Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine

What Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine does

Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is a Napa Valley-based, family-operated ultra-premium sparkling wine producer founded by Paula Kornell in 2017 as a continuation of the Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars legacy established by her father in 1958. The portfolio comprises five Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines (California Brut, California Brut Rosé, 2021 Napa Valley Blanc de Blancs, 2022 Napa Valley Rosé de la Vallée, and 2020 Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs) plus a small-lot ZFG Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, all sourced from certified sustainable vineyards in California's coolest growing regions, including the Carneros appellation and Mitsuko's Vineyard. Production is intentionally limited; for example, the 2020 Blanc de Noirs had fewer than 50 bottles available at listing. The company generates revenue through three primary streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce powered by Commerce7 shipping to legal US locations (excluding Utah), the 'With Sparkles' wine club membership offering 6-bottle ($350-400/shipment) and 12-bottle ($480-550/shipment) tiers with two seasonal shipments and member discounts of 10-20%, and a small trade channel that includes wine retailers such as Gary's Wine & Marketplace, restaurants including Milestone Provisions at Napa's Oxbow Public Market, and hospitality venues like The Boca Raton. Charity auction lots and curated event participation (Auction Napa Valley, Heritage Fire, WineaPAWlooza, Premiere Napa Valley, Vineyards in the Valley) serve both as revenue events and brand-building vehicles, including a $105,000 lot at the High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction.

Operational infrastructure is provided through a partnership with Vintage Wine Estates, which supports distribution and back-office functions for what is otherwise a 1-10 person team led by Paula Kornell as principal. The company pursues high-end collaborations, most notably a 2025 co-production with Peter Mondavi Jr. of Charles Krug Winery for the Premiere Napa Valley 'Old Friends' auction lot and a 2026 co-hosted luxury yacht cruise through Greece and Turkey with Eleven Eleven Winery. Distribution is domestic-only, marketing relies on earned media (Forbes, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, Food & Wine), the 'At the Table' blog, an email newsletter, and Instagram/Facebook organic social, and the brand has accumulated consistently strong third-party scores of 90-93 points across major critics and a Wine Spectator Top 100 placement.

Name

Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine

Legal name

Paula Kornell Sparkling

Website

https://paulakornell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is a Napa Valley ultra-premium Méthode Champenoise sparkling wine producer founded by Paula Kornell in 2017, selling DTC via e-commerce and a 'With Sparkles' wine club and through select trade accounts, leveraging a fourth-generation winemaking heritage from Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sparkling Wine

NAICS

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

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF)

Keywords

• Sparkling wine production
• Methode champenoise wines
• Napa Valley wines
• Wine club membership
• Direct-to-consumer wine

Headquarters

HQ city

Napa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of sparkling wines through the company's e-commerce website, powered by Commerce7. Ships to legal locations within the US.
2. Wine Club Membership: 'With Sparkles' membership program offering 6-bottle ($350-$400/shipment) and 12-bottle ($480-$550/shipment) tiers with two shipments per year. Members receive 10-20% discounts on wines and exclusive perks.
3. Event Sales: Sales generated through participation in wine and food events, charity auctions, and tasting events across the country.
4. Trade and Media: Sales to trade accounts including restaurants, wine shops, and media samples.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine produces and sells premium California sparkling wines using the Méthode Champenoise traditional winemaking technique, sourcing grapes from certified sustainable vineyards in Napa Valley (Carneros) and California's coolest growing regions. The portfolio spans five sparkling wines (Brut, Brut Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, Rosé de la Vallée, Blanc de Noirs) plus a small-lot ZFG Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce and a 'With Sparkles' wine club membership.

Product overview

Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is a premium sparkling wine producer based in Napa Valley, California. The portfolio includes five distinct sparkling wines (California Brut, California Brut Rosé, Napa Valley Blanc de Blancs, Napa Valley Rosé de la Vallée, and Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs) crafted using Méthode Champenoise traditional winemaking techniques. The company also offers ZFG Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon as a complementary still wine product. The wines are sourced from certified sustainable vineyards in California's coolest growing regions, with the Napa Valley wines sourced from Carneros appellation and Mitsuko's Vineyard. The company operates a subscription-based membership program called 'With Sparkles' offering 6-bottle and 12-bottle seasonal shipments with member perks including discounts and priority access to limited releases. Paula Kornell builds on the legacy of her family's Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars, a pioneer of Méthode Champenoise in Napa Valley.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• With Sparkles: Wine membership club offering 6-bottle and 12-bottle subscription tiers with exclusive access, discounts, and priority access to limited releases.
• Chateau Drool
• Mother Cluckers
• ZFG

