Wine Wise
Wine Wise is a Portland, Maine-based wine experience company founded in 2010 that designs and runs sommelier-led wine sails aboard the tall ship Frances, fine wine cruises in Fort Lauderdale, wine club subscriptions, and small-group wine region travel for individual consumers, tourists, and corporate groups.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wine Wise does
Wine Wise is a privately held, Portland, Maine-based experiential wine education company founded in 2010 by sommelier Erica Archer. The company designs and operates sommelier-led wine tasting experiences aboard vessels and on foot, anchored by Wine Sails aboard the 74-foot tall ship Frances on Casco Bay (June-October season), with supplementary formats including Wine & Oyster Sails, Wine & Raw Bar Sails, Chef Series Wine & Food Sails (featuring Portland chefs such as Damian Sansonetti of Chaval and Paolo Laboa of Solo Italiano), Wine & Food Walks, and Fine Wine Cruises aboard the Sea Rocket yacht in Fort Lauderdale (December-April season). The underlying technology stack is minimal: a Squarespace-hosted e-commerce website handles ticketing, gift cards, wine club subscriptions, and wine shop orders, while bookings are processed manually at the gate with no proprietary software, mobile app, or stated digital infrastructure beyond the website.
The business generates revenue across five streams: (1) individual ticket sales for sail and walk experiences priced $150-$205 per person; (2) private event charter buyouts at $7,000-$8,500 all-inclusive for up to 42 guests; (3) recurring monthly Wine Club subscriptions (Explorer Club and Custom Cuvee 6+ Club) hand-delivered across 11+ Southern Maine municipalities; (4) a la carte Wine Shop purchases of sommelier-curated wine sets ranging $142-$1,029; and (5) multi-day Small-Group Wine Region Trips to destinations such as Loire Valley, Barolo, Tuscany, and Willamette Valley at $5,500+ per guest. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer through the company website, with marketing driven by Instagram, Facebook, email, blog content, gift cards, and earned media including Yankee Magazine's Best of New England feature.
Wine Wise serves a long-tail of primarily individual wine enthusiasts (adults 21+), tourists visiting Portland and Fort Lauderdale, and a secondary segment of corporate and group event planners booking private charters. The company reported 7,000+ customers in 2025 spanning 111 Maine cities and towns, all 49 U.S. states, and international markets. The company operates with 1-10 employees, no external funding, and no parent organization, and is led by founder Erica Archer, whose WSET Level 3 Advanced certification anchors the brand's sommelier expertise positioning.
Wine Wise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wine Wise
- Legal name
- Wine Wise
- Website
- https://winewiseevents.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Wine Wise is a Portland, Maine-based wine experience company founded in 2010 that designs and runs sommelier-led wine sails aboard the tall ship Frances, fine wine cruises in Fort Lauderdale, wine club subscriptions, and small-group wine region travel for individual consumers, tourists, and corporate groups.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wine Wise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wine Experiences and Education
- NAICS
- Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB), Wine Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAB)
Keywords
Where Wine Wise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Wine Wise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Wine Sails & Experiences: Individual tickets for Wine Sails ($150), Wine & Oyster Sails, Wine & Raw Bar Sails, and Chef Series Wine & Food Sails ($185) aboard the tall ship Frances in Portland, Maine. Also includes Fine Wine Cruises in Fort Lauderdale, Florida aboard Sea Rocket yacht.
- Private Events: Private charter buyouts of Wine Sails for groups up to 42 guests. Wine Sails: $7,000 all-inclusive; Wine & Oyster Sails: $7,500 all-inclusive; Chef Series Wine & Food Sails: $8,500 all-inclusive. Available June 12 - October 18, 2026 in Portland, Maine.
- Wine Club Subscriptions: Monthly subscription wine clubs with hand-delivery in Southern Maine. Explorer Club (3 or 6 bottles monthly with tasting notes), Custom Cuvée 6+ Club (customizable 6+ bottles monthly), and gift club options. Delivered on the last Wednesday of each month to Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Portland, Saco, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook, Yarmouth, and surrounding areas.
