Senses Wines
Senses Wines is a privately held Sonoma Coast boutique winery producing allocated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (and a Napa Cabernet) under winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, sold primarily via a direct-to-consumer mailing list and select Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersOccidental, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Senses Wines does
Senses Wines is a privately held, family-owned boutique winery founded in 2011 in Occidental, California, by childhood friends Christopher Strieter, Max Thieriot, and Myles Lawrence-Briggs. The company produces world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from cool-climate sites in the West Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley AVAs, and has expanded into a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville. The portfolio comprises 18 SKUs across four tiers: Appellation, Vineyard designate, Reserve, and Estate, with vineyard assets including the B.A. Thieriot, Bodega Thieriot, and Day One (formerly Hillcrest) estate properties. Winemaking is led by Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the most credentialed winemakers in Napa and Sonoma with multiple 100-point critic scores, supported by Assistant Winemaker Derek Flegal.
The business is built on a deliberate scarcity model. Production remains limited to a few thousand cases annually, grown from 100 cases at founding, and wines are sold primarily through a direct-to-consumer mailing list allocation system with three releases per year (Spring, Summer, Fall). A secondary wholesale channel places the wines in select Michelin-starred restaurants (SingleThread, The French Laundry, Restaurant at Meadowood, Quince among 3-star accounts) and high-end wine shops globally. Senses Wines is distinguished by hands-off, minimal-intervention winemaking using indigenous yeasts and French cooperage, family-planted vineyard sites, and consistent 95-99 point critic scores. There are no external funding rounds, the company is unprofitable only in the sense of being privately held, and operations are entirely traditional with no disclosed software, AI, or technology platform. The customer base consists of wine collectors and enthusiasts seeking allocated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and fine-dining establishments seeking prestigious wine program additions.
Senses Wines firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Senses Wines
- Legal name
- Senses Wines
- Website
- https://senseswines.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Senses Wines is a privately held Sonoma Coast boutique winery producing allocated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (and a Napa Cabernet) under winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, sold primarily via a direct-to-consumer mailing list and select Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Senses Wines industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Boutique Winery
- NAICS
- Wineries (312130), Wineries (31213), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF)
Keywords
Where Senses Wines is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Occidental
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Senses Wines business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-consumer allocation sales: Wines offered exclusively to active mailing list members through periodic releases. Members receive allocation offers during Spring and Fall release windows. This is the primary revenue channel.
- Wholesale to restaurants and wine shops: Wines distributed through select fine dining restaurants and wine merchants globally. Includes Michelin-starred establishments and high-end wine retailers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Mailing list allocation model - no tiered pricing structure publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Senses Wines product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Senses Wines is a boutique Sonoma County winery that produces limited quantities of premium, terroir-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon from estate and contracted vineyards in the West Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Napa Valley Oakville. Wines are sold primarily through a direct-to-consumer mailing list allocation system with three seasonal releases per year, supplemented by selective placement at Michelin-starred restaurants and high-end wine retailers globally.
Product overview
Senses Wines is a boutique winery producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from renowned vineyard sites throughout Sonoma County, California. Founded in 2011, the company offers a portfolio of wines organized into four tiers: Appellation wines (regional blends from Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and West Sonoma Coast), Vineyard designate wines (single vineyard expressions like Charles Heintz, Kanzler, Dutton Ranch), Reserve wines (premium selections including UV Silver Eagle, Tenth Stop, MCM88, and Dutton Bodega), and Estate wines (from family-owned vineyards including B.A. Thieriot, Bodega Thieriot, and Day One/Hillcrest). The company also produces a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines are sold exclusively through a direct-to-consumer mailing list membership model, with releases offered three times annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Russian River Valley Chardonnay Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley appellation, with tasting notes of ripe yellow apples, apricots, Marcona almonds, and baking bread. Medium to full-bodied with silky texture and savory finish. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining and retail accounts.
- Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast appellation featuring vanilla panna cotta, ripe peach, quince, allspice, and flint notes with vibrant acidity. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining and retail accounts.
- Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley with flavors of baked cherry, raspberry, cedar, cola spice, black tea, and cinnamon with rich tannin structure. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining and retail accounts.
- Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast with Bing cherry, crushed cranberry, nori, and floral aromatics, featuring energetic acidity and plush tannin. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining and retail accounts.
- West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir New Pinot Noir from West Sonoma Coast AVA featuring blackberry, raspberry, potpourri, citrus peel, and earthy undertones with silky elegance. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining and retail accounts.
