Cornell Winery

What Cornell Winery does

Cornell Winery is a privately held, family-owned tasting room and wine retailer located at 29975 Mulholland Highway in Cornell (also known as Agoura), California, within the Santa Monica Mountains. Rather than producing its own wine at scale, the business operates as an aggregator tasting room showcasing wines from more than 20 boutique vineyards and wineries operating in the Santa Monica Mountains region, including Topanga Skyline Vineyards, Cielo Farms, Bodegas Gomez de Malibu, and Rosenthal Estate Vineyards. The venue was established by Tim and Denise Skogstrom, Southern California natives with over two decades of wine industry experience, and operates on a limited weekly schedule (Thursday through Sunday).

The company's core product is a direct-to-consumer wine country experience encompassing tasting, on-site wine purchase, an on-site art gallery curated by Douglas Tharalson with up to 60 original works, and event hosting including photography exhibitions and benefit receptions. Revenue is generated entirely through on-site wine sales and tasting fees; there is no wholesale distribution, e-commerce channel, mobile app, or third-party delivery integration evident in the data. Distribution is regional and physical, with the venue relying on its location in the 'Three Magical Miles' corridor between Paramount Ranch and the Rock Store, and on adjacent destination partnerships — most notably The Old Place Restaurant, a historically significant establishment operated by the Runyon family, and the neighboring Charme D'Antan antique dealer.

The business is a lifestyle-scale hospitality operation with 1–10 employees and no external funding, parent company, or institutional ownership structure. Marketing is conducted through a basic website, a mailing list, rotating art exhibitions, and community/referral partnerships rather than through digital advertising, technology platforms, or data-driven acquisition. With no technology layer, no AI/ML capabilities, and a part-time four-day schedule, Cornell Winery's competitive position derives from physical location, ecosystem partnerships, curation, and brand rather than from scale, technology, or intellectual property.

Name

Cornell Winery

Legal name

Cornell Winery

Website

https://cornellwinery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cornell Winery is a family-owned tasting room in the Santa Monica Mountains that aggregates wines from more than 20 local vineyards for direct-to-consumer sampling and purchase, complemented by an on-site art gallery and event hosting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery & Tasting Room Services

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)

Keywords

• Wine tasting room
• Boutique wine sales
• Local winery showcase
• Wine country events
• Art gallery venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Cornell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales and Tasting Room: Direct-to-consumer wine sales through an on-site tasting room. The winery serves as a hub for local Santa Monica Mountains wineries to offer their emerging vintages. Revenue is generated through wine purchases and tasting fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cornell Winery operates a direct-to-consumer tasting room in the Santa Monica Mountains (Cornell/Agoura, CA) that aggregates and sells wines from more than 20 local Santa Monica Mountains producers. The venue combines wine tasting and retail with an on-site art gallery (up to 60 original pieces) and hosts private events, art exhibitions, and special receptions, functioning as a destination wine country experience in partnership with the adjacent Old Place Restaurant.

Product overview

Cornell Winery operates as a single unified tasting room and event venue in Malibu, California. The core offering is a wine country experience featuring local Santa Monica Mountain wines, supplemented by an art gallery displaying works by local artists. The winery serves as a hub for emerging vintages from over 20 local vineyards, combining wine tasting with cultural events and art exhibitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wine Tasting Room Experience An on-site wine country tasting room experience in the Santa Monica Mountains where visitors can sample and purchase wines from over 20 local Santa Monica Mountain vineyards. Targeted at wine enthusiasts, tourists, and visitors seeking a Malibu wine country destination experience.
• Local Wine Selection (Retail) Curated retail offering of wines from Santa Monica Mountain producers including Topanga Skyline Vineyards, Cielo Farms, Stafford Wines, Bodegas Gomez de Malibu, Rosenthal Estate Vineyards, and other local wineries. Available for purchase on-site by visitors.
• Event Hosting Private event hosting service at the winery venue, including art exhibitions, special receptions, and private parties. The venue accommodates art shows featuring local photographers and artists and partnership events with nearby restaurants and nonprofits.
• Art Gallery Exhibitions On-site art gallery displaying up to 60 original art pieces, curated by local artist and sculptor Douglas Tharalson. Features works by local artists including sculpture, abstract oil paintings, and canvas photography. The gallery operates as part of the tasting room experience and supports featured artist programs.

