Standing Stone Vineyards
Standing Stone Vineyards is a Finger Lakes winery on Seneca Lake producing estate-grown, low-intervention wines from old vines (1972-1974), including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, traditional-method sparkling, and a signature Saperavi Teinturier Series, sold direct-to-consumer through a tasting room, online shop, and wine club subscriptions under shared ownership with Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersHector, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Standing Stone Vineyards does
Standing Stone Vineyards is a privately held Finger Lakes winery operating on the southeast slopes of Seneca Lake in Hector, New York. The estate is built on Vitis vinifera vineyards first planted by Charles Fournier and Guy Devaux of Gold Seal Vineyards in 1972 and 1974 — among the earliest commercial vinifera plantings in the region — and includes over six acres of Saperavi, the largest such planting outside the Republic of Georgia. The portfolio spans traditional-method sparkling wines (Blanc de Blanc from 1974 Chardonnay), still Riesling and Gewürztraminer from the old vines, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay Reserve, and the signature Saperavi Teinturier Series, with newer additions including the 2024 Pétillant Naturel and the first skin-fermented Riesling (2022). All fermentations rely on indigenous yeasts without fining additives, adjustments, enzymes, or nutrients, and the vineyards have transitioned since 2018 to biodynamic, herbicide-free farming; the sibling Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard was certified Demeter biodynamic in 2023, the only such property east of the Rockies.
The business operates almost entirely on a direct-to-consumer model. Sales are generated through a walk-in tasting room on Seneca Lake (open Thursday through Monday), an owned e-commerce storefront at shop.wiemer.com, and a tiered wine club program including the Kabinett Subscription (two curated shipments per year), Kabinett Loyalty Program (unlocks after 24 bottles), Teinturier Series, and Shale Bedrock Series. Marketing is conducted via Instagram, Facebook, an email newsletter, press coverage in James Suckling, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine & Spirits Magazine, and a YouTube TechTalks series. Standing Stone was purchased in 2017 by Fred and Maressa Merwarth and Oskar Bynke, who also own Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard; the two brands share ownership, leadership (Fred Merwarth as Head Winemaker, Dillon Buckley as Winemaker, Bryanna Cramer as Associate Winemaker), and production facilities but operate as distinct consumer brands.
Standing Stone Vineyards firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Standing Stone Vineyards
- Legal name
- Standing Stone Vineyards
- Website
- https://standingstonewines.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Standing Stone Vineyards is a Finger Lakes winery on Seneca Lake producing estate-grown, low-intervention wines from old vines (1972-1974), including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, traditional-method sparkling, and a signature Saperavi Teinturier Series, sold direct-to-consumer through a tasting room, online shop, and wine club subscriptions under shared ownership with Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Standing Stone Vineyards industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Winery / Estate-Grown Wines
- NAICS
- Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332)
- 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), Wine Grape Vineyard Operations (Varietal/AVA Practices, Yield & Quality Targets) (AFAGAJAJ), Vineyard Certification & Sustainability Programs (Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative, GAP) (AFAGAJAL)
Keywords
Where Standing Stone Vineyards is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hector
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Standing Stone Vineyards business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Wine Sales: Wines sold through the tasting room and online shop. Customers can purchase by the glass, bottle, or in flights. Includes seasonal menu variations.
- Wine Club Subscriptions: Kabinett Wine Club with subscription experience (two curated shipments per year - Spring & Fall) and Kabinett Loyalty Program (unlocks after 24 bottle purchases). Additional specialty clubs: Teinturier Series (Saperavi-focused) and Shale Bedrock Series.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Standing Stone Vineyards product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Standing Stone Vineyards is a Finger Lakes winery that produces and sells estate-grown still and sparkling wines from historic old-vine plantings (1972-1974) on the southeast slopes of Seneca Lake. Offerings include Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and the signature Saperavi Teinturier Series, produced using low-intervention methods with indigenous yeasts and biodynamic farming. Sales occur through an on-site tasting room, e-commerce shop (shop.wiemer.com), and three recurring wine club memberships (Kabinett, Teinturier Series, Shale Bedrock).
