt Cellars.
• Broc Cellars: Berkeley natural-wine producer focused on obscure varietals, field blends, and minimal-intervention winemaking from organic California vineyards. Closely comparable in scale, technique, and unconventional varietal positioning.
• Matthiasson Family Vineyards: Napa/Sonoma producer known for restrained, terroir-driven wines with minimal intervention. Comparable in farming philosophy (organic/sustainable) and emphasis on food-friendly, restrained styles rather than high-extraction California norms.
• Radio-Coteau: Sonoma Coast winery practicing organic and biodynamic viticulture with minimal-intervention winemaking. Directly comparable in geographic focus (Sonoma), small-lot production, and natural-wine ethos.
• Forlorn Hope Wines: Small California producer known for obscure varietals, field blends, and minimal-intervention winemaking from organic sites. Highly comparable in niche-varietal differentiation and artisan positioning.
• Stirm Wine Co. Santa Cruz Mountains-based small winery producing minimal-intervention wines from heritage and unconventional California vineyards. Comparable in scale, sourcing model, and DTC-driven sales approach.
• Two Shepherds Wine: Sonoma-based small-batch winery producing natural, minimal-intervention wines including skin-contact whites. Highly comparable in natural-wine positioning, Sonoma footprint, and small DTC operation.
• Scholium Project: California natural-wine project producing highly distinctive, minimal-intervention wines from unusual varietals and sites. Comparable in artisanal positioning and unconventional varietal focus.

Broad incumbents

• Ridge Vineyards: Larger, iconic Sonoma/California winery with a long history of single-vineyard, field-blend, and minimal-intervention wines. Operates broadly across multiple varietals and price points and competes in the same on-premise and natural-leaning channels as Kivelstadt, but at much greater scale and distribution.
• Benziger Family Winery: Sonoma Mountain winery with certified biodynamic estate vineyards and a wide DTC, tasting, and wine club operation. Comparable in Sonoma location, organic/sustainable positioning, and DTC infrastructure, but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kivelstadt
• Facebookfacebook.com/KivelstadtCellars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Kivelstadt Cellars