The Farm Winery

What The Farm Winery does

The Farm Winery is a boutique Westside Paso Robles winery founded in 2009 by four partners: winemaker Santiago Achaval and his wife Mercedes Achaval, alongside Jim and Azmina Madsen. The winery operates with no hired staff — its leadership team plus families and friends execute vineyard and winemaking work themselves as 'a labor of physical, emotional and intellectual love.' Production is deliberately capped under 1,000 cases per vintage across roughly eight wines, with many SKUs under 100 cases annually.

The portfolio spans Cabernet Sauvignon (flagship Cardinal, Cardinal Reserve, LPF, Old Union, Late Harvest), Bordeaux-Rhône fusion (The Big Game), Malbec (Old Pro), Petit Verdot-dominant cuvées (Pura Vida), and Rhône varietals from Terra Bella Vineyard at 1800 ft elevation (Touchy-Feely, Primal Scream, The Dish, The Red Zone). Viticulture is anchored on scarce assets — Old Bailey Vineyard (Cabernet planted 1964, the oldest surviving Cabernet vineyard in Paso Robles) and Terra Bella Vineyard (highest-elevation Grenache and Syrah in the Adelaida District) — with labor-intensive techniques including a three-pass veraison process and ultra-low yields of approximately one ton per acre or less. Since the 2009 inaugural vintage, 260-plus wines have been rated 92+ by critics.

Revenue mechanics are direct-to-consumer only: a tiered Farm Club (3-, 6-, and 12-bottle semi-annual allocations at roughly $165-225 / $325-405 / $650-750 per shipment with 10/15/20 percent member savings), free standard membership granting a la carte allocation access, custom wooden-box special collections, and one exclusive retail partner (Wines on Main in Templeton, CA). The company has no tasting room, no institutional investors, no M&A activity, and is privately held by the four founder families. Geographic reach is constrained to U.S. shipping-eligible jurisdictions.

Name

The Farm Winery

Legal name

The Farm Winery

Website

https://thefarmwinery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Farm Winery is a boutique Paso Robles winery producing under 1,000 cases annually of hand-crafted Cabernet, Rhône, and Malbec from the Adelaida and Willow Creek Districts, sold direct-to-consumer via a tiered wine club and one exclusive retail partner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Wineries (31213), Grape Vineyards (111332), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Vineyard Establishment & Development (Site Prep, Trellising, Planting) (AFAGAJAA), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Boutique wine production
• Cabernet sauvignon wines
• Rhône varietals
• Wine club membership
• Paso robles winery

Headquarters

HQ city

Paso Robles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wine Club Memberships (The Farm Club): Subscription-based wine club with three tiers (3, 6, 12 bottles per release). Two shipments per year (Fall and Spring). Members receive discounts on wines and shipping, access to limited releases, library wines, and magnums.
2. A la Carte Wine Sales: Individual bottle purchases available year-round through member login. Subject to availability. Farm Club members receive base tier savings on re-orders.
3. Special Collections / Gift Boxes: Horizontal and vertical wine gift sets in custom wooden boxes (3-pack and 6-pack options). Includes library wines and verticals for collectors.
4. Retail Partnership: Exclusive retail location at Wines on Main in Templeton, Paso Robles area.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Farm Winery is a small-production boutique winery in Westside Paso Robles that produces hand-crafted, terroir-driven wines from the Adelaida and Willow Creek Districts. The portfolio comprises about 12 wines per vintage — including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Rhône varietal bottlings — with total annual production under 1,000 cases. Distribution is exclusively through the direct-to-consumer channel, anchored by The Farm Club subscription membership, individual bottle allocations to registered members, and an exclusive retail partnership with Wines on Main in Templeton.