Product overview
Standing Stone Vineyards is a historic winery located on the southeast side of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region. The product portfolio centers on estate-grown wines from old vines (planted 1972-1974 by Charles Fournier), including sparkling wines (Blanc de Blanc, Méthode Traditionnelle sparklings), still wines (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc), and the distinctive Saperavi Teinturier Series. The winery also offers wine club memberships (Kabinett Subscription, Teinturier Series, Shale Bedrock Series) and a tasting room experience. Since acquiring Standing Stone in 2017, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard has expanded biodynamic farming practices and introduced new wine styles including Pétillant Naturel and skin-fermented Riesling.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kabinett Wine Club: Wine subscription and loyalty program offering two curated shipments per year with exclusive member benefits including VIP discounts, flat rate shipping, and access to events and new releases.
- Teinturier Series
- Shale Bedrock Series
Products and services
- Standing Stone Blanc de Blanc Traditional-method sparkling wine made from old-vine Chardonnay planted in 1974 by Charles Fournier; aged 52 months on lees with zero dosage, exemplifying low-intervention sparkling winemaking for sparkling wine enthusiasts.
- Standing Stone Timeline Riesling Dry Riesling produced from old vines dating back to 1972 plantings by Charles Fournier and Guy Devaux; represents the historic foundation of Standing Stone for Riesling enthusiasts.
- Standing Stone Gewürztraminer Gewürztraminer planted at Standing Stone since 1994 (six acres) with additional plantings in 2005; aromatic and spiced character that pairs with aromatic dishes, targeted at aromatic white wine consumers.
- Standing Stone Cabernet Franc Red wine from Cabernet Franc grapes suited to the Finger Lakes climate; native fermentation, aged primarily in stainless steel with a small portion in neutral oak, for red wine drinkers seeking cool-climate expressions.
- Standing Stone Saperavi Teinturier Series Wines from Saperavi grapes (the largest U.S. planting outside the Republic of Georgia, over 6 acres) expressed in multiple styles: dry rosé, traditional-method sparkling, robust reds, and fortified wines. Targeted at enthusiasts of novel varietals and Georgian-style wines.
- Standing Stone Pétillant Naturel Low-intervention sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, finished fermenting in bottle with native yeast; targeted at sparkling wine enthusiasts seeking minimal-intervention styles.
- Standing Stone Riesling Skin Ferment First skin-fermented Riesling from Standing Stone; two weeks skin contact before stainless steel fermentation, producing bright yet textured wine with citrus, stone-fruit, and tea-like tannins for experimental white wine drinkers.
- Riesling HJW Vineyard (Demeter Certified) Demeter-certified biodynamic Riesling from HJW Vineyard; second wine in the portfolio to hold Demeter certification, showing leaner, more intense citrus and yellow apple notes for biodynamic wine seekers.
- Standing Stone Pinot Noir Pinot Noir from the newly planted Julia site that reflects nursery research and evolving understanding of the variety; notes of raspberry, ripe cherry, and forest floor for red Burgundy-style wine drinkers.
- Standing Stone Chardonnay Reserve Chardonnay from Magdalena Vineyard, harvested mid-September, fermented in 500L Hungarian oak barrels for three months and then aged six additional months for premium Chardonnay consumers.
- Kabinett Wine Club Wine subscription and loyalty program with two curated shipments per year (Spring and Fall); includes Kabinett Loyalty Program unlocking benefits after 24 bottle purchases, with VIP discounts, flat rate shipping, and access to events and new releases. Targeted at repeat wine buyers seeking curated selections.
- Teinturier Series Wine Club Wine club dedicated to exploring Saperavi wines in various styles (dry rosé, traditional-method sparkling, robust reds, fortified); each shipment showcases the versatility of the teinturier grape for varietal enthusiasts.
- Shale Bedrock Series Wine Club Wine club featuring the newest releases from both Hermann J. Wiemer and Standing Stone portfolios, representing the heart of production for engaged wine club members.
- Tasting Room Experience In-person wine tasting and bottle purchases at the Standing Stone Vineyards location on the southeast side of Seneca Lake; open Thursday-Monday 12pm-5pm with views of historic vineyards and Seneca Lake; walk-in policy, no appointment necessary, child- and pet-friendly.
Quantifiable outcome
- 92 points from Wine & Spirits Magazine for Blanc de Blanc 2019
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Standing Stone Vineyards
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Standing Stone Vineyards technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Standing Stone Vineyards partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- La MonarkaminorFood truck partner that appeared at Standing Stone Vineyards for an afternoon event, offering birra, tacos, flautas, tortas alongside wine and Seneca Lake views.
