Kauri Winemaking
Kauri Winemaking is a privately-held NZ/AU specialty distributor founded in 1994, supplying commercial wineries, homebrewers, and micro-breweries with certified organic yeast, fermentation aids, oak barrels, brewing equipment, and the Smart Analysis portable wine quality control instrument via country-specific e-commerce storefronts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersKarori, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kauri Winemaking does
Kauri Winemaking is a privately-held specialty distributor of winemaking and brewing supplies, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Karori, Wellington, New Zealand. The company operates two separate legal entities — Kauri NZ Ltd and Kauri Australia (LP) — with dedicated country-specific e-commerce storefronts serving commercial wineries, homebrewers, and micro-breweries across New Zealand and Australia. Its product portfolio spans certified organic yeast strains (VitiFerm BIO range), malolactic fermentation bacteria (MaloBacti), fermentation aids (FermControl, including FermControl BIO), yeast derivatives (RePrise BIO, ClearUp BIO, ViniFix, ViniComplex XS), tannin products (ViniTannin range), oak barrels and barrel alternatives, stainless steel tanks, brewing equipment under the Braumeister brand, and bottling supplies. A key point of differentiation is the Smart Analysis portable wine quality control instrument, co-developed with the University of Parma's Department of Information Engineering, which uses optical fibre and LED light technology for in-winery analysis, supported by a dedicated YouTube training channel (DNAPhone) and proprietary dosage calculators.
The company's business model is primarily transaction-based B2B e-commerce, with goods priced per unit (NZD for New Zealand, AUD for Australia, excluding GST/TAX) and sold through self-serve online storefronts. Revenue is generated from one-time sales of consumables (yeast, bacteria, tannins, fermentation aids), hardware (instruments, tanks, barrels, brewing equipment), and complementary products (bottles, capsules, packaging). The customer base is concentrated in commercial wineries with named accounts spanning enterprise players (Brookfields Vineyard, Elderton Wines) and mid-market cellars (Collector Wines, Springvale Wines, Radburn Cellars, Otelia Wines, Macaw Creek, Billy Button, Tim Smith, Wine Unplugged), alongside organic/biodynamic wineries as a specialised use-case segment and homebrewers/micro-breweries served via the Braumeister line. Kauri holds a multi-jurisdiction certification stack including HACCP, BioGro NZ, USDA Organic, IFS Logistics, and OIV declarations, providing regulatory compliance that supports export and organic-certified winery supply. Distribution partnerships include an exclusive arrangement with 2B fermentation products and channel relationships with Saury, Leroi, Tarac, Gebhardt, and TN Coopers.
Kauri Winemaking firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kauri Winemaking
- Legal name
- Kauri NZ Ltd
- Website
- https://kauriwine.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kauri Winemaking is a privately-held NZ/AU specialty distributor founded in 1994, supplying commercial wineries, homebrewers, and micro-breweries with certified organic yeast, fermentation aids, oak barrels, brewing equipment, and the Smart Analysis portable wine quality control instrument via country-specific e-commerce storefronts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kauri Winemaking industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Winemaking Supplies
- NAICS
- Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beverage Fermentation Cultures (Beer, Wine, Cider, Kombucha, Fermented Soft Drinks) (AFAJAJAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)
Keywords
Where Kauri Winemaking is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Karori
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kauri Winemaking business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Winemaking Supplies Sales: Kauri generates revenue through the sale of winemaking products including yeast strains, fermentation aids, barrel alternatives, stainless steel tanks, bottling equipment, and brewing supplies through their e-commerce platform.
- Specialised Equipment Sales: Sale of specialised winemaking equipment including Smart Analysis instruments, Gebhardt steamers, and other winery tools.
- Brewing Products: Sale of Braumeister brewing equipment and supplies for homebrewers and micro-breweries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VitiFerm BIO Yeast Strains (NZ) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VitiFerm BIO Yeast Strains (AU) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MaloBacti Products (NZ) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MaloBacti Products (AU) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | ViniTannin Products (NZ) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Kauri Winemaking product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kauri Winemaking supplies winemaking equipment, oak barrels, yeast strains, fermentation products, and brewing equipment for commercial wineries, homebrewers, and micro-breweries across New Zealand and Australia. The company operates regional e-commerce platforms (kauriwine.com/nz and kauriwine.com/au) and distributes 2B fermentation products as the exclusive regional distributor. It also offers the proprietary Smart Analysis portable wine quality control instrument developed in collaboration with the University of Parma.
