Cofradia del Vino

What Cofradia del Vino does

Cofradia del Vino is a privately held Ecuadorian wine club and sommelier education organization founded on October 2, 2001, headquartered in Quito with course presence in Guayaquil, Cuenca, and Loja. The company operates a four-pillar business: (1) recurring membership subscriptions (Roble, Classic, Vintage, Ultra tiers ranging from $28.50 to $110 per month plus enrollment fees) that bundle monthly curated wine deliveries with event passes; (2) professional sommelier certification and amateur tasting courses, academically accredited through partnerships with Universidad San Francisco de Quito (since 2009) and Universidad Hemisferio Europa (since 2019), with 9 graduating classes completed and a 10th promotion launched in 2024; (3) B2B services including blind-tasting wine categorization for importers, corporate tastings, and dedicated training facilities; and (4) experiential revenue from an annual Gala del Vino, Cata Literaria literary tasting club, themed regional tastings, and enotourism trips to 200+ wine countries. Over 23 years the organization has trained 15,000+ people, curated 410,500 bottles from a 10,000-wine evaluation library, and logged 514,000 km of enotourism travel.

The company generates revenue through a mix of subscription recurring fees, one-time course/event tickets, and professional services pricing (e.g., $50-$90 per wine sample for importers, free for corporate members). Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging an alumni network of certified sommeliers, alumni referrals, and a corporate membership roster that includes hotels, social clubs, restaurants, and wine importers. Distribution is omnichannel via website, WhatsApp, and physical enrollment, with courses hosted at partner venues across Ecuador's four major cities. Underlying 'technology' is non-existent in the software sense; the asset base consists of a proprietary wine glossary (Hablar de Vinos, 2023), an evaluation methodology and 10,000-wine scoring database, professional tasting facilities, and international brotherhood agreements with wine regions in France, Spain, Italy, and Chile.

Name

Cofradia del Vino

Legal name

Cofradía del Vino

Website

https://cofradiadelvino.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cofradia del Vino is a Quito-based wine club and sommelier education organization serving individual enthusiasts, corporate members, and wine importers across Ecuador through accredited certification programs, subscription wine deliveries, regional tasting courses, corporate services, and international enotourism.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Education and Wine Club Services

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRANABAF

Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail)

Consumer Products & Retail/Tobacco, Alcohol & Cannabis Retail/Beer, Wine & Spirits Specialty Retail

SECONDARYTHAJAGAD

Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Food & Drink Experiences (Culinary Tours, Tastings, Cooking Classes)

SECONDARYTHAFAEAF

Wine Bars

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Bars, Pubs & Nightlife Venues

Keywords

• Wine education services
• Sommelier certification programs
• Wine club memberships
• Corporate wine services
• Enotourism trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Quito

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Monthly and quarterly membership tiers (Roble, Classic, Vintage, Ultra) providing monthly wine bottle deliveries, complimentary event passes, and discounts at partner restaurants and wine shops. Recurring revenue model with varying price points from $28.50 to $110 per month.
2. Wine Education and Certification: Professional sommelier certification programs and amateur wine tasting courses offered in multiple cities (Quito, Guayaquil, Loja, Cuenca). One-time course fees ranging from $35 to $145+ per course.
3. Corporate Wine Services: Wine selection and categorization services for importers and restaurants, corporate wine tastings, training seminars for hotels and corporate clients. B2B services including blind tastings, wine scoring, market analysis, and pairing recommendations.
4. Enotourism: Organized wine tourism trips to major wine-producing regions worldwide (Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, Spain, etc.). 23 years of experience organizing wine tours and tastings, with 514,000 km traveled visiting wine countries.
5. Events: Annual Gala del Vino y Licores event, Cata Literaria book club events, themed wine tastings. Ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cofradia del Vino is a wine education and wine club organization in Ecuador that delivers professional sommelier certification (accredited by USFQ and UHE), four tiers of monthly wine-delivery memberships, regional tasting courses in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, and Loja, corporate wine services (blind-tasting categorization, corporate tastings, tasting-room rentals), enotourism trips to global wine regions, and signature events such as the annual Gala del Vino y Licores and Cata Literaria book-club tastings.

