The Rare Wine Co.
The Rare Wine Co., founded in 1989 and headquartered in Brisbane, California, is a privately held wine importer and specialty merchant that sells old and rare wines to private collectors and distributes exclusive European producer portfolios to restaurants and retailers across approximately 35 U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersBrisbane, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Rare Wine Co. does
The Rare Wine Co. is a privately held American wine importer and specialty merchant founded in 1989 by Mannie Berk and headquartered in Brisbane, California. The company operates two integrated business lines: a direct-to-consumer retail division that sells old and rare wines (spanning Madeira, Barolo, Barbaresco, Rioja, Champagne, and Burgundy, with bottles dating to the early 1800s) to private collectors via its website, phone, and email, and a wholesale division that holds exclusive California or U.S. importing rights for more than thirty iconic European producers and distributes through a network of wholesale partners across approximately 35 U.S. states. California wholesale is handled separately through Élevage.
The company's core offerings center on its wine library and exclusive producer relationships rather than proprietary technology. Signature products include the Historic Series Madeiras (a collection of bottlings co-developed with Barbeito winemaker Ricardo Freitas, named for American cities historically tied to Madeira trade) and limited commemorative releases such as the Declaration of Independence Madeira (2026). Non-wine specialty items include the Durand corkscrew ($145) for old-wine collectors and estate-bottled Tuscan olive oil. The company has been recognized as Food & Wine's Best Wine Importer (2002), a Wine Enthusiast Top 5 retailer, and is cited by Robert Parker as the finest U.S. retail source for authentic Madeira.
Revenue is generated through one-time retail sales at unit prices ranging from approximately $57.50 to several thousand dollars per bottle, recurring wholesale distribution agreements with restaurant and retail accounts, and specialty accessory sales. The company operates with a small team (11-50 employees) and uses a multi-channel marketing approach anchored by a monthly newsletter published since 1992, producer dinners and tasting events, and earned media coverage in publications such as The New York Times, Wine Spectator, and Forbes. There is no public revenue disclosure, no institutional funding history, and no AI/ML capabilities evidenced in the data.
The Rare Wine Co. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Rare Wine Co.
- Legal name
- The Rare Wine Co.
- Website
- https://rarewineco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Rare Wine Co., founded in 1989 and headquartered in Brisbane, California, is a privately held wine importer and specialty merchant that sells old and rare wines to private collectors and distributes exclusive European producer portfolios to restaurants and retailers across approximately 35 U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Rare Wine Co. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Wine Retail and Import
- NAICS
- Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (4453), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Premium, Rare & Collectible Alcohol Retail (Fine Wine/Spirits) (CRANAAAJ), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)
Keywords
Where The Rare Wine Co. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brisbane
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Rare Wine Co. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retail Wine Sales: Direct sales of old and rare wines to private collectors and consumers via website, phone, and email. They offer wines ranging from current releases to 19th century bottles, with special offerings on pre-arrival wines.
- Wholesale/Import Business: National wholesale distribution through distributors in approximately 35 states. They represent more than 30 iconic producers exclusively for California or the U.S. market, with national or California distribution agreements.
- Specialty Products: Sale of specialty wine accessories including The Durand corkscrew ($145) and other wine-related products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Declaration of Independence Madeira - $75 per bottle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Historic Series Madeiras - $57.50 per bottle |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Durand Corkscrew - $145 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Rare Wine Co. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Rare Wine Co. imports and sells old and rare wines to private collectors, restaurants, and retailers, operating both a direct-to-consumer retail division and a national wholesale distribution business. Core offerings include the proprietary Historic Series Madeira collection, limited-release commemorative wines, vintage Bordeaux, Barolo, Barbaresco, Rioja, Champagne, and Burgundy from more than 30 iconic European producers, plus specialty items such as The Durand corkscrew and estate-grown Tuscan olive oil.