Product overview
Kauri Winemaking is a winemaking supplies company operating across New Zealand and Australia, offering a comprehensive portfolio of winemaking and brewing products. The core product categories include certified organic yeast strains (VitiFerm BIO range - Alba Fria, Esprit, Paradisi, Pinot Alba, Rubino Extra, Sauvage, Vulcano), malolactic fermentation bacteria (MaloBacti AF3, CN1, HF2 and their Direct Inoculation variants), fermentation aids (FermControl, FermControl BIO), yeast derivatives (RePrise BIO, ClearUp BIO, ViniFix, ViniComplex XS), tannin products (ViniTannin W, SR, Multi Extra, Supreme, Wine i-QT), specialised equipment (Smart Analysis portable wine quality control instrument, stainless steel tanks, oak barrels, barrel alternatives), brewing equipment (Braumeister for homebrewers and micro-breweries), and bottling supplies (glass bottles, capsules, packaging). The company positions itself as fermentation experts, supporting the entire winemaking process from fermentation through to bottling.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Smart Analysis: Portable instrument for wine quality control analysis developed in collaboration with the University of Parma, Italy
- 2B Products
- Braumeister
Products and services
- Smart Analysis Portable wine quality control instrument that performs wine analysis at any time, in a fast, simple and inexpensive way directly in the winery. Developed in collaboration with the University of Parma, Italy with Android APP, WIFI, bluetooth and cloud service connectivity.
- VitiFerm BIO Yeast Strains Certified organic yeast strains including VitiFerm BIO Alba Fria, VitiFerm BIO Esprit, VitiFerm BIO Paradisi, VitiFerm BIO Pinot Alba, VitiFerm BIO Rubino Extra, VitiFerm BIO Sauvage, and VitiFerm BIO Vulcano. Used for alcoholic fermentation in winemaking.
- MaloBacti (MLF Bacteria) Malolactic fermentation bacteria including MaloBacti AF3, MaloBacti CN1, and MaloBacti HF2 in both standard and Direct Inoculation formats. Certified organic options available.
- FermControl Fermentation aid product available in standard and BIO (organic certified) versions. Used to support and control fermentation processes in winemaking.
- RePrise BIO Novel Inactive Yeast product for maturation and refreshment of all wines. Used as natural antioxidant, reduces SO2 addition rate, promotes colour and aroma protection, enhances colour stabilisation and harmonisation of phenol content in red wines.
- ClearUp BIO Certified organic yeast derivative used for flotation protocols and dealing with sour rot affected grapes and powdery mildew conditions.
- ViniTannin Products Tannin products including ViniTannin W, ViniTannin SR, ViniTannin Multi Extra, ViniTannin Supreme, and Wine i-QT. Used for tannin additions during winemaking to enhance structure and mouthfeel.
- Oak Barrels, Cuves & Casks Oak barrels, cuves and casks for wine aging and fermentation. Includes barrel repair supplies and accessories.
- Barrel Alternatives Alternatives to traditional oak barrels for winemaking, including oak chips, staves and other oak adjuncts.
- Stainless Steel Tanks Stainless steel tanks for fermentation and storage in winemaking operations.
- Braumeister Brewing Equipment Brewing products and equipment including homebrewer and micro-brewery solutions for beer production.
- Bottles & Packaging Glass bottles, capsules, bottle equipment and packaging supplies for wine bottling operations.
- Specialised Equipment Specialised winemaking equipment including barrel racks, steamers, Gebhardt Turbo Steamer, and other accessories.
- Cider Products Products and supplies for cider making.
Quantifiable outcome
- Smart Analysis enables wine quality control analysis to be performed anytime, anywhere in the winery
Companies that use Kauri Winemaking
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kauri Winemaking technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Kauri Winemaking partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 2B (Products Brand)core2B is the primary brand for Kauri winemaking products including VitiFerm BIO yeast, FermControl, MaloBacti, RePrise BIO, ClearUp BIO, ViniTannin, and other fermentation products. Kauri serves as the exclusive distributor for 2B products in NZ and AU markets.
- TN CoopersminorKauri supplier TN Coopers uses trained dogs to detect TCA/TBA faults in barrels as part of their NATINGA TCA/TBA project. This partnership ensures Kauri can offer barrels with reduced fault risk to customers.
- University of Parma (Department of Information Engineering)coreDevelopment partner for Smart Analysis portable wine quality control instrument. Professors, researchers and private investors from the university collaborated on the product development.