Product overview

Cofradia del Vino is a wine education and experiences company based in Ecuador offering a platform of interconnected products: professional sommelier certification, membership wine delivery subscriptions (Roble, Classic, Vintage, Ultra tiers), regional wine tasting courses (Quito, Guayaquil, Loja, Cuenca), corporate services (wine categorization, corporate tastings, enotourism), and signature events (Gala del Vino, Cata Literaria). The portfolio spans from entry-level wine education to premium membership experiences, all anchored by expert sommelier guidance and 22+ years of wine industry expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certificación Sommelier Professional sommelier certification program covering oenology, viticulture, sensory analysis, and geography of new and old world wines. Accredited with USFQ and UHE. The program has graduated 9 promotions with over 15,000 people trained.
• Membresía Roble Entry-level monthly membership delivering one bottle of wine with minimum 82 points rating, one complimentary Wine Evenings pass, and one pass to the annual Wine Gala. Priced at $28.50 monthly with a $26 enrollment fee.
• Membresía Classic Mid-tier monthly membership delivering one bottle of wine with minimum 84 points rating, four Wine Evenings passes, and four Wine Gala passes. Priced at $45.50 monthly with a $52 enrollment fee.
• Membresía Vintage Premium monthly membership delivering one bottle of wine with minimum 89 points rating, six Wine Evenings passes, and six Wine Gala passes. Priced at $72 monthly with a $103 enrollment fee.
• Membresía Ultra Top-tier monthly membership delivering one bottle of wine with minimum 90 points rating, eight Wine Evenings passes, and eight Wine Gala passes. Priced at $110 monthly with a $123 enrollment fee.
• Catador Amateur Quito Amateur wine taster course held in Quito at the Liquors Store EC venue, providing an immersive wine discovery experience over three days. Priced at $145 per person, includes VAT.
• Vinos de Italia Guayaquil Wine tasting course in Guayaquil exploring Italy's most emblematic wine-producing regions, their history, tradition, and gastronomy. Priced at $60 per person, includes VAT.
• Vinos de Oro Loja Exclusive tasting event in Loja at Origen Restaurante featuring gold and grand gold medal-winning wines from the 2026 Wine Gala, selected for their quality, balance, and excellence.
• Vinos de España Cuenca Wine tasting course in Cuenca discovering Spain's diverse wine denominations of origin, with guidance from Pablo Conselmo on identifying their most emblematic styles.
• Cata Literaria Literary wine tasting club combining wine appreciation with literature, available in Quito and Guayaquil locations. Priced at $35 per person, includes VAT.
• Gala del Vino y Licores Annual grand wine and liquors gala event featuring wine competitions with international jury, medal awards (Gold, Grand Gold), and networking opportunities for wine enthusiasts.
• Selección y Categorización de Vinos Professional wine evaluation and categorization service for importers featuring blind tasting by certified sommeliers, descriptive reports on visual aspects, aroma, taste, balance, scoring, market value analysis, competition references, and pairing suggestions. Priced at $90 per single sample, $75 each for two samples, and $50 each for three or more samples, with free service for corporate members and importers.
• Catas Corporativas Corporate wine tasting seminars designed for executives, teaching wine selection, service, and appreciation skills for professional settings. Minimum 12 participants, 3-hour duration, with custom themes available.
• Viajes de Enoturismo Wine tourism travel experiences organized by experts with 22 years of experience visiting major wine-producing countries worldwide, including corporate and private wine tours covering 514,000 km and 200+ wine destinations.
• Aula de Cata para Capacitaciones Professional tasting room facility at the Quito headquarters equipped with LED lighting, projectors, screens, spitting bowls, glassware, and other equipment for professional wine trainings and seminars.
• Experiencias Gourmet Gourmet tasting experiences including professional tastings and training in cheeses, beers, chocolates, coffee, tea, spirits, and other products, offered in partnership with the Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Catadores Profesionales.
• Membresía Corporativa Corporate membership tier for hotels, clubs, and restaurants providing special benefits and rates for bulk wine services and tastings. Includes named members such as Corp. Favorita, Bankers Club, Datu Deli, El Español, Ignis, La Escuela de los Chefs, Noe, Signature, Quna, and Quitu.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ people trained in wine culture over 23 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Asociación de Sommeliers de EcuadorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Formal membership in the Ecuadorian Association of Sommeliers. Represents professional sommelier community in Ecuador.
• Universidad Hemisfério Europa (UHE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Academic accreditation alliance for sommelier certification program. Validates professional wine education credentials.
• Cofradía del Vino de Ribera del Duero - Castillo de Peñafiel (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Brotherhood partnership with Ribera del Duero wine region. Castle partnership for wine culture exchange.
• Cofradía del Vino de Saint Etienne (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Brotherhood partnership with French wine region during Burgundy, Loire, and Alsace tour.
• Cofradía del Mérito Vitivinícola de ChileminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Brotherhood partnership with Chilean wine industry association. Hermandad established during Chilean enotourism.
• Cofradía del Vino de Baena (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Brotherhood partnership with Spanish olive oil and wine region. International wine culture network expansion.
• Cofradía del Vino de Rioja (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Brotherhood partnership with Rioja wine region. Second hermandamiento established in 2019. Exchange program for wine education and culture.
• Cofradía del Vino del Cava Sant Sadurní d'Anoia (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Brotherhood partnership with Catalan cava producers. Partnership signed September 30, 2010.
• Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Academic partnership for sommelier certification. First sommelier class graduated November 14, 2009 with USFQ. Founders Grace and Patricia Donoso graduated as first certified sommeliers.
• Universidad de Davis California (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Wine education program with UC Davis. Training program for sommeliers on viticulture and enology.
• Cofradía de Guyenne Blaye (Bordeaux, France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Brotherhood partnership established during enotourism trip to France. Wine culture exchange and mutual recognition.
• Escuela Argentina de VinosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Closed course 'Cata y Servicio en Vinos' with 200 hours of instruction. Argentine wine school partnership for advanced training.
• SupermaxicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Early partnership with Supermaxi supermarket chain to promote wine culture in Ecuador. Organized wine events and tastings for group members.
• Círculo Enológico Baires (Argentina)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Alliance with Argentine wine circle bringing three enologists to Ecuador: Harry Mancuso, Luis Fontana, and Pablo Conselmo. Foundation partnership for wine education.
• Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Catadores ProfesionalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with professional tasters society for gourmet experiences including tastings of cheeses, beers, chocolates, coffee, tea, spirits, and other products. Co-founded by Patricia Donoso.
• Corporate Members (Hotels, Clubs, Restaurants)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate membership program for hotels, clubs, and restaurants. Includes Corp. Favorita, Bankers Club, Datu Deli, El Español, Ignis, La Escuela de los Chefs, Noe, Signature, Quna, Quitu, and others.
• Wine Importers (Ecuador)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImporter membership program with free wine evaluation services. Multiple importer groups including GRUPO 1-14 logos representing wine importing companies in Ecuador.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Vivino: Global wine app with 50M+ users offering wine scanning, ratings, community reviews, and personalized recommendations. Comparable as a wine education and discovery platform, though purely digital rather than experiential, and represents a potential disruptor to traditional in-person wine education models.
• Wine Folly: Digital wine education platform offering visual learning content, courses, and certification through winefolly.com and associated products. Comparable in democratizing wine education, though purely digital and targeting global English-speaking audiences rather than regional in-person training.

