Winzergemeinschaft Franken

What Winzergemeinschaft Franken does

Winzergemeinschaft Franken eG (GWF) is a registered cooperative (eingetragene Genossenschaft) of 1,000–1,200 active winzer members founded in 1959 and headquartered in Kitzingen, Franconia, Germany. It aggregates grapes from approximately 1,200 hectares of vineyard area in the Franconian wine region (Maindreieck, Mainsüden, Steigerwald, Tauberfranken) and is one of the six largest wine cooperatives in Germany. The cooperative is multi-time winner of "Beste Winzergenossenschaft Deutschlands" and operates across production under five named Kellermeister, primary processing at the Kitzingen headquarters, and a wide retail/consumer footprint.

GWF produces, brands and sells a portfolio of more than 200 wines organized across roughly 20 sub-brands spanning value (VIER SCHOPPEN liter bottles, EIN SCHOPPEN 0.25L Bocksbeutel, DIE JUNGEN FRANK'N, Tischlein Deck'Dich), classic (Klassische Linie, Ambrosius, Tauberfranken-focused), premium (Kellermeisterauswahl, PREMIUM 1er Traube single-vineyard wines), modern (Tilman, STILBRUCH, FUTUR, BLOBB! MAXIME), spritzer/mix (Licco, easy peasy), and PiWi and alcohol-free categories. Since April 2026, GWF operates its own dealcoholization facility using a membrane process to produce alcohol-free wines and Secco in-house. The technology surface is a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront (gwf-frankenwein.de) supporting direct consumer purchases with multiple payment options and free shipping above €100; no AI, API or proprietary software platform is disclosed.

GWF makes money through direct wine sales (online and in-store), gift vouchers (Genießer-Gutscheine redeemable across Vinotheken, Bistros and the online shop), wine experiences (cellar tours, vineyard walks, tastings, wagon rides), and B2B wholesale to other retailers. Its distribution is multi-channel: the DTC e-commerce site, five owned Vinotheken (FrankenVinothek Kitzingen, MainschleifenVinothek Volkach, SteigerwaldVinothek, Winzerkeller Stetten, TaubertalVinothek Reicholzheim), two mainwein Bistros (Würzburg on the Alte Mainbrücke with the Brückenschoppen tradition for 10+ years, and Volkach), phone/email ordering, and B2B wholesale shipping nationwide via DHL and freight forwarders. Customers are primarily private wine consumers across Germany, Franconian wine tourists, B2B retailers, and the ~1,200 winzer-members who supply grapes. As a member-owned cooperative, GWF has no external equity investors and reports no fundraising activity.

Name

Winzergemeinschaft Franken

Legal name

Winzergemeinschaft Franken eG

Website

https://gwf-frankenwein.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Winzergemeinschaft Franken eG is a Franconian wine cooperative founded in 1959, aggregating grapes from over 1,200 winzers across 1,200 hectares to produce 200+ wines sold via DTC e-commerce, five Vinotheken, two bistros, and B2B wholesale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Production and Cooperative Winemaking

NAICS

Wineries (31213)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Alcoholic Beverage Tours & On-site Experiences (Brewery/Winery/Distillery) (THAFALAK)

Keywords

• Wine cooperative
• Franconian wine production
• Sparkling wine production
• Wine retail
• Vineyard cultivation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kitzingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct wine sales: Online and in-store retail sales of wines directly to consumers. Products include white wines, red wines, rosé, sparkling wines, and alcohol-free alternatives. Revenue generated through individual bottle purchases and themed packages.
2. Gift vouchers: Genießer-Gutscheine (enjoyer vouchers) sold online and redeemable in all Vinotheken, Bistros, and the online shop.
3. Event experiences: Revenue from wine tastings, cellar tours, vineyard walks, and other wine experiences offered at the various locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Winzergemeinschaft Franken eG is a wine cooperative that produces, brands, and sells Franconian wines sourced from over 1,000 member winegrowers cultivating approximately 1,200 hectares. The portfolio spans white, red, rosé, sparkling (Sekt/Secco), PiWi, and alcohol-free wines across value, classic, and premium tiers, sold via owned e-commerce, physical Vinotheken, mainwein Bistros, and B2B wholesale channels.

