What Birdhorse Wines does

Birdhorse Wines is a Sonoma County, California-based craft winery (Birdhorse Wines LLC) co-founded in 2017 by Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse, with Tyler Ernst handling financial operations from New York. Both co-founders hold M.S. degrees in Viticulture & Enology from UC Davis and maintain day jobs as assistant winemakers at Scribe Winery and Bedrock Wine Co respectively, making Birdhorse a lifestyle-scale operation. The company produces small-lot wines from unconventional California grape varieties — including Verdelho, Carignan, Valdiguié, Arneis, Barbera, and Vermentino — sourced from seven organically and sustainably farmed vineyards across multiple California AVAs (Contra Costa County, Dry Creek Valley, Mendocino, Suisun Valley, Amador County, Borden Ranch). The 2019 second vintage yielded approximately 350 cases across the portfolio.

The business runs on a direct-to-consumer model with two channels: an owned e-commerce storefront on obtainwine.com for individual bottle purchases, and The Roost wine club, a subscription collective offered in 4-, 6-, and 12-bottle tiers with semi-annual release events and early access to small production lots. There is no disclosed wholesale, retail, or distributor channel. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed but Food & Wine has characterized the wines as 'gently priced.'

Birdhorse has no proprietary software or technology platform; its core capability is craft winemaking and storytelling, anchored by a distinctive editorial voice on its Updates blog and earned media in Food & Wine, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Press Democrat, Forbes, and the Robert Mondavi Institute. The brand is explicitly identity-positioned: founded by two women, vocally queer-owned, and active in Pride and women-in-wine community events, targeting wine-curious Millennials and Gen Z drinkers alongside socially conscious consumers. The company is privately held, has no disclosed funding rounds, and is not pursuing wholesale scale.

Name

Birdhorse Wines

Legal name

Birdhorse Wines LLC

Website

https://birdhorsewines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Birdhorse Wines is a Sonoma County, California craft winery co-founded by Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse, producing small-lot wines from unconventional California grape varieties (Verdelho, Carignan, Valdiguié, Arneis, Barbera) and selling directly to consumers through an e-commerce storefront and The Roost subscription wine club, targeting wine-curious Millennials and socially conscious buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Winery

NAICS

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

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• California wine production
• Wine club subscriptions
• Direct-to-consumer wine
• Unconventional grape varieties
• Organic wine farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Rosa

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Wine Sales: Birdhorse sells wine directly to consumers through their e-commerce platform (birdhorse-wines.obtainwine.com), offering individual bottle purchases and wine club memberships (The Roost) with 4, 6, or 12 bottle options delivered on a recurring cadence.
2. Wine Club Membership (The Roost): The Roost is Birdhorse's wine collective membership program offering exclusive access to new releases, small production lots, and semi-annual release events. Members receive recurring shipments of wine bottles on a subscription basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Birdhorse Wines produces small-lot California wines from unconventional, lesser-known grape varieties (Verdelho, Carignan, Valdiguié, Arneis, Barbera, Vermentino, and Rosé) sourced from organically farmed vineyards across multiple California AVAs. The winery sells directly to consumers through its own e-commerce platform and through The Roost, a recurring wine club membership offering early access to new releases and small production lots.

Product overview

Birdhorse Wines is a Sonoma-based winery co-founded by Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse, producing small-lot wines from unconventional grape varieties. The portfolio consists of distinct wine products (Rosé, Arneis, Verdelho, Carignan, and Valdiguié) sourced from various California AVAs, complemented by The Roost wine club membership tiers (4, 6, and 12 bottle options) that provide subscribers with early access to releases and semi-annual events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Roost: A wine membership collective offering early access to new releases, small production lots, and semi-annual release events. Available in 4, 6, or 12 bottle memberships.

