Oenobrands

What Oenobrands does

Oenobrands is a privately held French wine biotechnology company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Montpellier, France. The company develops and markets biobased oenological inputs for professional winemakers worldwide, operating across five product categories: pectolytic and specialty enzymes (RAPIDASE brand), Saccharomyces cerevisiae and non-conventional yeast strains for alcoholic fermentation (FERMIVIN and ANCHOR Yeast brands), lactic acid bacteria cultures for malolactic fermentation (ANCHOR Bacteria and MALOFERM brands), yeast derivatives and nutrients for fermentation management (feel SAFE! and ANCHOR Nutrients brands), and mannoproteins for tartrate stabilization and mouthfeel (CLARISTAR and FINAL TOUCH brands). Its competitive advantage is built on proprietary biological strains and enzyme formulations developed through research collaborations with more than 20 international institutions including INRAE, CNRS, IFV, AWRI, and the University of Stellenbosch/IWBT.

Oenobrands employs between 11 and 50 people and sells its products through a global distributor network spanning major wine-producing regions in Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Germany), Southern Africa (South Africa), Oceania (Australia, New Zealand), the Americas (USA, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay), with technical support delivered in English, French, Spanish, and Italian. The company maintains a content-led marketing approach anchored by the Oenobook technical guide series (16 editions), peer-reviewed publication activity, and active social channels. Revenue is generated through product sales to wineries of all scales, with pricing not publicly disclosed and distribution intermediated by regional partners rather than direct enterprise contracts.

The company's R&D model relies on sustained partnerships with premier wine science research institutes across both hemispheres, enabling year-round development and access to emerging research in fermentation science, aroma chemistry, and wine biotechnology. Recent product launches (2026) include specialty yeasts for thiol expression and low-sulfur-compound production, as well as a co-inoculation bacteria strain for warm-climate red fermentations, indicating an active innovation pipeline targeted at premium aromatic wine styles and climate-adapted winemaking.

Name

Oenobrands

Legal name

Oenobrands

Website

https://oenobrands.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oenobrands is a French wine biotechnology company that develops and sells biobased oenological inputs, including enzymes, yeasts, bacteria, mannoproteins, and yeast derivatives, to professional wineries worldwide through a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Biotechnology Products (Oenological Inputs)

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Beverage Fermentation Cultures (Beer, Wine, Cider, Kombucha, Fermented Soft Drinks) (AFAJAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Enzymes & Processing Aids (Baking, Brewing, Dairy, Meat) (CRADAOAH)

Keywords

• Oenological products
• Wine yeast strains
• Winemaking enzymes
• Malolactic bacteria cultures
• Fermentation nutrients

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpellier

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Winemaking Inputs and Solutions: Oenobrands generates revenue through the sale of specialized oenological products including enzymes, yeast strains, bacteria cultures, yeast derivatives, and mannoproteins to winemakers worldwide. The company operates through a global distributor network with multilingual support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Oenobrands manufactures and supplies biobased oenological inputs for winemaking — including pectolytic and specialty enzymes (RAPIDASE), specialty Saccharomyces cerevisiae and non-conventional yeast strains (FERMIVIN, ANCHOR Yeast), lactic acid bacteria cultures for malolactic fermentation (ANCHOR Bacteria, MALOFERM), yeast-derived nutrients and fermentation aids (feel SAFE!, ANCHOR Nutrients), and mannoproteins for tartrate stabilization and mouthfeel (CLARISTAR, FINAL TOUCH). These products are sold to wine producers worldwide through a global distributor network, accompanied by multilingual technical protocols and the Oenobook technical guide series.

Product overview

Oenobrands is a biobased oenological solutions company specializing in high-performance enzymes, yeasts, yeast derivates, mannoproteins, and bacteria for winemaking. The product portfolio operates under multiple sub-brands: RAPIDASE (pectolytic and other enzymes for clarification, flotation, color extraction, and aroma expression), FERMIVIN and ANCHOR Yeast (inoculation and specialty yeast strains for alcoholic fermentation), ANCHOR Bacteria and MALOFERM (lactic acid bacteria cultures for malolactic fermentation), feel SAFE! and ANCHOR Nutrients (yeast derivatives and nutrients for fermentation management and yeast nutrition), and CLARISTAR and FINAL TOUCH (mannoproteins for tartrate stabilization and mouthfeel enhancement). The company provides these products as standalone solutions while also offering integrated winemaking protocols and technical guidance for optimizing fermentations and wine quality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RAPIDASE: Enzyme product line for winemaking clarification, flotation, color extraction, and aroma enhancement
• FERMIVIN
• ANCHOR Yeast
• ANCHOR Bacteria
• MALOFERM
• ANCHOR Nutrients
• feel SAFE!
• CLARISTAR
• FINAL TOUCH