- Wine Shop: A la carte sommelier-curated wine sets delivered to customers. Explorer ($163-$231), Elevated ($322-$469), and Premium ($142-$1,029) tiers featuring wines from France, Italy, Spain, Oregon, California, and more. Includes rare wines like Vega Sicilia.
- Wine Region Trips: Small-group wine region travel experiences with 10 guests. Destinations include Barolo & Barbaresco + Lake Garda (Nov 1-11, 2026, deposit $3,000), Tuscany & Cinque Terre (May 2-12, 2027), and Willamette Valley (Nov 5-11, 2028, from $5,500). Includes lodging, private tastings, and sommelier-led experiences.
- Gift Cards: Prepaid gift cards for Wine Sails (Tickets for 2: $300, Tickets for 3: $450, Tickets for 4: $600), Wine & Oyster Sails (Tickets for 2: $350, Tickets for 3: $525, Tickets for 4: $700), Chef Series (Tickets for 2: $370, Tickets for 3: $555, Tickets for 4: $750), and Wine & Food Walks (Tickets for 2: $180).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Wine Sails aboard tall ship Frances |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Wine & Oyster Sails |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Wine & Raw Bar Sails |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Chef Series Wine & Food Sails |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Sunset Wine Sails |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fine Wine Cruises in Fort Lauderdale |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Private Wine Sail Buyout |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Private Wine & Oyster Sail Buyout |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Private Chef Series Wine & Food Sail Buyout |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Wine Region Trips |
| Subscription | Monthly | Explorer Wine Club |
| Subscription | Monthly | Custom Cuvée 6+ Club |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wine Shop Delivery |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Wine Wise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wine Wise is a wine education and experience company that hosts sommelier-led wine tasting events aboard sailing vessels (the tall ship Frances in Portland, Maine and Sea Rocket yacht in Fort Lauderdale, Florida). It also operates monthly wine subscription clubs (Explorer Club and Custom Cuvée 6+ Club), a curated Wine Shop for home delivery, small-group international wine region trips, and private charter events for groups and corporate clients.
Product overview
Wine Wise is a wine education and experience company offering a unified portfolio of in-person wine tasting experiences and subscription services. The core offerings center on Wine Sails aboard tall ship Frances in Portland, Maine (including Wine & Oyster Sails, Wine & Raw Bar Sails, and Chef Series Wine & Food Sails), supplemented by Fine Wine Cruises in Fort Lauderdale and Wine & Food Walks. The company operates a Wine Club (Explorer Club and Custom Cuvee 6+ Club) for monthly wine deliveries, a Wine Shop for a la carte wine set purchases, and Small Group Wine Region Trips to international wine destinations. Private charter events and gift cards round out the service portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wine Sails
- Wine & Oyster Sails
- Wine & Raw Bar Sails
- Chef Series Wine & Food Sails
- Fine Wine Cruises
- Wine & Food Walks
- Explorer Club
- Custom Cuvée 6+ Club
- Wine Shop
- Small Group Wine Region Trips
- Private Wine Sails
- Gift Cards
Quantifiable outcome
- Featured in Yankee Magazine's Best of New England Summer Guide
Companies that use Wine Wise
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wine Wise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Wine Wise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Maine Sailing Adventures (Frances)corePartnership with Maine Sailing Adventures for exclusive access to the 74-foot tall ship Frances for Wine Sails on Casco Bay. The Frances serves as the primary venue for Portland-based wine sailing experiences.
- Sea Rocket Sightseeing CruisescorePartnership with Sea Rocket Sightseeing Cruises for Fine Wine Cruises aboard their 65-foot custom-built speedboat in Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway. Located at 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.