- Saury (Barrel Manufacturer)minorMultiple winemaker customers reference Saury barrels as a preferred product, suggesting Kauri distributes these barrels. Saury produces French oak barrels used in premium winemaking.
- Leroi (Barrel Manufacturer)minorWinemaker customers reference Leroi barrels with long seasoning, tight grain and not heavily toasted characteristics.
- Tarac (Liquid Tannin Supplier)minorKauri offers Tarac Liquid Tannin products, distributing this Australian tannin supplier's products.
- GebhardtminorKauri distributes Gebhardt Turbo Steamers for barrel cleaning and descaling, with associated cleaning instructions and resources provided.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kauri Winemaking competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lallemand: Global yeast and bacteria manufacturer serving the wine, beer, and spirits industries. Comparable to Kauri as a competing fermentation-cultures supplier whose products overlap Kauri's VitiFerm BIO and MaloBacti ranges.
- BSG Winecraft: Large US-based global distributor of winemaking ingredients and equipment with international reach. Comparable to Kauri as a multi-product distributor serving commercial wineries, though at much greater scale.
- Laffort: French-based global supplier of oenological products (yeast, bacteria, tannins, enzymes). Comparable to Kauri as a competitor in fermentation inputs with overlapping product categories and similar winery customer base.
- Scott Laboratories: US supplier of fermentation, filtration, and finishing products for the North American wine industry. Comparable to Kauri as a fermentation-products specialist with an extensive catalog and training content model.
- Gusmer Enterprises: US-based supplier of fermentation products, filtration, and analytical equipment for the wine and brewing industries. Comparable to Kauri as a multi-category supplier with proprietary analytical products overlapping Smart Analysis.
- Enartis: Global supplier of fermentation products, tannins, and fining agents for the wine industry, owned by Esseco Group. Comparable to Kauri as a competitor/supplier in the 2B yeast/fermentation space with overlapping product categories.
Direct peers
- Kegland: Australian homebrewing and small brewery equipment supplier with strong e-commerce presence. Comparable to Kauri as a regional self-serve B2C/B2B supplier serving the brewing hobbyist/micro-brewery segment.
- Tonnellerie Saury: French oak barrel manufacturer partnered with Kauri as a supplier/distributor. Directly comparable as a barrel producer whose products Kauri resells, and as a benchmark for premium cooperage economics.
- Winequip: Australian-based supplier of winemaking equipment, consumables, and packaging. Directly comparable to Kauri as a regional B2B e-commerce supplier of wine industry inputs across similar product categories (barrels, tanks, fermentations).
- Grapeworks: NZ/AU supplier of winemaking equipment and supplies serving commercial and hobbyist winemakers. Comparable to Kauri in product mix (small-scale equipment, consumables) and regional customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kauri Winemaking social profiles
Digital presenceKauri Winemaking compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Kauri Winemaking financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kauri Winemaking leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kauri Winemaking subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Kauri Winemaking funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kauri Winemaking 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 Kauri Winemaking
What does Kauri Winemaking do?
Kauri Winemaking supplies winemaking equipment, oak barrels, yeast strains, fermentation products, and brewing equipment for commercial wineries, homebrewers, and micro-breweries across New Zealand and Australia. The company operates regional e-commerce platforms (kauriwine.com/nz and kauriwine.com/au) and distributes 2B fermentation products as the exclusive regional distributor. It also offers the proprietary Smart Analysis portable wine quality control instrument developed in collaboration with the University of Parma.
Is Kauri Winemaking a public or private company?
Kauri Winemaking is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kauri Winemaking founded?
Kauri Winemaking was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kauri Winemaking based?
Kauri Winemaking is headquartered in Karori, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Kauri Winemaking make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Winemaking Supplies Sales are the primary driver. The others are specialised Equipment Sales and brewing Products.
Who are Kauri Winemaking's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lallemand, BSG Winecraft, Laffort, Scott Laboratories, Gusmer Enterprises and Enartis. Direct peers are Kegland, Tonnellerie Saury, Winequip and Grapeworks.
Does Kauri Winemaking have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kauri Winemaking.
What industry is Kauri Winemaking in?
Kauri Winemaking's product category is Winemaking Supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAJAC, Beverage Fermentation Cultures (Beer, Wine, Cider, Kombucha, Fermented Soft Drinks), with a secondary code of AFAFAAAB, Wine Production & Winemaking. Its NAICS code is 424820 and its SIC code is 5180.