- Hermann J. Wiemer VineyardcoreFred and Maressa Merwarth and Oskar Bynke of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard purchased Standing Stone in 2017. The two brands share both ownership and leadership teams. All wines are made in the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard Cellar on the west side of Seneca Lake.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Standing Stone Vineyards competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard: Sister company under shared ownership by Fred and Maressa Merwarth and Oskar Bynke. Standing Stone wines are produced in the Wiemer cellar on the west side of Seneca Lake using the same winemaking team, making it the most directly comparable peer.
- Red Newt Cellars: Finger Lakes winery on Seneca Lake specializing in Riesling and cool-climate varietals with an on-site tasting room and bistro. Comparable as a Seneca Lake DTC-focused producer with overlapping varietal portfolio.
- Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery: Historic Finger Lakes winery on Keuka Lake, also rooted in pioneering Vinifera plantings in the 1960s. Comparable as a cool-climate, Riesling-focused estate with old-vine heritage and national critical recognition.
- Forge Cellars: Finger Lakes producer of dry Riesling and Pinot Noir with a low-intervention, site-expressive winemaking philosophy. Comparable in minimal-intervention winemaking approach and cool-climate varietal focus.
- Fox Run Vineyards: Finger Lakes estate on Seneca Lake producing Riesling, Chardonnay, and other cool-climate varieties with a tasting room and DTC focus. Comparable in geography, varietal mix, and DTC channel structure.
- Ravines Wine Cellars: Finger Lakes winery on Seneca Lake producing terroir-driven Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir with low-intervention winemaking. Closely comparable in production philosophy, varietal focus, and DTC emphasis.
- Sheldrake Point Winery: Finger Lakes winery on Cayuga Lake producing Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir with an estate tasting room. Comparable as a Finger Lakes estate with similar varietal mix and DTC model.
- Atwater Estate Vineyards: Finger Lakes winery on Seneca Lake producing Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Franc with a hillside tasting room. Comparable as a Seneca Lake DTC-focused estate producer with overlapping varietals.
Broad incumbents
- E. & J. Gallo Winery: Largest family-owned winery in the world with a vast US wine portfolio across price points. Broad incumbent in the same industry; competing for the same shelf and consumer dollars but at vastly larger scale across many categories beyond cool-climate Finger Lakes.
- Constellation Brands: Massive US-based wine and spirits conglomerate with brands like Robert Mondavi, Kim Crawford, and The Prisoner. Operates broadly in the same wine industry as Standing Stone, with far greater scale, distribution, and marketing resources.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Standing Stone Vineyards social profiles
Digital presenceStanding Stone Vineyards compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Standing Stone Vineyards financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Standing Stone Vineyards leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Standing Stone Vineyards funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Standing Stone Vineyards 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 Standing Stone Vineyards
What does Standing Stone Vineyards do?
Standing Stone Vineyards is a Finger Lakes winery that produces and sells estate-grown still and sparkling wines from historic old-vine plantings (1972-1974) on the southeast slopes of Seneca Lake. Offerings include Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and the signature Saperavi Teinturier Series, produced using low-intervention methods with indigenous yeasts and biodynamic farming. Sales occur through an on-site tasting room, e-commerce shop (shop.wiemer.com), and three recurring wine club memberships (Kabinett, Teinturier Series, Shale Bedrock).
Is Standing Stone Vineyards a public or private company?
Standing Stone Vineyards is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Standing Stone Vineyards founded?
Standing Stone Vineyards was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Standing Stone Vineyards based?
Standing Stone Vineyards is headquartered in Hector, United States, in the North America region.
How does Standing Stone Vineyards make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Wine Sales are the primary driver. The others are wine Club Subscriptions.
Who are Standing Stone Vineyards's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Red Newt Cellars, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Forge Cellars, Fox Run Vineyards, Ravines Wine Cellars, Sheldrake Point Winery and Atwater Estate Vineyards. Broad incumbents are E. & J. Gallo Winery and Constellation Brands.
Does Standing Stone Vineyards have an API?
No public API is recorded for Standing Stone Vineyards.
What industry is Standing Stone Vineyards in?
Standing Stone Vineyards's product category is Winery / Estate-Grown Wines. 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.