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Return to FreedomminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2010Cornell Winery hosted 'Return to Freedom' benefit event featuring Bristol MacDonald's wild horse photography. 10% of art sales gifted to the non-profit wild horse sanctuary located in Lompoc, California. Neda De Mayo, founder of Return to Freedom, was introduced at a special reception.
• The Old Place RestaurantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent restaurant operated by Morgan Runyon. Back in 1970, Tom and Barbara Runyon opened the Old Place, which became a celebrity destination with Steve McQueen, Jason Robards, and others. After Tom's passing in 2009, Morgan and partner re-opened in September 2009. The restaurant complements Cornell Winery as a combined destination experience.
• Douglas Tharalson / Studio TharalsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal artist and sculptor appointed as official curator of Cornell Winery gallery. Studio open for private viewing during events. By appointment: (818) 437-5702. Doug is a former student of Jirayr Zorthian and specializes in sculpture and abstract oil paintings.
• William Thoren PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner23-year-old local photographer from Malibou Lake and gallery favorite. After apprenticing legendary photographer Douglas Kirkland for 6 years, William established himself with photography, didgeridoo crafting and performing. Photography printed on canvas is displayed at the winery.
• Bristol MacDonaldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFine art photographer specializing in equine photography. Hosted 'Return to Freedom' benefit event at Cornell Winery starting December 2, 2010. Special edition series capturing wild mustangs with proceeds benefiting Return to Freedom sanctuary.
• Santa Monica Mountains Wineries (Featured)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMore than 20 local wineries featured including Topanga Skyline Vineyards, Cielo Farms, Stafford Wines, Bodegas Gomez de Malibu, Rosenthal Estate Vineyards, Semler Estate Vineyards, Malibu Valley Vineyards, Hoyt Family Vineyards, Triunfo Creek Vineyards, Republic of Malibu, Colcanyon Estates, Cantara, The Malibu Vineyard, Casa Dumetz, Calabasas Peak Vineyards, Malibu Rocky Oaks, Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards, Divya Wines, Malibu Solstice, and Montage Vineyards.
• Charme D'AntanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAntique dealer specializing in French treasures located next door to Cornell Winery. One of Southern California's most unique architectural antique dealers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Cielo Farms Vineyard: Family-owned vineyard and tasting room in the Santa Monica Mountains. One of Cornell's featured local wineries with comparable boutique scale, varietal mix, and DTC tasting room model.
• Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards: Featured Malibu/Cornell-area boutique winery producing estate wines. Directly comparable as a small-lot producer within Cornell's featured network.
• Topanga Skyline Vineyards: Local Santa Monica Mountains featured winery at Cornell producing small-lot wines. Comparable as a boutique producer with limited DTC infrastructure that benefits from aggregation through Cornell.
• Malibu Rocky Oaks: Boutique vineyard and tasting room in the Malibu/Santa Monica Mountains producing estate wines. Operates a similar tasting-experience model and is part of Cornell's featured winery portfolio, making it a directly comparable regional peer.
• Rosenthal Estate Vineyards: Malibu-based winery featured at Cornell, with its own tasting room and estate production. Comparable boutique Malibu wine producer with similar DTC and tasting room strategy.
• The Malibu Vineyard: Featured Santa Monica Mountains winery at Cornell producing small-lot wines. Comparable boutique producer reliant on the same regional DTC and tasting-room ecosystem.
• Bodegas Gomez de Malibu: Small Malibu winery featured at Cornell Winery producing estate-grown wines. Directly comparable boutique Malibu/Santa Monica Mountains producer targeting DTC tasting-room visitors.
• Saddlerock Ranch / Semler Estate: Malibu wine country estate producing estate wines and offering tastings in the Santa Monica Mountains. Directly comparable as a featured Cornell partner with overlapping grape varietals and on-premise hospitality.
• Casa Dumetz Wines: Boutique Santa Monica Mountains winery with its own tasting room in Los Alamos. Comparable scale, varietal mix, and DTC tasting-room strategy in the broader SoCal wine country.

Broad incumbents

• Malibu Wines: Larger Malibu wine country tasting room operator with outdoor tasting lawn experience. Comparable as a broader Malibu wine-tourism destination, but operates at larger scale and broader portfolio than Cornell's curated aggregator model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Cornell Winery