Products and services

• RAPIDASE RAPIDASE is Oenobrands' enzyme brand covering a family of pectolytic and specialty enzymes (Rapidase Choice, Proteostab, Expression Aroma, Extra Press, Clear, Clear Extreme, Flotation, Thermoflash, Fast Color, Fresh Berry, Extra Fruit, Extra Color, VinoFast, GlucanFree, Batonnage, and Revelation Aroma) for juice clarification, flotation, color extraction, protein stabilization, and aroma release in winemaking.
• FERMIVIN FERMIVIN is Oenobrands' Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast brand with In-Line Ready formulations and more than 20 strains (including VINEAE, PRIMATHIOL, 3C, IT61, TS28, 4F9, AR2, LVCB, VB1, SM102, JB3, LS2, A33, P21, REVEAL, MT48, VR5, PF6, XL, E73, PDM, 7013, CHAMPION, and Champion Booster) for alcoholic fermentation across white, rosé, red, and stuck-fermentation restart applications.
• ANCHOR Yeast ANCHOR Yeast is Oenobrands' specialty yeast brand covering the Exotics series (Mosaic, Novello), Alchemy I–IV, and Legacy strains (NT 50, NT 112, WE 372, NT 116, ThiolBloom, VIN 13, VIN 7, VIN 2000, N 96, NT 202), used for premium and differentiated alcoholic fermentations across white, rosé, and red wine styles.
• ANCHOR Bacteria ANCHOR Bacteria is Oenobrands' lactic acid bacteria culture range purpose-designed for co-inoculation malolactic fermentation, including the Duet co-cultures (Duet Arom, Duet Soft, Duet Mature) that combine Lactobacillus plantarum with Oenococcus oeni, plus Solo Select and Solo Aurora for sequential MLF.
• MALOFERM MALOFERM is Oenobrands' lactic acid bacteria brand for malolactic fermentation, with sequential and co-inoculation strains including Maloferm Plus, Maloferm Fruity, Maloferm Vintage, Maloferm Bouquet, and the 2026-launched Maloferm Fruta DUO, used for both traditional and warm/co-inoculation MLF regimes.
• feel SAFE! feel SAFE! is Oenobrands' yeast-derivative product line for fermentation management, including Maxaferm complex nutrients, Maxaferm ML Force for Oenococcus oeni support, Natuferm organic nutrition variants (Pure, Bright, Fruity, Intense), and Extraferm Dtox and D'fend for stuck fermentation restart, fatty acid detoxification, and antimicrobial protection.
• ANCHOR Nutrients ANCHOR Nutrients is Oenobrands' nutrient range for yeast and bacteria during alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, including Revive, Nourish, and Conquer products used to manage nutrient status and fermentation completion.
• CLARISTAR CLARISTAR is Oenobrands' mannoprotein range for tartrate stabilization and improvement of wine mouthfeel and clarity, applied post-fermentation as part of wine finishing and stabilization.
• FINAL TOUCH FINAL TOUCH is Oenobrands' targeted-mouthfeel mannoprotein brand including Final touch POP, Final touch TONIC, and Final touch GUSTO, used by winemakers for the targeted modulation of wine volume, structure, and mouthfeel at the end of winemaking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maxaferm allows end of fermentation at 21 days with no residual sugar vs 26 days with 18 g/L residual sugar in control (Inter Rhône 2016 study)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