Product overview

The Farm Winery is a boutique Westside Paso Robles winery producing small-lot wines (total production under 1000 cases annually) from the Adelaida and Willow Creek Districts. The portfolio centers on 12 distinct wines: three Cabernet Sauvignon single-varietal wines (Cardinal as flagship, LPF, and Old Union), two Malbec/Petit Verdot wines (Old Pro and Pura Vida), and seven Rhône-style wines (Touchy-Feely, Primal Scream, The Dish, The Red Zone, The Big Game, Cardinal Reserve, and Late Harvest). Cardinal and Cardinal Reserve are the crown jewels from the oldest surviving Cabernet vineyard in Paso (planted 1964). The wines are sold exclusively through a membership model (The Farm Club tiers and standard membership), direct a la carte purchases, and the exclusive retail partner Wines on Main in Templeton. Total annual production is less than 1000 cases with many wines under 100 cases per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cardinal The Farm Winery's flagship 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Old Bailey Vineyard (planted 1964), considered the oldest surviving Cabernet vineyard in Paso Robles. Yields approximately 0.5 tons per acre from steep limestone hillsides and is released only in exceptional vintages (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015–2019).
• Cardinal Reserve Premium reserve tier of Cardinal, released only in exceptional years; the inaugural 2019 vintage comprised only 4 barrels from select blocks of 61-year-old vines at Old Bailey Vineyard with extended bottle aging beyond standard Cardinal.
• LPF (Liquidity Preference Function) Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend (typically 88–99%) with Petit Verdot, sourced primarily from Old Bailey Vineyard in the Adelaida District. Named after the economic concept of delayed gratification.
• The Big Game Bordeaux-Rhône fusion blend combining Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot with Syrah (typically 39–73% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Syrah ranging 21–55%); sourced from Adelaida Springs Ranch and other sites.
• Old Union 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Willow Creek District, the only Farm Winery wine sourced outside the Adelaida District. Named for the long-standing friendship between the Madsen and Achaval families, with strong marine influence from the Templeton Gap and limestone-rich calcareous soils.
• Old Pro 100% Malbec and the first single-varietal Malbec, sourced from the westernmost Malbec vineyard in Paso Robles's Adelaida District. Reflects winemaker Santiago Achaval's 30-harvest connection to Malbec from his native Argentina; only a barrel or two produced annually.
• Pura Vida Petit Verdot-driven blend (typically 60–80% Petit Verdot with Cabernet Sauvignon) sourced from limestone hillsides off Adelaida Road; the first standalone Petit Verdot expression from Paso Robles.
• Touchy-Feely Grenache-dominant Rhône blend (typically 69–82% Grenache, 18–31% Syrah) from Terra Bella Vineyard at 1,800 ft elevation — the highest Grenache and Syrah site in Paso Robles Adelaida District.
• Primal Scream Syrah-dominant Rhône blend (typically 61–73% Syrah, 27–39% Grenache) from Terra Bella Vineyard; described as a Syrah uplifted by Grenache rather than Grenache darkened by Syrah.
• The Dish 100% Grenache from Terra Bella Vineyard at 1,800 ft elevation — the highest-altitude Grenache in Paso Robles. Described as feminine, silky, and Pinot-esque among Rhône varieties.
• The Red Zone 100% Syrah and the first single-varietal Syrah, sourced from Terra Bella Vineyard; only 1–2 barrels (22–45 cases) produced annually.
• Late Harvest 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Late Harvest wine in 500ml format, developed from dehydrated raisins; aged 3+ years in barrel before bottling at 16.6% alcohol. Positioned as an after-dinner pairing rather than a typical sweet dessert wine.
• The Farm Club (Wine Subscription) Recurring wine club membership with two semi-annual shipments per year (fall and spring) in 3-, 6-, or 12-bottle tiers. Members receive discounts on wines and shipping, priority access to limited releases, library wines and magnums, and event invitations.
• Standard Membership (Free Allocation Access) Free membership tier with no minimum purchase requirement that grants access to the allocations page for a la carte individual bottle purchases.
• Special Collections & Wooden Box Gifts Curated library wine gift packages in horizontal (mixed vintages) and vertical (same wine, multiple vintages) formats, featuring 90+ point wines hand-wrapped and nestled in custom wooden boxes holding 3–6 wines, with a handwritten gift card option.

