VAUX

What VAUX does

VAUX (legal entity: Sektmanufaktur Schloss VAUX AG) is a German sparkling wine producer headquartered in Eltville am Rhein in the Rheingau region. Founded in Berlin in 1868 and relocated to Eltville in 1921, the company operates as a private joint-stock company owned by approximately 60 shareholders, including members of the Salm-Salm and Castell-Castell families, and runs a small team of roughly 15 employees. It produces a portfolio of German sekt using Méthode traditionale (traditional bottle fermentation) with extended lees aging of 18-60 months, sourcing grapes from its 7-hectare estate vineyard in Geisenheim — currently transitioning to 100% organic and biodynamic cultivation — supplemented by partner growers in Pfalz and Rheinhessen.

The product range spans entry-level cuvées (€16.50) through single-vineyard Grand Cru expressions (Geisenheimer Rothenberg and Erbacher Marcobrunn at €50), the premium l'Artiste line (€35-€75 including Magnum formats), and a growing no/low-alcohol segment (NOUVAUX at 2%, VAUX TRÄUBLEIN alcohol-free, BRAVAUX! organic refresher). VAUX monetizes primarily through direct-to-consumer channels: its own e-commerce shop shipping within Germany, the on-site Kontor retail location in Eltville, and an event venue (VAUX am Rhein / Burg Crass) hosting Beats & Bubbles and oyster pop-up experiences. A separate B2B arm supplies restaurants and hotels under distinct commercial terms, and a co-developed RTD product (NOUVAUX Spritz with Swiss mixer brand MIKKS) extends the brand into ready-to-drink aperitifs.

The business is brand-led and craft-led rather than technology-led. Marketing operates through Instagram, an email newsletter (CleverReach), the website, and experiential events. The company holds organic certification (DE-ÖKO-039), has been recognized by Falstaff (1st Place Rosé Special, 2024) and Meininger (Top 100, 2021), and operates under CEO Christoph Graf since 2022, with ownership deliberately preserved as a private shareholder structure to protect its premium positioning.

Name

VAUX

Legal name

Sektmanufaktur Schloss VAUX AG

Website

https://schloss-vaux.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Sparkling Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB), Producer-Owned Retail & Bottle Shops (On-site) (THAFALAL), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE)

Keywords

• Traditional bottle fermentation sekt
• Premium german sparkling wine
• Single vineyard lagen sekte
• Organic rheingau sekt
• Non-alcoholic sparkling beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Eltville

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online shop sales through their website www.schloss-vaux.de with home delivery within Germany. Products include sparkling wines in various formats (0.375L, 0.75L, 1.5L Magnum), gift boxes, accessories (champagne coolers, glasses, openers), and personalized bottles. Pricing ranges from entry-level cuvées (€16.50) to premium single vineyard reserves (€50-75).
2. On-site Retail (Kontor): Physical retail location (Kontor) at company headquarters in Eltville with opening hours Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00 and Saturday 11:00-14:00. Offers the full product range for direct purchase and hosts tasting events.
3. B2B / Wholesale Orders: Business-to-business sales to commercial customers (restaurants, hotels, retailers) under separate entrepreneur AGB terms. Orders accepted via phone, email, and online shop with volume transport insurance of 0.8% of goods value.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from ticketed and free entry events at VAUX am Rhein venue including Beats & Bubbles evenings, oyster pop-up bars, and seasonal celebrations. Some events feature food pairings (e.g., 6 oysters + 1 bottle Cuvée VAUX for €45).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VAUX (Sektmanufaktur Schloss VAUX AG) manufactures and sells premium German sparkling wines (Sekt) using the traditional bottle fermentation method, with a portfolio spanning core cuvées, reserve and single-vineyard Lagen Sekte, low-alcohol and alcohol-free variants, personalized bottles, and gift packages. Products are sold directly to consumers through the company's e-commerce shop and on-site Kontor retail location in Eltville, with secondary B2B supply to hospitality businesses, and are supported by experiential events at the VAUX am Rhein venue.

Product overview

VAUX (Sektmanufaktur Schloss VAUX AG) is a German sparkling wine manufacturer based in Eltville, Rheingau, producing a diverse portfolio of premium sparkling wines using the traditional bottle fermentation method (Méthode traditionelle). The core product line includes versatile sparkling wines like Cuvée VAUX, Blanc de Noirs, VAUX Rosé, and Grüner Veltliner. The premium Réserve tier features the prestigious Rheingauer Réserve and the artisan l'Artiste series (brut and rosé), available in both standard and Magnum formats. Specialty single-vineyard 'Lagen Sekte' offerings include Erbacher Marcobrunn and Geisenheimer Rothenberg. For alcohol-conscious consumers, VAUX offers NOUVAUX (2% alcohol) and VAUX TRÄUBLEIN (alcohol-free). The portfolio also includes personalized products (Höchstpersönlich custom-labeled bottles), gift packages, and accessories such as champagne coolers, specialized glasses, and wooden boxes. The company operates their own 7-hectare estate vineyard in Geisenheim and sources additional grapes from partner growers in Pfalz and Rheinhessen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• l'Artiste: Premium sekt line featuring hand-harvested grapes, spontaneous fermentation, aging in wood, amphorae and stainless steel, traditional bottle fermentation with minimum 48 months lees contact. Includes l'Artiste brut and l'Artiste Rosé variants.
• NOUVAUX
• Rheingauer Réserve