Products and services

• California Brut M\u00e9thode Champenoise sparkling wine blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, made from certified sustainable California grapes. Notes of lemon pith, fresh peaches, apricots, toast, acacia, and honeysuckle with racy acidity.
• California Brut Ros\u00e9

Quantifiable outcome

• Wine Enthusiast: Brut 92 Points, Brut Rosé 92 Points (April 2026)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• Eleven Eleven WineryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 June 2026Co-hosting 'Sail the Sparkling Aegean' - an 8-day signature yacht cruise through Greece and Turkey on Scenic Eclipse II. Private wine tastings and curated dinners featuring Napa Valley wines.
• Charles Krug WineryflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2025Collaboration with Peter Mondavi Jr. of Charles Krug Winery for Premiere Napa Valley auction. Created 'Old Friends' exclusive sparkling wine - a 2021 cuvée from Mitsuko's Vineyard in Carneros, finished with dosage from Charles Krug's 2019 Carneros Pinot Noir. Aged on tirage for over three years.
• Vintage Wine EstatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Paula Kornell and Vintage Wine Estates for the Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine brand. The inaugural vintage was released in 2017. Vintage Wine Estates provides operational support for this family sparkling wine venture.
• Jameson HumanecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNapa Valley animal rescue and sanctuary partner. Co-founder Monica Stevens collaborates with Paula Kornell for Instagram Live events and charity events including 'Bubbles and Barks' fundraiser supporting Compassion without Borders, Jameson Humane, and Napa Humane.
• Polanco CaviarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium caviar producer from Uruguay (only caviar from Southern Hemisphere). Juan Diego Casaretto, co-owner, frequently pairs Polanco Caviar with Paula Kornell Sparkling and has called it 'the best sparkling wine in the country' for caviar pairing.
• Gary's Wine & MarketplacecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWine retail partner in New Jersey hosting in-store tastings with Paula Kornell. Locations in Bernardsville and Madison, NJ. Paula hosts tasting events at their stores.
• Milestone ProvisionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant partner opened in Oxbow Public Market, Napa in 2021. Chef Dave Cruz partnership with Paula Kornell for winemaker dinners and events. Cruz is a James Beard award-winning cookbook author.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• J Vineyards & Winery: Russian River Valley sparkling wine producer with méthode champenoise focus and a multi-tier wine club. Comparable in premium positioning, DTC club model, and food-pairing culinary program.
• Roederer Estate: Anderson Valley sparkling producer owned by Champagne Louis Roederer. Comparable as a méthode champenoise house focused on California cool-climate sparkling, with a similar boutique-to-mid-scale production footprint.
• Domaine Carneros: Carneros-based premium sparkling producer (Taittinger partnership) using méthode champenoise. Directly comparable in Napa-Carneros terroir focus, sparkling portfolio, and château-style DTC tasting room experience.
• Schramsberg Vineyards: Napa Valley's flagship sparkling wine producer using méthode champenoise. Highly comparable as a premium, traditional-method California sparkling wine house targeting fine-dining, gifting, and DTC channels.
• Argyle Winery: Oregon (Willamette Valley) sparkling wine specialist with méthode champenoise focus. Comparable as a premium, terroir-driven sparkling house serving fine-dining and DTC customers outside the Champagne category.
• Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards: Carneros-based sparkling producer (Freixenet partnership) making méthode champenoise wines. Comparable in Carneros terroir, sparkling portfolio breadth (Brut, Rosé, Blanc de Noirs), and DTC tasting room model.
• Iron Horse Vineyards: Sonoma Green Valley sparkling specialist focused on méthode champenoise, particularly blanc de blancs. Comparable as a premium, family-driven sparkling wine brand targeting fine-dining and DTC channels.

Emerging players

• Frank Family Vineyards: Napa Valley producer with a growing sparkling wine program (including méthode champenoise) and a strong DTC wine club. Comparable in Napa DTC/wine club orientation and premium positioning, though broader in still wine portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Chandon: Moët Hennessy's California sparkling brand with locations in Napa and Sonoma. Comparable in méthode champenoise sparkling production but serves a much wider price tier and distribution footprint.
• Mumm Napa: Large-scale Napa sparkling producer owned by Pernod Ricard. Comparable as a Napa méthode champenoise brand but operates at substantially greater scale, broader distribution, and bigger marketing budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/paulakornellsparkling
• Instagraminstagram.com/paulakornellsparkling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paula-kornell-sparkling-wine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine