Chateau St Croix Winery

What Chateau St Croix Winery does

Chateau St. Croix Winery is a privately held, family-owned estate winery established in 2004 in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, founded and operated by Irv and Anna Geary. The company cultivates ten cold-hardy hybrid grape varieties, including Marquette, Frontenac, La Crescent, Itasca, Petite Pearl, and Marechal Foch, across a 2.5-acre vineyard set within a 55-acre estate. Winemaking relies on traditional French chateau-style techniques including French oak barrel aging for select varietals (18 to 36+ months), producing a portfolio of approximately 20 wines spanning whites, rosés, reds, and dessert wines/ports, with bottles priced between $19 and $55. The company has accumulated an extensive award record at international competitions including the Finger Lakes, San Francisco International, Indy International, and International Cold Climate Wine Competitions, with multiple Double Gold, Gold, and Best of Show distinctions.

The business operates a multi-revenue direct-to-consumer and hospitality model. Primary revenue comes from wine bottle sales through the on-site tasting room, regional wholesale distribution in Wisconsin and Minnesota liquor stores, and online ordering via the Vinoshipper platform. Ancillary revenue streams include $15 walk-in wine tastings (five 2oz pours), $35 per-person private tour and tasting events (10-person minimum), a full on-site bistro with weekend brunch service, room and patio rentals ($50-$1,000 depending on space and season), wedding venue services with horse-drawn carriage options, and the Case Club subscription loyalty program offering 20% discounts, early release access, and exclusive event invitations. The customer base spans individual visitors, wine enthusiasts, corporate and private event groups, and wedding clients, with the venue functioning as a destination hospitality site in the Wisconsin-Minnesota border region.

The winery operates with 11-50 employees and has no disclosed institutional investment, private equity involvement, or parent company. No patents, AI/ML capabilities, or technology-platform components are present in the operating model, which remains anchored in agricultural production, hospitality, and event-driven sales. Distribution remains regional (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and selected online shipping), and the broader portfolio leans on cold-climate viticulture as a niche specialization rather than scale-driven winemaking.

Name

Chateau St Croix Winery

Legal name

Chateau St. Croix Winery

Website

https://chateaustcroix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chateau St. Croix Winery is a family-owned estate winery in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, producing cold-climate wines from a 2.5-acre vineyard and serving visitors through on-site tastings, a bistro, event rentals, weddings, and regional wholesale distribution in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

akta.pro primary industry

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Estate winery
• Wine production
• Cold climate viticulture
• Wine tastings
• Event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Croix Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales: Direct bottle sales of wines across multiple varieties including whites, roses, reds, and dessert wines. Prices range from $19-$55 per bottle.
2. Wine Tastings: Walk-in wine tasting experience offering five 2oz pours for $15 per person. Includes cheese, salami and crackers deli add-on available.
3. Food and Beverage: On-site bistro with full hot and cold menu, weekend brunch service, full bar with craft beer, signature cocktails, mocktails, and NA beverages.
4. Venue Rentals: Private event rentals including Art Gallery room ($50-$100/hour), Covered Patio ($200-$1000 depending on size/day), and catering services from in-house gourmet bistro.
5. Wedding Services: Wedding ceremonies and receptions hosted at chateau venue with customizable packages.
6. Private Tours: Private tour and tasting events at $35 per person with 10-person minimum, including winery tour, vineyard visit, cheese platter, and private tasting in art gallery.
7. Case Club Membership: Loyalty program offering 20% off purchases, free birthday week tasting, Case Club party invitations, early access to new wines, and twice-yearly deep discount opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chateau St. Croix Winery produces and sells a diverse portfolio of cold-climate wines (whites, rosés, reds, and dessert/port wines) crafted from cold-hardy hybrid grape varieties grown on its 2.5-acre vineyard within a 55-acre French chateau-style estate in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. In addition to wine production, the winery operates an on-site tasting room, bistro, event venue, and wedding hosting services, with a Case Club loyalty membership program.