Products and services

• 2019 California Rosé A ros é blend of approximately 60/40 saignée from Valdiguié and Carignan with a touch of Barbera for brightness, offering watermelon Jolly Rancher, Bing cherry, and floral notes with bright acidity. Sold to individual wine consumers via the Birdhorse e-commerce storefront.
• 2019 Mendocino Arneis A savory white wine from two Piemontese clones planted on the loamy banks of the Russian River in Mendocino AVA, fermented in a 500-L neutral puncheon and kept on lees until bottling, with roasted fennel, green fig, tangerine, and fresh sage flavors. Sold to individual wine consumers via the Birdhorse e-commerce storefront.
• 2019 Borden Ranch Verdelho A white wine from the Borden Ranch AVA of Lodi, grown on gravelly Redding-clay-loam soils in a CCOF certified vineyard, featuring minerality, golden tropical fruit, lemon peel, caramelized pineapple, wet stone, and brioche with chalky minerality and racy acidity. Sold to individual wine consumers via the Birdhorse e-commerce storefront.
• 2019 Mendocino Carignan A red wine from old, head-trained vines (planted 1906 and 1946) outside Hopland in Mendocino AVA, dry-farmed, fermented with 25% whole cluster and aged in neutral oak, offering brambly fruit, a lean fresh palate, stemmy tannin, and bright acidity. Sold to individual wine consumers via the Birdhorse e-commerce storefront.
• 2019 Suisun Valley Valdiguié A red wine from organically farmed 40-year-old vines in Suisun Valley, with two-thirds fermented in neutral oak using 50% whole clusters and one-third in an anaerobic fermentation vessel, showing bright red flowers, Luxardo cherry, and fresh black raspberry. Sold to individual wine consumers via the Birdhorse e-commerce storefront.
• The Roost Wine Club Membership A subscription wine club offering recurring shipments (4, 6, or 12 bottle tiers), early access to new releases, small production lots, and semi-annual release events, managed through the obtainwine.com platform. Targeted at individual consumers who want ongoing access to Birdhorse's small-lot unconventional California wines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production of approximately 350 cases in the second vintage (2019)
• +1 more outcomes

