New York Wine & Grape Foundation

What New York Wine & Grape Foundation does

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is a non-profit trade organization created by the State of New York in 1985 and headquartered in Penn Yan, NY. It operates as the legislatively designated promotion, research, and export-development body for the New York wine and grape industry, serving a tripartite membership base of wineries, grape growers, and ancillary business partners across the state. The foundation runs the New York Wine Classic in its 40th year, a Sustainable Winegrowing Program with 79 certified vineyards, and an Export Program active in six international markets.

NYWGF's revenue mechanics combine tiered membership dues (Winery $300+, Grower $50+, Business Partner $150+) with restricted federal grants — most notably a $629,205 USDA Market Access Program award supporting export promotion — and a longstanding research partnership with Cornell University dating to 1985. In 2025 it completed the two-year Comprehensive Statewide Vineyard Survey, which deployed ML and satellite detection (with Agency 29 and Deep Planet) to quantify 29,586 acres under vine. The foundation reaches an audience of more than 8,000 newsletter subscribers and, in 2026, launched its first dedicated membership portal (MemberLeap) to digitize dues, events, and member services.

Operationally the foundation is lean, with seven employees, but operates at the center of an industry reporting a $16.81B statewide economic impact. Its competitive position rests on its state-chartered mandate, its stewardship of industry-defining assets such as the New York Wine Classic and the "Boldly, NY" brand, and its role as the aggregator of grower, producer, and vendor stakeholders on a single platform. Strategic direction in 2025–2026 emphasizes export expansion (notably into the Caribbean), sustainability certification scale-up, and digitization of member services rather than headcount expansion.

Name

New York Wine & Grape Foundation

Legal name

New York Wine & Grape Foundation

Website

https://newyorkwines.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation is a state-chartered non-profit trade organization, founded in 1985 and based in Penn Yan, NY, that promotes the New York wine and grape industry through tiered membership, export programs in six international markets, sustainability certification, and research partnerships with Cornell University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Penn Yan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from wineries, grape growers, and business partners provide core operational funding. Membership tiers include Winery ($300+ annually), Grower ($50+ annually), and Business Partner ($150 annually).
2. Export Program Fees: Export Program participation fees: $150 for first target market, $75 for each additional market. The program is funded partially through USDA Market Access Program (MAP) funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NYWGF is a state-created nonprofit trade organization that supports New York's wine and grape industry through tiered membership programs (Winery, Grower, Business Partner), an annual wine competition (New York Wine Classic), third-party-certified sustainability certification (New York Sustainable Winegrowing), industry-funded research via Cornell University, and an export program partially funded by USDA MAP grants covering six international markets. The foundation also delivers marketing assets, virtual tastings, the Unity Awards, the B.E.V. NY Conference, and the Statewide Vineyard Survey to benefit wineries, growers, and industry partners.

Product overview

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) is a non-profit organization created by the State of New York in 1985 that operates as a portfolio of industry programs rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include: the New York Wine Classic (annual wine competition), the New York Sustainable Winegrowing Program (certification), the Research Program (scientific research funding), and the Export Program (international market expansion). Supporting programs include The Unity Awards (industry recognition), membership tiers (Winery, Grower, Business Partner), virtual tastings and educational content, the B.E.V. NY Conference, the annual Vineyard Survey initiative, and marketing resource materials. The foundation serves as an industry collective providing marketing, research, educational programming, and advocacy services to New York's wine and grape industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Boldly, NY: Brand campaign tagline expressing the organization's bold and innovative approach to positioning New York wine on the global stage
• New York Sustainable Winegrowing
• New York Wine Classic
• Unity Awards

