Fossil & Fawn

What Fossil & Fawn does

Fossil & Fawn is a small-batch, natural-process winery based in Portland, Oregon, founded in 2011 by Jenny Mosbacher and Jim Fischer. The company produces approximately 5,000 cases annually across eight core wines plus single-vineyard and limited releases, all fermented with native yeasts and minimal cellar intervention. Grapes are sourced from six long-term vineyard partnerships across Willamette Valley sub-AVAs, including the founders' family Silvershot Vineyards and the heritage 1974-planted No Clos Radio site that doubles as the production winery. Distinctive techniques include carbonic maceration (the 'Do Nothing' red), extended skin-contact whites (Oregon Orange aged 300+ days on skins), and orange-style blends (Lightwave), as well as a low-alcohol Piquette sparkling. The portfolio is priced from $19 for entry-level Piquette to $50 for single-vineyard Pinot Noirs (Sedimentary Feelings, Windfall, Beautiful Grandpa).

The business operates through a two-channel model: direct-to-consumer sales via fossilandfawn.com with shipping to most U.S. states, private tastings at the Portland Tasting Studio and Forest Grove production site ($50/person), and limited merchandise (signed art prints at $60); and wholesale distribution through 22+ state-specific distributors plus four international partners in Canada, Japan, and Korea. End customers include independent wine shops, fine-dining restaurants in Portland and other Oregon markets, and natural/gourmet grocery chains (Whole Foods, New Seasons, Market of Choice). The company has earned editorial recognition in Wine Enthusiast, Vogue, SevenFifty Daily, Punch, and Sunset, and received a 94-point Editor's Choice rating from Wine Enthusiast for the 2021 Marin Estate Chardonnay 'Long Game'.

The operation is founder-run as a two-person core team supplemented by seasonal harvest interns, with no external funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors disclosed. Revenue is generated entirely through bottle sales (transaction-fee model across price tiers), tasting experiences, and merchandise. Key revenue mechanics include DTC e-commerce, wholesale distributor margins, and experiential events, with no subscription/wine-club recurring revenue model currently in place.

Name

Fossil & Fawn

Legal name

Fossil & Fawn, LLC

Website

https://fossilandfawn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fossil & Fawn is a Portland, Oregon-based natural-wine producer founded in 2011 by Jenny Mosbacher and Jim Fischer, making approximately 5,000 cases per year of minimal-intervention wines from six Willamette Valley vineyard partnerships, sold via DTC e-commerce, 22+ wholesale distributors, and tasting experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

Keywords

• Small-batch winemaking
• Natural wine production
• Willamette Valley wines
• Minimal-intervention winemaking
• Oregon Pinot Noir

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Wine Sales: Online shop selling wines directly to consumers with shipping to most U.S. states. Primary revenue stream with wines priced from $19-$50 per bottle.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Sales to distribution partners who resell to retailers and restaurants across 25+ domestic and international markets.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including art prints of wine labels (Piquette Print and Pét Nat Print at $60 each).
4. Tasting Experiences: Private tastings by appointment at Portland Tasting Studio ($50 per participant) and production space in wine country (seasonal, requires minimum 6-bottle purchase).
5. Volume/Event Sales: Volume discounts offered for purchases of multiple cases for events, weddings, and private functions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fossil & Fawn is a small Oregon winery that produces approximately 5,000 cases per year of small-batch natural wines using organic Willamette Valley grapes and low-intervention, minimal-manipulation winemaking methods. The portfolio spans eight core wines supplemented by limited and single-vineyard releases, distributed primarily direct-to-consumer with additional wholesale channels.

Product overview

Fossil & Fawn is a small Oregon winery producing approximately 5,000 cases across eight core wines and additional limited/single-vineyard releases. The portfolio centers on minimal-intervention, natural-process wines from Willamette Valley vineyards, featuring Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and experimental skin-contact whites. Core wines include Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (blend), Do Nothing (carbonic red), Lightwave (orange-style), Oregon Orange, Willamette Valley Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley Chardonnay, Only Always (Gemischter satz white blend), and Dark Wave (Pinot/Gamay blend). Single-vineyard reserves include Sedimentary Feelings (Silvershot), Windfall (Finnigan Hill), Beautiful Grandpa (No Clos Radio), and The Long Game (Marin Estate). Piquette is a lower-alcohol sparkling alternative. Merchandise includes limited art prints. All wines emphasize native yeast fermentation, limited oak influence, and vineyard transparency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Wine Portfolio
• Limited and Single-Vineyard Releases