Product overview

Chateau St. Croix Winery is a traditional French chateau-style estate winery located in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. The company produces a diverse portfolio of cold-climate wines including white wines (Itasca, Chardonnay, Chateau Blanc, Cheesehead White, Wisconsin White/La Crescent, Minnesota White/Frontenac Gris, Golden Harvest), rosé wines (Chateau Rosé, Wild River Rosé), red wines (Skol Red, Wisconsin Red, Thoroughbred Red, Valkömmen, Buckhunter Red, Marquessa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Marco V Red, Twin Stallion, Scarlet), and dessert wines/ports (Chateau Rouge, Jaune d'OR Port, Marco V Port, Ruby Port, 15 Year Reserve Port). Beyond wine production, the winery offers wine tasting experiences ($15 for five pours), private tour and tasting events ($35/person), an on-site bistro with brunch service, room rentals and catering for events, wedding venue services, and a Case Club membership program. The vineyard grows cold-hardy hybrid grape varieties on a 2.5-acre parcel within the 55-acre property.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Itasca Dry white wine made from the University of Minnesota's Itasca grape release, featuring soft aromas of ripe pear and floral notes with mineral notes of limestone and wet slate; suited to consumers seeking a cold-climate white wine.
• Chardonnay Medium-bodied dry white wine with minimal oak contact, allowing fruit characteristics to dominate; pairs with grilled chicken, salmon, heavy cream sauce, and soft cheese.
• Chateau Blanc Semi-dry white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and La Crescent grapes, featuring vanilla and ripe grapefruit bouquet with green apple and pomegranate layers finishing with tangerine.
• Cheesehead White Off-dry white blend of La Crescent, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc with notes of grapefruit and tangerine and a floral finish, marketed for tailgating.
• Wisconsin White (La Crescent) La Crescent blend opening with citrus and sweet honey aromas, featuring tangerine and apricot on the palate; designed to pair with poultry or seafood.
• Minnesota White (Frontenac Gris) Medium-bodied semi-sweet white with citrus, pineapple, and tropical notes made from Frontenac Gris grapes; pairs with Indian cuisine and grilled chicken.
• Golden Harvest Sweet white wine blend of late-harvested local grapes with explosive notes of apricot, grapefruit, peaches, and citrus.
• Chateau Rosé Rosé blend of Frontenac and La Crescent grapes with aromas of crushed cranberries, strawberries, and tart cherries; pairs well with ham and turkey.
• Wild River Rosé Sweet rosé blend of Frontenac and Frontenac Gris with cherry, strawberry, and pink grapefruit aromas and a melon finish.
• Skol Red Jammy-bodied red with cranberry and dark cherry aromas, positioned as a crowd-pleasing wine for game day gatherings; pairs with buffalo wings and pizza.
• Wisconsin Red Locally grown blend of Marquette grapes; complex medium-bodied red with dark cherries, blackberry, baking spices, vanilla, and toasted oak finish.
• Thoroughbred Red Smooth medium-bodied red blend with dark cherry, plum, stewed fruit, black pepper, cloves, and vanilla; pairs with grilled burgers and brisket.
• Valkömmen Medium-bodied earthy red featuring Petite Pearl and Marquette grapes sourced from Lindstrom, Minnesota; black cherry and raspberry nose with bramble fruit and wild choke cherry on palate.
• Buckhunter Red Medium-bodied red blend with dark fruit, tobacco, dried leaves, and forest floor aromas; aged in French oak barrels for 24 months; positioned for venison and wild game pairings.
• Marquessa (Reserve Marquette) Complex medium-bodied red aged 18 months in French oak with dark cherry, blackberry, clove, and baking spices; produced following Marquessa Consortium standards.
• Cabernet Sauvignon Full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with black cherry, black currants, spice, cocoa, and baking spices; aged 24 months in French oak barrels.
• Marco V Red Proprietary red blend designed to complement Marco V cigars with dark berry, leather, and spice aromas; created as a co-developed offering with Marco V Cigars.
• Twin Stallion Winemaker's Blend Bold blend of Tannat and Petite Sirah aged in French oak with spicy plum, black cherry, clove, and tobacco and a long finish.
• Scarlet Limited-production blend of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon with dark fruit, black tea, and baking spice; aged 36+ months in French oak; only 75 cases produced.
• Chateau Rouge Sweet red dessert wine blending Marquette and Frontenac grapes with fresh berries, black cherries, and vanilla; pairs with dark chocolate.
• Jaune d'OR Port White wine port aged in French oak casks for three years with caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, and a smooth silky finish.
• Marco V Port (Dessert Wine) Ruby-style port created to pair with Marco V mild cigars; features notes of ripe cherries, plum, pepper, and candied fruit.
• Ruby Port Frontenac port barrel aged in French and American oak for four or more years with chocolate-covered cherries, mocha, and a long finish.
• 15 Year Reserve Port Rare Zinfandel port aged 15 years in barrel with fig, date, chocolate, navel orange, leather, vanilla, caramel, toffee, and violet aromatics.
• Wine Tastings Walk-in wine tasting experience offering five 2oz pours of customer's choice wines for $15 per person, with optional deli cheese, salami, and crackers add-on.
• Private Tours and Tastings Private 1.5-hour winery tour for groups of 10-50 persons at $35 per person, including vineyard tour, wine glass, meat/cheese platter, and private tasting in the art gallery.
• Chateau Bistro On-site restaurant with full hot and cold menu, weekend brunch service (Saturdays and Sundays 10am-2pm), full bar with craft beer, signature cocktails, mocktails, and NA beverages.
• Room Rentals and Event Space Event space rentals including the Art Gallery room (seating up to 40 guests at $50-$100/hour) and the Covered Patio (seating 100-225 guests at $200-$1000 depending on size, day of week, and season).
• Chateau Catering Catering services for private and corporate events featuring in-house smoked meats, salads, and sides from the gourmet bistro.
• Case Club Membership Wine club membership offering 20% off wine purchases, free birthday week tasting, invitations to Case Club parties, early access to new wine releases, and twice-yearly deep discount opportunities.
• Wedding Venue Services Wedding ceremony and reception hosting at the French chateau-style venue with horse-drawn carriage options, customizable packages, and event coordination including in-house catering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple award-winning wines recognized at international competitions including Finger Lakes, San Francisco, Indy International, and International Cold Climate Wine Competitions
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Marco V CigarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for complementary products: Marco V dessert wine and Marco V Red wine were created specifically to pair with Marco V mild cigars, providing an after-dinner experience combining wine and cigar enjoyment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chateau Ste. Michelle: Washington state's largest and best-known premium winery with a nationwide distribution footprint and broad portfolio of wines; included as a broad incumbent framing Cold-climate/wine scale, although geographic and category scope differ significantly from Chateau St. Croix.