Product overview
The Rare Wine Co. is a wine importer and retailer founded in 1989, specializing in old and rare wines. Their core product offerings include their Historic Series Madeira wines (named for American cities reflecting colonial-era Madeira preferences), specialty wines like the Declaration of Independence Madeira, The Durand corkscrew accessory for old wine lovers, and Tuscan olive oils. They represent nearly three dozen iconic European producers and maintain an unparalleled library of aged wines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Historic Series Madeira: A series of Madeiras named after American cities historically connected to Madeira wine trade, reflecting 18th and 19th century American appreciation for Madeira.
Products and services
- Historic Series Madeira A proprietary collection of Madeiras reflecting styles popular in 18th and 19th century America, each named for an American city or historical figure connected to the Madeira trade; developed in partnership with Vinhos Barbeito's Ricardo Freitas and sold to collectors and enthusiasts seeking authentic, historically styled Madeiras.
- Declaration of Independence Madeira A limited-release Historic Series Madeira released for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, blending five grape varieties from old Madeiras and created by Barbeito's Ricardo Freitas for collectors seeking commemorative and historically themed bottlings.
- The Durand Corkscrew A specialized corkscrew designed for extracting old and disintegrated corks from aged bottles intact, invented by Mark Taylor and retailed by RWC at $145 with free domestic U.S. shipping; aimed at collectors and enthusiasts of old wines.
- Tuscan Olive Oil Single-estate, estate-grown Tuscan extra virgin olive oils selected during harvest and shipped under strict temperature control to RWC customers; positioned as a complementary specialty food offering alongside the company's wine portfolio.
- Rare and Vintage Wine Retail and Import Service Wine importing and retailing service operated since 1989 that sources, authenticates, and sells old and rare wines (including Madeira, Barolo, Barbaresco, Rioja, Champagne, and Burgundy) to private collectors, restaurants, and retailers through direct retail and national wholesale channels.
Quantifiable outcome
- Helped restore Madeira and traditionally made Barolo to prominence through passionate advocacy
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Rare Wine Co.
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Rare Wine Co. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Rare Wine Co. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Élevage (California Wholesale)coreCalifornia wholesale customers are referred to Élevage for wine purchases. Contact: 415-333-9013.
- Distributors in 35 StatescoreNational wholesale division has wholesale distributors in approximately 35 states including all the largest U.S. wine markets outside of California. See distributor list for specific state contacts.
- Ricardo Freitas (Barbeito)coreBarbeito's winemaker Ricardo Freitas created The Declaration of Independence Madeira for RWC. He is credited as 'Madeira's Game Changer' and has been instrumental in RWC's Historic Series Madeiras.
- Iconic European ProducerscoreRepresents nearly three dozen of Europe's most revered producers including Giacomo Conterno, Pingus, Bartolo Mascarello, Alvaro Palacios, Jacques Selosse and Domaine Huet, with exclusive relationships for California or U.S. markets.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Rare Wine Co. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Rare Wine Co. social profiles
Digital presenceThe Rare Wine Co. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Rare Wine Co. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Rare Wine Co. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Rare Wine Co. 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 The Rare Wine Co.
What does The Rare Wine Co. do?
The Rare Wine Co. imports and sells old and rare wines to private collectors, restaurants, and retailers, operating both a direct-to-consumer retail division and a national wholesale distribution business. Core offerings include the proprietary Historic Series Madeira collection, limited-release commemorative wines, vintage Bordeaux, Barolo, Barbaresco, Rioja, Champagne, and Burgundy from more than 30 iconic European producers, plus specialty items such as The Durand corkscrew and estate-grown Tuscan olive oil.
Is The Rare Wine Co. a public or private company?
The Rare Wine Co. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Rare Wine Co. founded?
The Rare Wine Co. was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Rare Wine Co. based?
The Rare Wine Co. is headquartered in Brisbane, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Rare Wine Co. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Wine Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale/Import Business and specialty Products.
Does The Rare Wine Co. have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Rare Wine Co..
What industry is The Rare Wine Co. in?
The Rare Wine Co.'s product category is Specialty Wine Retail and Import. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRANABAE, Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail, with a secondary code of CRANAAAJ, Premium, Rare & Collectible Alcohol Retail (Fine Wine/Spirits). Its NAICS code is 4453 and its SIC code is 5180.