What Maison Ginestet does

Maison Ginestet is a French wine merchant and distributor founded in 1897 by Fernand Ginestet, now operating as a Société Anonyme (S.A.) under the ownership of Group Taillan (Merlaut family, acquired 1978) and led by General Manager Franck Lederer. The company is headquartered at 19 avenue de Fontenille, Carignan-de-Bordeaux, in the Bordeaux wine region. Its business centers on the selection, sourcing, aging, and global B2B distribution of fine Bordeaux wines, with a portfolio of more than 1,500 fine wine references spanning 50 vintages, 350+ partner châteaux, and additional iconic wines sourced from outside Bordeaux. The company's operational infrastructure includes "Le Sanctuaire," an aging cellar housing several million bottles of exceptional wines used for tasting experiences and aged inventory turnover.

Maison Ginestet's product and service surface comprises four main pillars: (1) fine Bordeaux wine distribution including Grands Crus Classés, iconic global wines, up-and-coming estates, and signature bottles; (2) aging cellar services supporting rare and aged inventory; (3) a dedicated password-protected B2B portal (grandscrus.maison-ginestet.com) providing authenticated professionals with classified-growth pricing and ordering; and (4) Signature Bottles (Flacons Signatures) developed under its own brand. Core technology is centered on wine selection expertise, quality management system certifications (IFS, BRC, ISO), and decades-long supply relationships rather than proprietary software or automation.

The company monetizes through B2B transactions with wine professionals and distributors across more than 70 countries on five continents, with exports representing the majority of revenue. Its GTM is enterprise field sales, supported by professional events, monthly sample distribution (200+ unique samples), and tastings. The customer base of 1,350+ professional clients includes distributors, sommeliers, merchants, and fine wine connoisseurs. The firm was the first Bordeaux Maison to establish a presence in Asia (Japan and Southeast Asia) and claims a leadership position in Eastern Europe, with 9 of 100 employees based abroad to support international clients. No revenue, funding, or valuation figures are publicly disclosed beyond a stated share capital of €5,000,000.

Name

Maison Ginestet

Legal name

Maison Ginestet SA

Website

https://maison-ginestet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Maison Ginestet is a five-generation French Bordeaux fine wine merchant founded in 1897, specializing in B2B sourcing, aging, and distribution of Grands Crus Classés and iconic wines to 1,350+ professional clients across 70+ countries via a dedicated professional portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Wine Distribution

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE)

Keywords

• Fine wine distribution
• Bordeaux wine merchant
• Grands crus classés
• Wine import export
• B2B wine sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lignan-de-bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fine Wine Distribution: Distribution and promotion of Grand Crus Classés of Bordeaux, Iconic Wines from around the world, up-and-coming Estates & Châteaux from Bordeaux, and Signature Bottles. The company sources wines directly from châteaux and maintains extensive aging facilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Maison Ginestet is a B2B wine merchant that sources, selects, ages, and distributes fine Bordeaux wines — including Grands Crus Classés, iconic wines, up-and-coming estates and châteaux, and signature bottles — to wine professionals, distributors, and connoisseurs worldwide. The company sources directly from 350+ partner châteaux across 50 vintages, maintains an aging cellar (Le Sanctuaire) housing millions of bottles, and operates a password-protected professional portal (grandscrus.maison-ginestet.com) for authenticated B2B clients.

Product overview

Maison Ginestet is a traditional wine merchant company operating since 1897, offering wine selection and global distribution services. The company operates a portfolio-based model consisting of: (1) Fine Wines from Bordeaux including Grands Crus Classés sourced directly from châteaux across 50 vintages; (2) Aging Cellar services housing millions of bottles; (3) a B2B Professional Portal for classified wines; and (4) Signature Bottles under its own brand. The company partners with over 350 properties and serves clients across 70+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fine Wines from Bordeaux Portfolio (Maison Ginestet Wine Portfolio) Wine selection and distribution service specializing in fine Bordeaux wines, including Grands Crus Classés, Iconic Wines from around the world, up-and-coming Estates & Châteaux from Bordeaux, and Signature Bottles. Sourced directly from 350+ partner châteaux across 50 vintages and sold to 1,350+ professional clients across 70+ countries.
• Aging Cellar (Le Sanctuaire / Chai de Vieillissement) The company's aging cellar, branded 'Le Sanctuaire', houses millions of bottles of exceptional wines and serves as a sanctuary for rare bottles destined for refined tasting experiences.
• Grands Crus Classés Professional B2B Portal A dedicated professional portal (grandscrus.maison-ginestet.com) for Maison Ginestet's B2B customers to access classified wines pricing and place orders, with password-protected authenticated access for registered clients only.
• Signature Bottles (Flacons Signatures) Core range wine products developed under Maison Ginestet's own signature label, selected for quality and style to complement the portfolio of prestigious partner properties.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Group TaillancoreOthersParent company that acquired Maison Ginestet in 1978. Group Taillan, founded in 1961, is owned by the Merlaut family. It also owns prestigious châteaux including Château Chasse Spleen, Haut Bages Libéral, Ferrière, Gruaud Larose, and Citran. Denis Merlaut has led the group since 1998.
• Partner Châteaux (350+ properties)coreOthers350+ partner properties with whom Maison Ginestet maintains decades-long trust relationships. Includes Grand Crus Classés estates and prestigious Bordeaux châteaux. The company sources wines directly from these châteaux across 50 vintages.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CVBG (Compagnie des Vins de Bordeaux): Major Bordeaux fine wine distribution group with négociant activities, direct château sourcing, and B2B professional sales comparable to Maison Ginestet's model.
• Berry Bros. & Rudd: Historic British fine wine merchant (est. 1698) with comparable heritage positioning, B2B trade focus, aging cellar operations, and global professional client base in Bordeaux wines.
• Justerini & Brooks: UK-based fine wine merchant specializing in Bordeaux first growths and classed growths for professional and private clients, with comparable curated portfolio and aging services.
• Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite): Prestigious wine group operating négociant activities alongside owned Bordeaux estates, with global fine wine distribution capabilities and similar château partnerships.
• Borie-Manoux: Bordeaux family-owned négociant operating since 1872, distributing Grands Crus Classés and branded wines internationally with comparable heritage and B2B model.
• Maison Dourthe: Leading Bordeaux wine négociant with similar B2B distribution model focused on Grands Crus and fine wines, sourcing from partner châteaux and serving professional clients globally.
• Ballande & Meneret: Historic Bordeaux négociant with similar focus on fine wine selection, aging, and distribution to professional clients across multiple export markets.

Broad incumbents

• Les Grands Chais de France: France's leading wine exporter with broad portfolio across regions and price points; overlaps with Maison Ginestet in Bordeaux fine wine distribution but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Castel Group: One of France's largest wine producers and distributors with extensive Bordeaux operations, broader multi-region portfolio, and global distribution scale that exceeds specialty négociants.

Regional players

• Acker Merrall & Condit: US-based fine wine auction house and merchant with significant Bordeaux portfolio and B2B services; comparable in fine wine market focus but operates primarily in North American market.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MaisonGinestet
• Facebookfacebook.com/MaisonGinestet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ginestet-s.a.

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 Maison Ginestet