Maison Gélas

What Maison Gélas does

Maison Gélas (legal entity: Etablissements GELAS ET FILS SA) is a privately held, family-owned producer of Bas-Armagnac and related spirits headquartered at Avenue de la Hountête, Vic-Fezensac, Gers, France, with additional vineyard holdings at Château de Martet, Manciet. Founded in 1865 by Baptiste Gélas and now led by the Gélas family (Philippe Gélas is the current proprietor and author of the 150th-anniversary book), the company distills Armagnac using the traditional Armagnacais continuous still (a method patented by King Louis XVIII in 1818) and ages stock in chais first built in 1875, with select ultra-mature expressions held in glass demijohns.

The portfolio centers on Bas-Armagnac across three pillars: Traditional blends (3-25 year age statements), the single-varietal Mono-cépage Brut de Fût line (Folle Blanche, Baco, Ugni Blanc aged separately at natural degree), and Gélas Paradise vintage-dated Armagnacs. A proprietary Double Cask Maturation technique, refined over 15 years, finishes Armagnac in casks previously used for Marsala, Sauternes, Oloroso, or Porto wines (500-800 bottles per single-cask expression). Adjacent products — Gin Gelas, Cordialor liqueur (a recipe dating to 1798), Vieilles Prunes, Single White eaux-de-vie, Santa Rosa rum, and Blended Whiskies — extend the brand into specialty spirits using the same finishing expertise. The Celebration 1865 limited decanter (150 bottles) anchors a luxury/trophy tier.

Maison Gélas monetizes through (i) direct-to-consumer retail at the Les Caves de Baptiste boutique and lescavesdebaptiste.com e-commerce site, (ii) wholesale distribution via Dugas across French caves and an E-Shop, (iii) low-margin distillery tourism at €3/person, and (iv) limited editions aimed at collectors. Customer segments span luxury spirits connoisseurs, tourists to Gascony, and the professional wine-and-spirits trade. The house holds the EPV (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant) label from the French State; pricing is not publicly disclosed. No AI capability, app, API, or external funding is present in the data.

Name

Maison Gélas

Legal name

Etablissements GELAS ET FILS SA

Website

https://gelas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maison Gélas is a family-owned Bas-Armagnac producer founded in 1865 in Vic-Fezensac, France, selling traditional, vintage, and double-cask Armagnac plus specialty spirits to luxury collectors, tourists, and the French on-trade via its own boutique and the Dugas wholesale network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Spirits (Bas-Armagnac)

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Craft Distilleries & Microdistilleries (THAFALAH), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Bas-Armagnac brandy
• Vintage Armagnac
• Double cask maturation
• Specialty spirits production
• Family distillery

Headquarters

HQ city

Vic-fezensac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Armagnac Sales: Primary revenue stream from production and sale of Armagnac spirits across multiple product lines: Traditional blends, Vintage Armagnacs (Paradis), Double Matured, and specialty spirits. Products sold in various formats including standard bottles and luxury decanters.
2. Specialty Spirits & Liqueurs: Sales of related spirits including Gin Gelas, Cordialor liqueur, Vieilles Prunes (aged plum brandy), and Single White eaux-de-vie. Also includes Santa Rosa rum products aged in Armagnac casks.
3. Distillery Tours: Revenue from guided distillery tours at 3€ per person, lasting approximately 1 hour and including tasting. Tours operate Monday to Friday 10am-5pm, with advance booking recommended via phone or email.
4. Limited Edition Products: Sale of limited production items such as the Celebration 1865 Carafe (150 limited edition bottles commemorating 150th anniversary) and numbered single cask releases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maison Gélas produces and sells premium Bas-Armagnac spirits from its family-owned distillery in Vic-Fezensac, France, founded in 1865. The core range includes traditional Armagnac blends, vintage-dated Armagnacs, single-varietal (mono-cépage) expressions, and a proprietary Double Matured line finished in wine casks. The company also produces specialty spirits (Gin Gelas, Cordialor liqueur, Vieilles Prunes, Single White eau-de-vie, and Panama rums finished in Armagnac casks) and offers distillery tours with tastings.

Product overview

Maison Gélas is a family-owned Armagnac house founded in 1865, producing a portfolio of spirits centered on Bas-Armagnac. The core offering consists of Traditional Armagnacs (Les Traditionnels) in various age statements and single-varietal expressions (Mono-cépage), supplemented by Gélas Paradise vintage-dated Armagnacs. The specialty spirits line (Origine et originalité) includes Gin Gelas, Liqueur Cordialor, Vieilles Prunes, and Single White at multiple ABV strengths. The Double Matured range applies the house's double cask technique to Armagnacs and extends it to rums and whiskies sourced from Panama, with the Celebration 1865 limited edition marking the company's 150th anniversary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gelas Gin: Small batch gin produced close to the Pyrenees Mountain. Distillation of high quality grape alcohol with a mixture of juniper berries together with other aromatic herbs. Single distillation in traditional copper still and light ageing in oak barrel.
• Liquor Cordialor
• Santa Rosa Rum