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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DECANTsfminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 June 2019DECANTsf hosted Birdhorse as the featured takeover winery for their 2019 Pride kickoff event. Birdhorse poured their wines at this San Francisco wine bar event, generating brand exposure and direct sales in the Bay Area.
• Vista Luna VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Starting in 2019, Birdhorse began sourcing Verdelho from Vista Luna vineyard in the Borden Ranch AVA (Lodi region), switching from their previous Evina Vineyard source. This new partnership aligned with their commitment to work with organically and sustainably-minded growers, including women growers.
• Feliz Creek VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Starting in 2019, Birdhorse began sourcing Carignan from Feliz Creek Vineyard in the Mendocino AVA, featuring 80+ year-old vines. This new partnership aligned with their commitment to organic and sustainable farming, including support for women growers.
• Evina Vineyard (Tom Morgan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvina Vineyard in Knightsen, Contra Costa County is a key source for Birdhorse's Verdelho grapes. Planted in 2002 on Sorrento silty clay loam soils and farmed organically by grower Tom Morgan. Warm days and cool Delta winds create ideal conditions for golden, aromatic Verdelho with bright acidity. This partnership shifted in 2019 to Vista Luna vineyard in Borden Ranch AVA for organic/sustainability reasons.
• Farfalla VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarfalla Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County supplies Vermentino grapes. This young-vine planting sits on Zamora silty clay-loam soils with Italian varieties, farmed organically since inception, with proximity to Dry Creek for water access.
• Spirit Canyon Vineyard (Glenn McGourty)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpirit Canyon Vineyards in Mendocino supplies Arneis grapes from two Piemontese clones planted in 1994 on the loamy banks of the Russian River, sustainably farmed by Glenn McGourty. Birdhorse ferments this Arneis in neutral 500L puncheon and keeps it on lees until bottling.
• Preston Vineyard (Lou Preston)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreston Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley supplies Cinsault grapes. Owned and organically farmed since the late 1970s by Lou Preston, this gold-standard organic farming operation features gravelly, loamy soils, a hot climate, and CCOF certification with a focus on biological diversity and ecosystem farming.
• Poor Ranch Vineyard (Poor Family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoor Ranch in Mendocino County supplies Carignan from around 1,600ft elevation in the Hopland foothills. Dry farmed and organically farmed by the Poor family for 6 generations, this 180-acre ranch produces intense fruit from head-trained vines planted in the mid-1900s.
• Back Road VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBack Road Vineyard in Suisun Valley supplies Valdiguié grapes from 40-year-old organically farmed vines on Brentwood clay-loam soils at the north end of the valley. These vines survived the great supplanting of Valdiguié with Cabernet in the 1980s.
• Shake Ridge Ranch (Ann Kramer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShake Ridge Ranch in Amador County supplies Barbera grapes from iron and quartz-rich soils at approximately 1,800 feet above sea level. Farmed meticulously by Ann Kramer since the early 2000s, this site produces exceptional fruit from a cultivar that started the Amador County wine industry over a century ago.
• Vinovore (Coly Den Haan)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVinovore, a female-producer-focused wine shop in Los Angeles, featured Birdhorse's 2018 Contra Costa Verdelho as one of proprietor Coly Den Haan's four go-to wines, calling it 'Sunshine in a bottle!' This represents a mutual promotional relationship where Birdhorse gains visibility in the LA market.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Populis Wines: Sonoma/Mendocino natural-wine producer making field-blend whites and unconventional reds from organic vineyards with DTC and natural-wine bar distribution. Comparable organic-sourcing and DTC model.
• Stirm Wine Co. Santa Cruz Mountains winery specializing in alternative varietals (Pinot Gris, Riesling, Trousseau) from organic/sustainable sites with minimal-intervention winemaking. Comparable scale, philosophy, and unconventional varietal focus to Birdhorse.
• Donkey & Goat Winery: Berkeley-based natural winery focused on Rhône and alternative varietals from organic/sustainable California vineyards with strong DTC and natural-wine bar distribution. Highly comparable niche and operational philosophy to Birdhorse.
• Forlorn Hope Wines: Small Napa winery known for obscure varietals (Trousseau, Mondeuse, Pinotage) and minimal-intervention winemaking with strong cult following. Comparable niche of resurrecting forgotten varieties in California.
• Matthiasson Wines: Napa-based small winery producing unconventional California varietals (Ribolla Gialla, Friulano, Refosco) with sustainable farming and a strong DTC/wine-club model. Comparable in mission of diversifying California wine away from mainstream varietals.
• Ryme Cellars: Husband-and-wife Napa/Sonoma project focused on alternative Italian and Iberian varietals from coastal California, sold DTC. Comparable small-scale, varietal-driven, alternative-California positioning.
• Broc Cellars: Berkeley-based small winery specializing in organic, minimal-intervention wines from unconventional grape varieties across California, sold primarily DTC. Closest comparable in philosophy, scale (sub-1,000 cases), and varietal selection to Birdhorse.

Emerging players

• Bedrock Wine Co. Sonoma winery (where co-founder Katie Rouse works) specializing in heritage California vineyards and unconventional old-vine Zinfandel and field blends. Comparable Sonoma geographic base and unconventional-varietal positioning, though at larger scale.
• Scribe Winery: Sonoma winery (where co-founder Corinne Rich works) focused on site-driven, cool-climate wines from historic Carneros vineyards. Comparable Sonoma base and minimal-intervention winemaking ethos, though at established scale.

Broad incumbents

• Bonny Doon Vineyard: Pioneering California winery famous for unconventional varietals (Charbono, Mourvèdre, Picpoul) and Rhône-style blends. Comparable mission of diversifying California wine beyond mainstream varieties, though much larger and longer-established.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/birdhorsewines
• Facebookfacebook.com/birdhorsewines
• Instagraminstagram.com/birdhorsewines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/birdhorse-wines

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Birdhorse Wines