Broad incumbents

• Decanter: Leading global wine media brand offering wine reviews, educational content, premium events, and the annual Decanter World Wine Awards competition. Comparable in operating wine competitions and educational events, though Decanter operates globally as a media platform rather than a regional wine school.
• Court of Master Sommeliers: Internationally recognized sommelier certification body offering Introductory, Certified, and Master Sommelier credentials. Comparable to Cofradia del Vino's sommelier program as a professional certification pathway, though operating as a global body rather than a regional school.
• Berry Bros. & Rudd: Historic British wine merchant offering curated wine sales, subscription services, and educational content including wine school classes and tasting events. Comparable in combining wine retail, education, and experiential offerings, though operating at much larger scale with centuries of brand heritage.
• Laithwaites: UK-based wine merchant and subscription club with educational tasting notes, wine events, and curated selections for members. Comparable in business model combining subscription deliveries, educational content, and exclusive member events, though Laithwaites is a much larger incumbent with deeper brand recognition.
• Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET): Global leader in wine and spirits education, offering tiered certification programs (Levels 1-4) recognized worldwide. Comparable to Cofradia del Vino's sommelier certification as a structured wine education credential, though WSET operates at much greater international scale with hundreds of approved program providers.

Direct peers

• International Sommelier Guild (ISG): US-based sommelier certification school offering in-person and online wine education programs with international recognition. Comparable to Cofradia del Vino's sommelier certification model in structure and credentialing approach, though ISG focuses on US and English-speaking markets.
• Escuela Argentina de Vinos: Argentine wine school that runs the 'Cata y Servicio en Vinos' course, which Cofradia del Vino partnered with in 2006 for advanced sommelier training. The two organizations are directly comparable as wine education institutions in Latin America, with shared alumni networks and similar teaching methodologies.
• Winc: US-based wine subscription service that combines personalized monthly wine delivery with educational content about each wine. Directly comparable to Cofradia del Vino's wine club model with tiered monthly subscriptions and wine education, though Winc operates at significantly larger scale in a more mature market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkgASHQ_GgvpKIq1Lupr1NQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/cofradiavinoec
• Instagraminstagram.com/lacofraec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cofradia-del-vino

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Cofradia del Vino