- Charles Heintz Chardonnay Single vineyard Chardonnay from Charles Heintz Vineyard, recognized by Robert Parker as one of the great grand cru Chardonnay sites in California. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir Pinot Noir from Kanzler Vineyard, one of the first vineyards in the rolling hills southwest of Sebastopol, located eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir Inaugural release Pinot Noir representing the best barrels from Dutton Ranch vineyards, primarily in the western Green Valley region. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- El Diablo Chardonnay Chardonnay from El Diablo vineyard on a ridge above Eastside Road in Russian River Valley, planted in 2008 by Ulises Valdez. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Terra de Promissio Pinot Noir Pinot Noir from Terra de Promissio in the Petaluma Gap region, known for ideal terroir with slow maturation and extended hang time. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- UV - Silver Eagle Chardonnay Reserve Chardonnay from Silver Eagle Vineyard with honey-drizzled pears, juicy peaches, and fresh musk melon, Montrachet clone planted in 2006. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Tenth Stop Chardonnay Reserve Chardonnay named after Occidental, the tenth stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad, with vibrant grapefruit, fresh pears, and spiced apple notes. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- MCM88 Pinot Noir Boldest Pinot Noir from Perry Ranch (formerly Keefer Ranch), named for founders Max, Christopher, and Myles. MCM stands for founders and 1900, with 88 marking birth year 1988. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Dutton Bodega Pinot Noir Inaugural release Pinot Noir from Dutton Bodega vineyard planted in 2018 across 18.14 acres, certified CSWA vineyard nestled among Sonoma County redwoods. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- B.A. Thieriot Chardonnay Estate Chardonnay from B.A. Thieriot property, one of the premiere vineyards in the Sonoma Coast, planted in 1989. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Bodega Thieriot Pinot Noir Estate Pinot Noir from Bodega Thieriot planted in 2016, located five miles from the Pacific Ocean, the coolest site the winery works with. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Day One Pinot Noir Pinot Noir from Hillcrest Vineyard, the original estate where founders hand-farmed and harvested their first vintage. Formerly known as Hillcrest Vineyard. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville in Napa Valley, sourced from hillside fruit near legendary estates, representing Max Thieriot's passion for Cabernet and Thomas Rivers Brown's winemaking expertise. Sold via mailing list allocation and select fine dining accounts.
- Wine Club Mailing List Membership Mailing list membership offering exclusive access to purchase wines three times per year (Spring, Summer, and Fall) with allocations provided to active members. The membership is the gateway to all Senses wine purchases for individual consumers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Wines consistently score 95-99 points from major wine critics including Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Jeb Dunnuck
Companies that use Senses Wines
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Senses Wines technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Senses Wines partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma CountycoreRebuild Wine Country initiative was created in partnership with Habitat for Humanity to aid recovery after the devastating 2017 wildfires in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Solano and Mendocino Counties. More than $1 million has been raised toward a $5 million goal. Senses founders Christopher Strieter, Max Thieriot and Myles Lawrence-Briggs were instrumental in this charitable effort.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Senses Wines competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Failla Wines: Cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast and other sites, with a comparable small-production, single-vineyard portfolio and on-premise presence.
- DuMOL: Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist with an on-premise and DTC allocation focus. Comparable in size, varietal mix, and on-premise distribution.
- Williams Selyem: Iconic Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer with a famous allocation-based mailing list. Closely comparable to Senses in varietal mix, geography, allocation model, and reliance on high critic scores.
- Aubert Wines: Highly allocated Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer with a strong mailing list and very high critic scores. Direct analog to Senses in production scarcity, pricing, and collector demand.
- Littorai Wines: Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer focused on cool-climate, biodynamic-farmed vineyards. Similar in geography, philosophy, and small-production, allocation-driven model.
- Kistler Vineyards: Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialist with a strong on-premise and fine-wine collector following. Comparable in varietal focus, single-vineyard approach, and restrained, terroir-driven winemaking.
Emerging players
- Evening Land Vineyards: Cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer with sites in Oregon and California's Sonoma Coast. Comparable in cool-climate focus and premium single-vineyard identity.
- Thomas Rivers Brown / Rivers-Marie: Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown's own project, providing direct insight into his style and showing how Senses' value is tied to his talent. Comparable in winemaker influence and Pinot Noir focus.
Broad incumbents
- Peter Michael Winery: Established Sonoma and Knights Valley producer of high-end Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with broader portfolio and larger scale than Senses. Relevant benchmark for on-premise placement and premium pricing.
Regional players
- Williams Selyem (alt-listing) / Scherrer Winery: Small, family-run Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer using restrained winemaking. Comparable in scale, family ownership, and Sonoma geographic focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Senses Wines social profiles
Digital presenceSenses Wines compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Senses Wines financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Senses Wines leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Senses Wines funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Senses Wines M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Senses Wines
What does Senses Wines do?
Senses Wines is a boutique Sonoma County winery that produces limited quantities of premium, terroir-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon from estate and contracted vineyards in the West Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Napa Valley Oakville. Wines are sold primarily through a direct-to-consumer mailing list allocation system with three seasonal releases per year, supplemented by selective placement at Michelin-starred restaurants and high-end wine retailers globally.
Is Senses Wines a public or private company?
Senses Wines is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Senses Wines founded?
Senses Wines was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Senses Wines based?
Senses Wines is headquartered in Occidental, United States, in the North America region.
How does Senses Wines make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-consumer allocation sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale to restaurants and wine shops.
Who are Senses Wines's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Failla Wines, DuMOL, Williams Selyem, Aubert Wines, Littorai Wines and Kistler Vineyards. Emerging players are Evening Land Vineyards and Thomas Rivers Brown / Rivers-Marie. Peter Michael Winery is listed as a broad incumbent. Williams Selyem (alt-listing) / Scherrer Winery is listed as a regional player.
Does Senses Wines have an API?
No public API is recorded for Senses Wines.
What industry is Senses Wines in?
Senses Wines's product category is Boutique Winery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAB, Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAE, Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312130 and its SIC code is 5180.