Direct peers

• Wollersheim Winery: Wisconsin's best-known estate winery (Prairie du Sac) producing premium wines including ports, with an established tasting room, bistro, and event business serving the same Wisconsin DTC market as Chateau St. Croix.
• Indian Island Winery: Janesville, MN estate winery producing cold-climate wines and hosting live music, weddings, and special events with an integrated tasting room—structurally analogous to Chateau St. Croix's event-driven estate model.
• Wild Mountain Winery: Cold-climate estate winery in Taylors Falls, MN—directly across the St. Croix River from Chateau St. Croix—offering a comparable portfolio of hybrid varietal wines, tasting room, events, and live music programming to Upper Midwest consumers.
• Parley Lake Winery: Waconia, MN cold-climate estate winery offering a portfolio of hybrid varietal wines, an on-site tasting room, and event/wedding hosting—comparable scale and GTM motion within the same regional category.
• Carlos Creek Winery: Minnesota (Alexandria) destination winery combining cold-climate wine production with on-site restaurant, events, live music, and weddings under one estate, closely paralleling Chateau St. Croix's integrated hospitality/winery model.

Emerging players

• Alexis Bailly Vineyard: Hastings, MN pioneer cold-climate vineyard/winery producing wines from Minnesota-developed French-American hybrid grapes, comparable in varietal specialization but with a smaller estate/events model than Chateau St. Croix.
• Northern Vineyards Winery: Stillwater, MN winery focused on cold-climate grape varieties and Minnesota AVA production, with a smaller-scale tasting room—comparable in varietal focus though with a less expansive hospitality footprint than Chateau St. Croix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chateaustcroix
• Instagraminstagram.com/chateaustcroix

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 Chateau St Croix Winery