Quantifiable outcome

• 94 points (Editor's Choice) - Wine Enthusiast for The Long Game Chardonnay (2021)

Named customers10 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

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Action Wine & SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArizona distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Bowler WinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalifornia distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Benny & Zoid SelectionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColorado distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Ungrafted SelectionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConnecticut distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Plant WinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistrict of Columbia distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the market.
• VinejoycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIllinois distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Oz Wine CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMassachusetts distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• AHD Vintners/i-LixircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMichigan distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Summit BeveragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMontana distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Thirst Wine MerchantscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOklahoma distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Julian-SinclaircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOregon distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Pangea SelectionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Flora/FaunacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUtah distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• 802 DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVermont distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Walden SelectionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWashington distribution partner handling wholesale distribution within the state.
• Ellement Wine + SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanada/Manitoba export distribution partner.
• Neige Wine ImportscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanada/Saskatchewan export distribution partner.
• Nomura UnisoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapan export distribution partner.
• Against BorderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorea export distribution partner.
• Silvershot VineyardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills; Jim Fischer grew up on this land and helped plant part of the vineyard. Own-rooted, dry-farmed Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris planted in 2000. Source for Sedimentary Feelings and core Pinot Gris.
• No Clos Radio (Shafer Vineyard)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric vineyard planted in 1974, home to nearly 50-year-old vines. Located in Tualatin Hills sub-AVA on windblown loess over marine sediment and volcanic soils. Has served as Fossil & Fawn's winemaking home since 2020. Source for Beautiful Grandpa Pinot Noir and core wines.
• Finnigan Hill VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoman-owned site in Laurelwood District sub-AVA with historic farm/orchard since 1870s. Highest elevation site at 750 feet. Planted 2007. Source for Windfall Pinot Noir.
• Marin Estate VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVineyard in Yamhill-Carlton sub-AVA planted 2017. Farmed by Javier Marin and sons Erik and Alex. Source for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, and Pinot Gris. Unique mix of marine sediment, volcanic, and alluvial soils.
• Sunnyside VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOldest vineyard partner, planted 1970. Located in South Salem Hills at 750 ft elevation on volcanic soil. Farmed by Luci Wisniewski and Tom Owen since 1980. Source for Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Auxerrois for Only Always.
• Matteri VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVineyard in Yamhill-Carlton with shallow rocky Marine Sediment soils near Coast Range. Nicknamed 'Firewatch' due to resemblance to Forest Service fire lookout. Source for Firewatch White Wine and Do Nothing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brooks Wine: Established Willamette Valley winery with broader distribution and Biodynamic certification, competing in the same premium Oregon Pinot and Riesling segments.
• Eyrie Vineyards: Pioneering Willamette Valley producer with substantially larger scale and broader varietal range; competes for the same specialty retail and fine dining shelf space.

Direct peers

• Bow & Arrow Wines: Small Willamette Valley producer focused on minimal-intervention, Rhône-inspired varietals. Directly comparable in size, philosophy, and Oregon DTC/wholesale distribution model.
• Division Wine Co. Portland-based small-batch winery and wine bar program with similar natural winemaking philosophy and overlap in Willamette Valley distribution footprint.
• Haden Fig Wines: Small Oregon natural wine producer with comparable sub-1,000 case scale, minimal-intervention methods, and DTC-plus-distribution model targeting natural wine buyers.
• Day Wines: Willamette Valley small-batch winery producing natural-leaning wines from organically-farmed vineyards. Closely mirrors Fossil & Fawn's production scale, pricing, and natural winemaking positioning.
• St. Reginald Parish: Emerging Oregon minimal-intervention winery producing low-SO2, native-yeast wines at similar small scale, with comparable DTC and natural-wine-channel distribution.

Regional players

• Donkey & Goat Winery: California-based minimal-intervention winery with comparable natural winemaking approach, founder-driven model, and natural wine distribution channels, but West Coast rather than Oregon-rooted.

Emerging players

• Ruth Lewandowski Wines: Minimal-intervention producer working with organically-farmed vineyards, sharing natural wine philosophy and low-intervention techniques across a similarly small production base.
• Old World Winery: Oregon producer specializing in traditional-method sparkling and skin-contact wines, overlapping with Fossil & Fawn's Piquette and orange wine program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fossilandfawn
• Facebookfacebook.com/fossilandfawn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Fossil & Fawn