Products and services

• New York Sustainable Winegrowing Program A third-party-certified sustainability certification program for New York vineyards, providing science-backed regionally defined standards, independent audits, and the Sustainability Trustmark that appears on certified bottles. Open to vineyards seeking to advance environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
• New York Wine Classic The state's premier wine competition created and hosted by NYWGF, now in its 40th year, celebrating excellence and diversity of New York wines. Open to all New York State wineries across vinifera, hybrid, labrusca, and specialty wine categories, with blind-tasting evaluation by the Beverage Testing Institute and awards including Governor's Cup and Winery of the Year.
• The Unity Awards Industry awards program recognizing and celebrating cooperation among grape growers, wineries, researchers, retailers, and others to advance the entire New York wine and grape industry. Includes categories such as the Jim Trezise Lifetime Achievement Award, Phyllis Feder Unity Award, Winery Award, Research Award, and Sustainability Award.
• New York Wines Export Program International market expansion program conducted with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Market Access Program funding. Participation fees are $150 for the first target market and $75 for each additional market. Provides in-country market representatives, data, logistical resources, trade exhibits, wine seminars with Master Sommeliers, familiarization tours, and buyer meetings across six target markets.
• Research Program Industry-sponsored research program with an annual budget of $350,000–$500,000 supporting dozens of projects conducted primarily through Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, covering viticulture (grape growing), enology (winemaking), and wine-and-health research.
• NYWGF Membership Programs Tiered annual membership programs for New York wineries (dues start at $300 annually), grape growers (dues start at $50 annually), and business partners (dues start at $150 annually). Members gain access to educational webinars, industry insights, marketing opportunities, industry connections, advertising discounts, and sponsorship opportunities.
• New York Wines Online Virtual Tastings Virtual wine seminars and online tasting series (New York Wines, Online!) celebrating New York wines through online tastings and virtual winery tours. Select trade and media members are eligible to receive complimentary wine to accompany the seminars.
• B.E.V. NY Conference Annual Business, Enology, and Viticulture (B.E.V. NY) Conference, a collaborative effort between Cornell's Finger Lakes Grape Program and the Enology Extension Laboratory with NYWGF support, serving as a vital gathering for grape and wine industry professionals and enthusiasts.
• Statewide Vineyard Survey and Report Comprehensive statewide vineyard data collection initiative conducted in partnership with Agency 29, Ag Access, and Deep Planet LLC, combining direct grower reports with machine learning detection technology to evaluate vineyard acreage and establish industry benchmarks. Includes the 2024 and 2025 Vineyard Reports.
• Marketing Resources and Brand Assets Marketing and informational assets library including brand guidelines, regional information sheets for each AVA (Long Island, Hudson River Region, Finger Lakes, Lake Erie, Niagara Escarpment), trade ads, posters, brochures, videos, and graphics. Available in English, Japanese, French, and Korean for international trade and consumer outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• 79 vineyards certified sustainable with trustmark appearing on bottles
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• American National InsuranceflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026American National Insurance is the 'first sponsoring partner' of NYWGF, providing insurance coverages for all stages from grape to glass for NYWGF members. Costs start at $150 annually for Business Partner membership.
• HOPSCOTCH Season (formerly SOPEXA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025HOPSCOTCH Season serves as the market representative for Vietnam in the NY Wines Export Program, appointed in 2024.
• Strategos Consulting GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Strategos Consulting Group serves as market representative for the Caribbean region, newly added to the Export Program for 2025-2026.
• Agency 29coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnered with Agency 29 and Deep Planet for the two-year Comprehensive Statewide Vineyard Survey using machine learning detection technology to identify 29,586 satellite-confirmed acres under vine.
• Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NYWGF is a Founding Member of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable, an independent nonprofit multi-stakeholder initiative to unite the international wine community around a consensus definition of sustainable wine.
• Porto ProtocolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NYWGF joined the Porto Protocol Foundation, an open platform of climate change solutions for the wine world, bringing together a network of change makers.
• Think Drink GlobalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Think Drink Global serves as the Western Europe market representative for the NY Wines Export Program, covering the UK, France, and Scandinavian countries.
• Asahi AgencycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Asahi Agency serves as the Japan market representative for the NY Wines Export Program, led by wine specialist Takenori Beppu, J.S.A. Sommelier, WSET Diploma.
• Sohn's Market Makers Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Sohn's Market Makers Ltd. serves as the market representative for South Korea in the NY Wines Export Program, appointed in 2024.
• Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024BevTest conducts the annual New York Wine Classic wine competition, organizing professional wine tasting panels in Chicago. Scores form basis for Best of Category, Best of Class, and Governor's Cup awards.
• a.m.c.c.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022a.m.c.c., based in Toronto, serves as the Canadian market representative for the NY Wines Export Program, covering Ontario and Quebec markets.
• Cornell University / Cornell AgriTechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985NYWGF has sponsored a comprehensive research program since 1985 in close coordination with Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva and Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Lab in Portland, NY. The annual research budget of $350,000-$500,000 supports dozens of projects in viticulture, enology, and wine and health research.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NYWineGrapeFdn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/newyorkwines
• Facebookfacebook.com/NYWineGrapeFdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newyorkwines
• Instagraminstagram.com/newyorkwines

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 New York Wine & Grape Foundation