Product overview

Winzergemeinschaft Franken eG (GWF) operates as a multi-channel wine producer and retailer centered on Franconian wines from the Bavaria wine region. The portfolio is structured around multiple sub-brands organized by quality tier and occasion: the core Klassische Linie spanning all grape varieties and appellations; value-oriented lines VIER SCHOPPEN (1L), EIN SCHOPPEN (0.25L Bocksbeutel), DIE JUNGEN FRANK'N, Tischlein Deck'Dich, and STILBRUCH; premium tiers Kellermeisterauswahl and PREMIUM 1er Traube; specialty lines Tilman, Ambrosius (Tauberfranken), HerrGott, and Licco; and sparkling wines under CULT Silvaner Sekt, FUTUR, MAXIME, BLOBB!, and Tilman Secco brands. PiWi (disease-resistant), alcohol-free, dessert wine, and accessories round out the offering. GWF also operates five Vinotheken, two mainwein Bistros, and wine experiences (tastings, cellar tours, vineyard hikes), all powered by the primary e-commerce platform at gwf-frankenwein.de.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tilman: Wine brand featuring Secco, still wines, and PIWI varieties
• Ambrosius
• VIER SCHOPPEN
• TAUBERSCHOPPEN
• EIN SCHOPPEN
• DIE JUNGEN FRANK'N
• STILBRUCH
• Tischlein Deck'Dich
• easy peasy
• Licco
• HerrGott
• Kellermeisterauswahl
• PREMIUM 1er Traube
• Franken Sextett
• Klassische Linie
• CULT
• FUTUR
• MAXIME
• BLOBB!

Products and services

• Klassische Linie (Classic Line) The core classical wine line spanning GWF's full varietal range across all Franconian appellations, from entry-level to mid-range quality wines sourced from GWF's member winemakers' vineyards. Includes 64 products.
• PREMIUM 1er Traube Top-tier premium wines sourced from single vineyards (Einzellagen) such as Homburger Kallmuth, Würzburger Marienberg, and Retzstadter Langenberg, including Silvaner and Spätburgunder at the highest quality level with bottle-aged selections.
• Kellermeisterauswahl Winemaker-selected premium wines curated by GWF's master winemakers, featuring Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Dorsa, Chardonnay, Spätburgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Weißer Burgunder, and Grüner Veltliner at a higher quality tier.
• Tilman A contemporary sub-brand offering approachable varietal wines including Silvaner, Scheurebe, Bacchus, Müller-Thurgau, Burgunder varieties, Spätburgunder, Domina, Acolon, Portugieser, and Tilman PIWI Souvignier Gris/Calardis Blanc. Positioned as a versatile everyday-to-premium line.
• Sekt & Secco Portfolio (CULT, FUTUR, MAXIME, BLOBB!) Sparkling wine portfolio including CULT Silvaner Sekt (Bocksbeutel bottle, min. 9 months on lees), FUTUR Sekte (modern Blanc and Rosé), MAXIME Sekt (premium Pinot Blanc and Rosé aged 36 months in bottle, Magnum and Doppelmagnum formats), and BLOBB! Sekt (playful sparkling wine).
• VIER SCHOPPEN Value-oriented liter-class wines in 1-liter bottles including Silvaner, Bacchus, Müller-Thurgau, Kerner, Domina, Portugieser, and Rotling. Designed for everyday drinking and fränkische Weinfeste (wine festivals).
• EIN SCHOPPEN Quarter-liter (0.25L) Bocksbeutel-format wines including Domina, Rotling, and Müller-Thurgau. Single-serving portions for casual consumption in the iconic fränkische Bocksbeutel bottle.
• DIE JUNGEN FRANK'N Entry-level young wine line targeting casual and new wine consumers, available in 0.75L bottles and 3.0L Bag-in-Box formats, featuring Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Rotling, and Rotwein in halbtrocken and trocken styles.
• Alcohol-Free Wines & Secco Alcohol-free wines and Secco produced using GWF's own membrane-based dealcoholization facility, targeting health-conscious consumers and designated drivers.
• PiWi Wines Disease-resistant grape varieties (PiWi / PilzWiderstandsfähige Rebsorten) including Souvignier Gris, Calardis Blanc, Muscaris, and Sauvignac. Supports sustainable viticulture by requiring fewer plant protection products.
• Wine Discovery Packages (Entdecker-Pakete) Curated multi-bottle wine discovery sets including Silvaner, Bacchus, Müller-Thurgau, and Domina Entdecker-Pakete, plus themed packages (Spieleabendpaket, XXL Sparpakete). Positioned for wine explorers and gifting.
• Franken Sextett A curated six-wine discovery set featuring Silvaner, Weißer Burgunder, Müller-Thurgau, Scheurebe, Bacchus, and Domina presented together in a mixed case for wine exploration.
• GWF Genießer-Gutscheine (Gift Vouchers) Gift vouchers redeemable across the GWF online shop, all Vinotheken, and mainwein Bistros. Valid for wine purchases, tastings, and wine experiences.
• GWF Vinotheken (Wine Retail Shops) Five physical wine retail locations (Vinotheken) across Franconia — FrankenVinothek Kitzingen, MainschleifenVinothek Volkach, SteigerwaldVinothek, Winzerkeller Stetten, and TaubertalVinothek Reicholzheim — offering wine tasting, cellar tours, and direct sales.
• mainwein Bistros Two wine bistros operated by GWF in Würzburg (on the Alte Mainbrücke, serving Brückenschoppen for over 10 years) and Volkach, offering wine by the glass, food pairings, and tasting experiences.
• Wine Experiences (Weinproben, Kellerführungen, Weinwanderungen) Guided wine tasting events (Weinproben), cellar tours (Kellerführungen), wine hikes through the vineyards (Weinbergsführungen), and planwagen (wagon) rides. Available for booking through the events calendar.
• Wine Accessories (Zubehör) Curated wine accessories including Weinseidl (0.25L tasting glass), Weißweinglas 0.25L, Sektglas 0.1L, Flaschenkühler Torrafal 1L with GWF logo, and Präsentkarton gift boxes.
• easy peasy Wine Spritzers Contemporary wine spritzer (Weinschorle) and alcohol-free grape juice beverages targeting health-conscious and lifestyle-oriented consumers. Includes easy peasy free (alcohol-free grape spritzer).
• Licco Wine-Based Mix Beverages Ready-to-drink wine-based mix beverages including Licco Pink Grapefruit, Licco Maracuja, and Licco Lemon — flavored Secco Mix drinks targeting casual, younger consumers.
• Ambrosius (Tauberfranken Specialty Line) Specialty line from the Tauberfranken sub-region featuring Acolon, Johanniter, Muscaris (PiWi), Riesling, Rosé, Scheurebe, and Müller-Thurgau wines, emphasizing Tauberfranken terroir.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple times awarded as best wine cooperative in Germany
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• DHL / Freight ForwarderminorOthersLogistics partners for wine shipping throughout Germany. DHL handles standard parcel deliveries while freight forwarders handle larger shipments. Fast and break-safe delivery is emphasized.
• Gault & Millau Wine GuideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGWF is recommended as a wine establishment by the Gault & Millau wine guide, a prestigious German wine rating publication.
• PayPalminorOthersPayment processor for new customers on the online shop, providing payment guarantee for secure transactions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Badischer Winzerkeller eG: Major German wine cooperative in Baden, aggregating member winzers' production for nationwide distribution. Directly comparable cooperative model, regional concentration, and DTC plus B2B channel mix similar to GWF.
• Moselland eG: One of Germany's largest wine cooperatives (Rhineland-Palatinate/Mosel), aggregating thousands of member winzers and producing wine across multiple price tiers for domestic and export markets. Directly comparable to GWF in cooperative structure, scale tier, and multi-brand portfolio strategy.
• Pfalzwein eG: Pfalz-based wine cooperative marketing regional wines from member winzers, with e-commerce and tasting room operations. Directly comparable regional cooperative peer focused on a single German wine-growing region.
• Württembergische Weingärtner-Zentralgenossenschaft (WGZ): Large cooperative association of Württemberg winzers producing regional wines; structurally similar to GWF as a member-owned German wine cooperative with shared production and distribution. Comparable in cooperative governance and reliance on a single German wine region.