- Portland Restaurants (Chaval, Solo Italiano, Solo Pane, Central Provisions, Bites & Such)coreCollaborations with Portland's top chefs for the Chef Series Wine & Food Sails. Chefs include Damian Sansonetti of Chaval, Paolo Laboa of Solo Italiano and Solo Pane, Chris Gould of Central Provisions, and Mimi Weissenborn of Bites & Such. Each chef creates exclusive 5-course pairings for wine sailing experiences.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wine Wise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wine.com: Wine.com is the largest US online wine retailer offering a vast catalog and gift options. Comparable to Wine Wise's Wine Shop on retail wine sales, though Wine.com is a broad incumbent with significantly larger scale.
- ReserveBar: ReserveBar is a premium online wine and spirits retailer with a strong gifting focus. Comparable to Wine Wise's Wine Shop and gift cards for premium wine retail and gift-driven acquisition.
Direct peers
- Winc: Winc is a direct-to-consumer wine subscription company offering curated monthly bottles with sommelier-style personalization. Comparable to Wine Wise's Explorer Club and Custom Cuvee 6+ Club on the recurring-revenue and DTC subscription model.
- Firstleaf: Firstleaf is a wine subscription club delivering curated bottles to consumers based on a tasting quiz. Comparable to Wine Wise's monthly wine club for the recurring curated-wine DTC business model.
- Napa Valley Wine Train: Napa Valley Wine Train is a tourism experience that combines scenic rail travel with curated wine tastings and dining. Comparable to Wine Wise for the experiential wine + unique-vehicle + food-pairing tourism format.
- Sonoma Wine Trolley: Sonoma Wine Trolley is a tour operator offering narrated wine tasting trips aboard a trolley through Sonoma vineyards. Comparable to Wine Wise's Wine Sails for combining a unique non-traditional vehicle with sommelier-led wine tasting tourism.
- Bright Cellars: Bright Cellars is a wine subscription service that matches customers to wines via a tasting profile. Comparable to Wine Wise's sommelier-curated wine club experience on subscription mechanics and curated selection.
- Cellar 503: Cellar 503 is an Oregon-based monthly wine subscription featuring Pacific Northwest wineries. Comparable to Wine Wise's Wine Club for the curated regional wine subscription model with hand-selected producers.
- Cellars Wine Club: Cellars Wine Club is a long-running wine subscription club offering curated monthly bottles and gifts. Comparable to Wine Wise's Wine Club and Explorer/Cuvee Club on subscription curation and gifting.
Regional players
- The Urban Grape: The Urban Grape is a Boston-based wine shop and bar emphasizing education and progressive tasting flights. Comparable to Wine Wise's Wine & Food Walks and Wine Shop for combining wine education with retail in a regional urban market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wine Wise social profiles
Digital presenceWine Wise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wine Wise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Wine Wise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wine Wise 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 Wine Wise
What does Wine Wise do?
Wine Wise is a wine education and experience company that hosts sommelier-led wine tasting events aboard sailing vessels (the tall ship Frances in Portland, Maine and Sea Rocket yacht in Fort Lauderdale, Florida). It also operates monthly wine subscription clubs (Explorer Club and Custom Cuvée 6+ Club), a curated Wine Shop for home delivery, small-group international wine region trips, and private charter events for groups and corporate clients.
Is Wine Wise a public or private company?
Wine Wise is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wine Wise founded?
Wine Wise was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Wine Wise based?
Wine Wise is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wine Wise make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Wine Sails & Experiences are the primary driver. The others are private Events, wine Club Subscriptions, wine Shop, wine Region Trips and gift Cards.
Who are Wine Wise's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wine.com and ReserveBar. Direct peers are Winc, Firstleaf, Napa Valley Wine Train, Sonoma Wine Trolley, Bright Cellars, Cellar 503 and Cellars Wine Club. The Urban Grape is listed as a regional player.
Does Wine Wise have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wine Wise.
What industry is Wine Wise in?
Wine Wise's product category is Wine Experiences and Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAGAD, Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours, with a secondary code of CRANABAF, Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail). Its NAICS code is 722410 and its SIC code is 7990.