Quantifiable outcome

• 260+ wines rated 92+ since 2009 inaugural vintage
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wines on MaincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive retail location for The Farm Winery wines. Located in Templeton, CA. This is the only physical retail location where The Farm Winery products can be purchased outside of the wine club membership.
• Terra Bella VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarming partnership for Grenache and Syrah grapes at 1800ft elevation - the highest altitude Grenache and Syrah in Paso Robles Adelaida District. Winery walks vineyards throughout the year and partners with growers who share a vision of pushing envelope of vine expression.
• Old Bailey VineyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource of Cardinal and some LPF wines. Planted in 1964, it is the oldest surviving Cabernet vineyard in Paso Robles. Located on Peachy Canyon Road in Adelaida District with steep limestone hillsides.
• Adelaida Springs RanchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVineyard source for The Big Game, planted in 2002. One of the sources for Syrah component.
• DeBro VineyardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWesternmost Malbec vineyard in Paso Robles Adelaida District. Source of Old Pro Malbec.
• Old Union Vineyard (Willow Creek District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource of Old Union wine - The Farm Winery's only wine not from Adelaida District. Located in Willow Creek District south of Adelaida, with limestone-rich calcareous soils and marine influence from Templeton Gap.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Booker Wines: Boutique Paso Robles producer focused on Rhône varietals from estate vineyards, with very small production and cult pricing. Comparable to The Farm Winery on region, scale, varietal focus, and DTC/club distribution approach.
• DAOU Vineyards & Winery: Adelaida District Cabernet-focused producer scaling into a national brand with tasting room, DTC, and broader distribution. Represents a scaled-up trajectory of The Farm Winery's terroir-driven model in the same Paso Robles sub-region.
• Epoch Estate Wines: Westside Paso Robles (Willow Creek and Adelaida Districts) Rhône and Bordeaux blend specialist. Sells primarily through wine club and limited allocation, with similarly tiny production and high critical scores. Directly comparable geography, model, and customer base.
• Sine Qua Non: California's archetypal cult winery with ultra-small production, allocation-only DTC, and record-breaking auction prices. Comparable to The Farm Winery on scarcity model, brand cult dynamics, and collector-driven demand, though in a higher price tier.
• L'Aventure Winery: Westside Paso Robles cult Rhône-Bordeaux blend producer founded by a French winemaker. Allocation-driven DTC sales, high scores, and similar small-production positioning make it a close comp to The Farm Winery.
• Schrader Cellars: Ultra-premium cult Cabernet producer famous for single-vineyard programs, mailing-list allocation, and high collector demand. Compares to The Farm Winery on DTC-only cult model, old-vine sourcing, and flagship single-vineyard Cabernet positioning.
• Saxum Vineyards: Extremely small-lot, cult Rhône-style producer in Westside Paso Robles (Adelaida District). Like The Farm Winery, Saxum is allocation-only with tiny production, ultra-high critical scores (multiple 100-point wines), and a DTC mailing list model. Most directly comparable on geography, scale, and business model.
• Tablas Creek Vineyard: Adelaida District Paso Robles Rhône specialist with on-site tasting room and wine club. Larger than The Farm Winery but a close regional, varietal, and DTC-club comp; useful for benchmarking wine-club growth and tasting-room economics in the same terroir.
• Verite Wines: Sonoma cult producer of small-lot, terroir-driven Bordeaux blends with 100-point Robert Parker scores and allocation-only DTC. Comparable to The Farm Winery on small production, critical acclaim, and club-driven revenue model.

Others

• Achaval-Ferrer: Founded by Santiago Achaval in Mendoza, Argentina, this is the predecessor project to The Farm Winery's winemaker. Useful for understanding Achaval's track record and brand halo, though it is geographically separate and produces a different portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thefarmwinery
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• Instagraminstagram.com/the_farm_winery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-farm-winery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Farm Winery