Broad incumbents

• E. & J. Gallo Winery: World's largest family-owned winery with a massive multi-tier, multi-region portfolio. Comparable to GWF on portfolio breadth and DTC e-commerce sophistication, though vastly larger and globally distributed. Useful as a benchmark for scale of branded wine operations.
• Schloss Wachenheim AG: One of Germany's largest Sekt and wine producers with a broad multi-region portfolio including sparkling wine brands (e.g., Faber, Nymphenburg). Comparable to GWF as a sizable German player with significant sparkling wine exposure, but corporate (not cooperative) and operates far more broadly than a single region.
• Reh Kendermann GmbH Weinkellerei: Established German wine producer specializing in Riesling and other varietals from multiple German regions with nationwide distribution. Comparable to GWF's broad-portfolio German wine play but operates as a private corporate producer rather than a cooperative.
• Rotkäppchen-Mumm Sektkellereien GmbH: Germany's largest Sekt/sparkling wine producer (Rotkäppchen, Mumm, MM Extra). Comparable to GWF's sparkling wine business (CULT, MAXIME, FUTUR, BLOBB!) but at vastly larger national scale and with much broader portfolio and distribution.
• Henkell Freixenet Deutschland: Major German/international sparkling wine group producing Sekt brands such as Henkell, Fürst von Metternich, and Mionetto. Comparable to GWF on the Sekt side, with broader geographic reach and significantly larger scale than GWF's sparkling portfolio.

Others

• L.A. Wine Co. / German Wine Collection (DWI/Deutsches Weininstitut) initiatives: Industry body and export marketing arm for German wines. Not a direct competitor but a strategic ecosystem player that influences how German wine cooperatives (including GWF) position for export markets and DTC channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Winzergemeinschaft Franken