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

• INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national research institute for agriculture, food and environment. Major research partner for oenological science and wine biotechnology development.
• IFV (Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench institute for vine and wine research. Collaborates on applied winemaking research and technology transfer.
• AWRI (Australian Wine Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Australian wine research organization. Key partner for yeast and fermentation research including YAN studies.
• University of Stellenbosch / IWBTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African wine biotechnology research center. Major partner for wine science research in the southern hemisphere.
• VITEC (Vinos y Tecnología)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish wine technology center. Collaborates on winemaking solutions and varietal research.
• BNIC (Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national interprofessional body for Cognac. Research collaboration on spirits fermentation.
• Fondazione Edmund MachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian agricultural and wine research foundation based in Trentino. Partner for Italian wine research.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national scientific research center. Fundamental research partnerships in biochemistry and microbiology.
• Universidad de la República (Uruguay)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUruguayan national university with enology department. South American research collaboration.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChilemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Chilean university with wine science program. Research partnership for South American wine production.
• Oregon State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university with prominent wine science program. North American research collaboration.
• ARC (Agricultural Research Council, South Africa)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African agricultural research council. Regional research partnership for wine production.
• Charles Sturt University (Australia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian university with wine science program. Southern hemisphere research collaboration.
• INTA (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Argentina)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine national agricultural technology institute. Regional research partnership for wine production.
• CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Italy)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian research council for agriculture. Italian wine research collaboration.
• University of Trento / C3A (Italy)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian university center for agricultural research. Alpine wine region research partnership.
• Universidad Politécnica de MadridmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish technical university. Research collaboration for Spanish wine production.
• LAAE Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAragon wine research center. Regional Spanish wine research partnership.
• Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalan university with wine research program. Northeastern Spain wine research collaboration.
• BRI (Beverage Research International, New Zealand)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand beverage research organization. Southern hemisphere wine research collaboration.
• WBI (Weinbauinstitut, Germany)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman wine institute. Central European wine research collaboration.
• IUVV (Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin, France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench institute for vine and wine sciences. Major fundamental research partnership in Bordeaux wine region.
• IBMM-CNRS (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench biochemistry research laboratory. Molecular and cellular biology research collaboration.
• CRVI-Corse (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorsican wine research center. Regional Mediterranean wine research partnership.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lallemand (Lalvin): Lallemand is the global leader in wine yeast, bacteria, and enzymes (Lalvin brand). Most direct competitor to Oenobrands' FERMIVIN, ANCHOR, and MALOFERM ranges; comparable biobased oenological solutions portfolio.
• Laffort: French family-owned specialist in oenological products — yeast, enzymes, bacteria, tannins, and fining agents. Direct competitor with comparable product breadth and similar specialty positioning vs. Oenobrands.
• AEB Group: Italian oenological products manufacturer offering enzymes, yeasts, bacteria, and fermentation nutrients. Direct competitor in the specialty wine ingredients market with comparable product categories and global distribution.
• Enologica Vason: Italian company specializing in oenological products including enzymes, yeasts, bacteria, tannins, and mannoproteins for winemaking. Closely comparable product portfolio and customer base to Oenobrands.

Broad incumbents

• Lesaffre: Lesaffre is a global fermentation specialist producing yeast and fermentation ingredients under multiple brands (including Phileo and oenological offerings). Larger, broader portfolio with overlapping wine yeast and bacteria products.
• Chr. Hansen / Novonesis: Novonesis (formed from Novozymes-Chr. Hansen merger) is a major ingredient giant with oenological enzymes and cultures. Significant overlap with Oenobrands' RAPIDASE enzyme range and bacteria cultures; vastly larger scale and broader food/beverage portfolio.
• DSM-Firmenich: Global ingredient conglomerate with food and beverage enzyme and culture offerings, including oenological applications. Far broader portfolio but overlaps with Oenobrands in specialty winemaking enzymes and cultures.

Emerging players

• AB Biotics (Kaneka): Biotech company with proprietary probiotic and yeast strain portfolio that has expanded into wine and brewing yeast applications. Competes with Oenobrands in selected specialty yeast categories.
• Bioseutica: Specialty biotechnology company with oenological enzyme and lysozyme offerings relevant to winemaking. Emerging peer with partial overlap to Oenobrands' enzyme portfolio.

Regional players

• IOC (Institut Œnologique de Champagne): French specialist oenological products company focused on Champagne and broader French markets. Direct peer in product range (yeasts, enzymes, bacteria) but more regionally concentrated than Oenobrands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Oenobrands
• Facebookfacebook.com/oenobrands
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oenobrands

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Oenobrands