Products and services

• Cuvée VAUX The signature Brut sparkling wine of Schloss VAUX, priced at €16.50 for a 0.75L bottle and designed as a versatile entry-point cuvée suitable for many occasions.
• Blanc de Noirs A standout sparkling wine from the VAUX family produced from Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) grapes using traditional bottle fermentation, priced at €20.00 for 0.75L.
• VAUX Rosé A rosé sparkling wine with all the characteristics expected of a fine rosé, priced at €18.50 for 0.75L.
• Grüner Veltliner Sekt A distinctive white sparkling wine made from Grüner Veltliner grapes, positioned by VAUX as a 'secret tip', priced at €28.00 for 0.75L.
• VAUX Riesling A classic Riesling sparkling wine with aromas of apple, pear, and apricot, representing German sekt culture at its finest.
• Assmannshäuser Pinot Noir (Rotsekt) A red sparkling wine (Rotsekt) from the Assmannshäuser single vineyard, made from Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) grapes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Extended yeast aging: 18-60 months (vs. 9-month legal minimum)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MIKKS drinkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss premium mixer brand collaborating with VAUX to develop NOUVAUX Spritz - a ready-to-drink spritzer combining NOUVAUX sparkling wine with MIKKS Berry Lemon mixer. Launched as '5+1 Starter-Set' (5 bottles NOUVAUX + 1 bottle MIKKS Berry Lemon for €89).
• Wine in ModerationminorOthersIndustry initiative for responsible alcohol consumption. VAUX displays Wine in Moderation certification on their website footer, demonstrating commitment to responsible marketing.
• IITR Datenschutz GmbHminorOthersExternal data protection officer provider: IITR Datenschutz GmbH, Dr. Sebastian Kraska, Marienplatz 2, 80331 München. Appointed as required under GDPR.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Sektmanufaktur Bard: Sektmanufaktur Bard is a small independent German Sekt producer that likewise focuses exclusively on traditional bottle fermentation with extended lees aging. As a similarly sized craft specialist, it represents the alternative emerging craft player that competes with VAUX for premium Sekt enthusiasts and on-trade placements in Germany.

Direct peers

• Geldermann Sektkellerei: Geldermann is a German Sekt producer (subsidiary of Rotkäppchen-Mumm) that likewise specializes in traditional bottle-fermented sekt from a single German region. Like VAUX, it emphasizes premium positioning, longer lees aging, and the Méthode traditionale narrative, making it one of the closest functional peers in terms of product and craft positioning.
• Henkell & Co. Sektkellerei: Henkell (now part of Henkell Freixenet) is one of Germany's largest Sekt producers, headquartered in Wiesbaden near VAUX's Rheingau base. It competes across overlapping price tiers and channels — particularly in the €15–€25 range where VAUX's Cuvée VAUX, Blanc de Noirs, and Rosé compete — making it a clear direct competitor for German Sekt demand.
• Rotkäppchen-Mumm Sektkellereien: Rotkäppchen-Mumm is Germany's largest Sekt producer, marketing brands including Rotkäppchen, Mumm, and Fürst von Metternich across both mass and premium tiers. Like VAUX, it has a multi-century heritage and operates in the German sparkling wine category, but with vastly broader distribution and lower price-point penetration.
• Fürst von Metternich (Rotkäppchen-Mumm): Fürst von Metternich is the premium traditional-method Sekt brand within the Rotkäppchen-Mumm portfolio, marketed explicitly on Méthode traditionale with extended aging. It directly competes with VAUX in the premium German Sekt category and is the most relevant scaled competitor at VAUX's mid-premium price points (€20–€35).

Regional players

• Weingut Kloster Eberbach: Weingut Kloster Eberbach is a historic Rheingau state-owned winery with significant vineyard holdings and estate-produced Sekt. It overlaps with VAUX on Rheingau terroir-driven sparkling wines and is a similarly heritage-positioned regional producer, though it is materially larger and operates a tourism/event-driven business model.
• Bisol Prosecco: Bisol is a premium Prosecco producer from Valdobbiadene that competes with VAUX in the sparkling wine category at overlapping premium price points but from a different region and via Charmat rather than traditional method. It represents the geographic/sparkling-wine peer that eats into the same celebration and gifting occasions, particularly in on-premise channels.
• Schloss Johannisberg: Schloss Johannisberg is a historic Rheingau Riesling estate that also produces estate-bottled sparkling wines. It competes with VAUX for premium and ultra-premium positioning within the same terroir and has an even longer unbroken estate history, serving as a regional reference point for German wine heritage.

Broad incumbents

• Veuve Clicquot: Veuve Clicquot is a leading Champagne house with global brand recognition, particularly strong in the brut and rosé segments where VAUX competes. As a broad incumbent in the same product category, it dominates the same gifting and celebration occasions VAUX targets with its Rosé, l'Artiste Rosé, and gift-pack ranges.
• Moët & Chandon: Moët & Chandon is one of the largest global Champagne houses and the broader-incumbent benchmark for traditional-method sparkling wine. While operating at vastly greater scale, its production technique (méthode traditionnelle, lees aging) and brand-led premium pricing make it the structural reference and aspirational competitor for VAUX's Méthode traditionale positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/schloss_vaux
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 VAUX