Products and services

• Les Traditionnels (Traditional Armagnacs) Classic Armagnac blends aged in oak barrels, available at reduced (40% ABV) or natural degree, filtered before bottling. Includes Sélection (3-5 years), 8 years, 18 years, and 25 years expressions. Targeted at consumers seeking authentic traditional Bas-Armagnac.
• Mono-cépage Bruts de Fût (Single Varietal Un-Chillfiltered) Single varietal Armagnacs presented at natural aging degree for three major grape varieties: Folle Blanche 44.8%, Baco 47.4%, and Ugni Blanc 48.8%, all aged minimum 18 years in oak. Targeted at connoisseurs and collectors seeking varietal-specific expressions.
• Gélas Paradise (Vintage Armagnacs) Single-year harvest Armagnacs aged minimum 10 years, sourced exclusively from the vintage year stated on the label. Aged in the original chais built by Baptiste Gélas in 1875. Targeted at collectors and luxury spirits consumers.
• Double Matured / Single Cask Armagnacs aged first in oak, then finished in second oak casks previously used for sweet or fortified wines (Marsala, Sauternes, Oloroso Sherry, Porto). Includes 6, 8, 12, and 18-year expressions; limited to 500-800 bottles per single cask release. Targeted at premium spirits enthusiasts and collectors.
• Gin Gelas Small batch gin distilled with juniper berries from the Pyrenees and aromatic herbs, single-distilled in copper still with light oak barrel aging. Targeted at gin enthusiasts and specialty spirits consumers.
• Liqueur Cordialor Orange-based liqueur originating from Thomas Gélas's 1798 recipe, refined by Baptiste Gélas in 1865. Orange essence from Caribbean macerated in Armagnac, then distilled and aged in centenary oak casks. Targeted at dessert and digestif consumers.
• Vieilles Prunes Gélas Plum eau-de-vie aged in exhausted oak barrels to develop color and roundness while preserving fruit character. Available in multiple expressions including Vieilles Prunes 42% and Vieilles Prunes Occitanes 40% (aged 15+ years). Targeted at traditional French spirits enthusiasts.
• Single White Unaged eau-de-vie from Baco and Folle Blanche grapes, bottled directly from the still. Available at 60%, 45%, and 25% ABV for cocktails or as a 'Gascony Shochu' pairing with Asian cuisine. Targeted at mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts.
• Carafe Célébration 1865 Exceptional decanter celebrating 150 years (1865-2015), containing a blend of four vintage Armagnacs (120, 100, 80, and 50 years old). Limited to 150 numbered bottles, housed in a decanter based on an 1835 model. Targeted at ultra-premium collectors.
• Ron Santa Rosa (Panama Rum Range) Panama rum aged minimum 10 years in American Bourbon oak casks, then finished in old Armagnac casks in Vic-Fezensac. Includes 10-year, 9-year Full Proof, and 18-year Extra Long Ageing expressions. Characterized by vanilla, coconut, caramel, and roasted coffee notes. Targeted at premium rum enthusiasts.
• Blended Whiskies (L'Original and PX) Blended whiskies aged in Armagnac casks (L'Original) or Maury casks (PX), representing Maison Gélas's expansion into whisky with double cask maturation technique. Targeted at whisky enthusiasts.
• Distillery Tours & Tastings Guided distillery tours at €3 per person lasting approximately 1 hour, including tasting. Tours operate Monday to Friday 10am-5pm, with wheelchair-accessible routes. Bookings via phone or email. Targeted at tourists and experience seekers visiting the Gascony region.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• DugascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDugas is a specialized French spirits and wine distributor that carries Maison Gélas products in cave (wine shops) throughout France and via their E-Shop online platform. They represent an important channel for domestic market reach beyond the direct sales boutique.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Domaine d'Espérance: Artisanal Bas-Armagnac producer emphasizing single-varietal and vintage expressions. Comparable to Maison Gélas's mono-cépage and terroir-driven positioning.
• Marquis de Caussade: Independent Bas-Armagnac producer with deep vintage stocks and a similar premium positioning. Competes directly with Maison Gélas in the vintage and traditional Armagnac segments.
• Francis Darroze: Family-owned Bas-Armagnac house with a strong vintage/paradis library and Michelin-restaurant placement. Direct competitor in the premium vintage Armagnac segment with comparable heritage credentials.
• Domaine Boingnères: Small artisanal Armagnac estate in Bas-Armagnac known for traditional production methods and limited output. Matches Maison Gélas's craft-distillery positioning and small-batch philosophy.
• Château de Laubade: Family-owned Bas-Armagnac producer based in Sorbets, operating since 1872. Like Maison Gélas, it is an artisanal Bas-Armagnac house with a long heritage, vintage library, and experiential tourism offering.
• Ryst-Dupeyron: Independent Armagnac house specializing in vintage and single-cask bottlings. Closely comparable to Maison Gélas's Paradis and limited single-cask release strategy.
• Delord Frères: Family-run Bas-Armagnac producer in Lannepax with multi-generational operations. Closely comparable to Maison Gélas in scale, family heritage, and direct-to-consumer/boutique distribution model.
• Château de Briat: Bas-Armagnac estate with historic château and aging cellars, focused on traditional Armagnac production. Overlaps with Maison Gélas in heritage positioning and on-site experiential offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Hine: Family-owned Cognac house with similar multi-generational heritage and premium vintage positioning. Comparable business model — house of aged French brandy with vintage library — though at a larger scale in Cognac rather than Armagnac.
• Frapin: Family-owned Cognac producer with centuries of heritage and a château-based operation. Useful benchmark for Maison Gélas's heritage-driven premium brandy model, although at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MaisonGelas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Maison Gélas