Forge Cellars
Forge Cellars is a Finger Lakes winery founded in 2011 that produces bone-dry Riesling, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc across 16 bottlings and ~10 vineyard sites, distributing through wholesale partners in 35+ US states and 20+ countries, with DTC sales via The Salon, Summer House, and The Foundry wine club.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersBurdett, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Forge Cellars does
Forge Cellars is a privately held Finger Lakes winery founded in 2011 by Louis Barruol, 14th-generation winemaker from Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas, France, and Rick Rainey, a former Philadelphia restaurant and wine distribution executive. The company specializes in terroir-driven, bone-dry Riesling alongside cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc sourced from approximately 10 distinct vineyard sites along the southeastern shore of Seneca Lake and Sunrise Hill on Cayuga Lake. Production scaled from 400 cases in the debut 2011 vintage to 13,000 cases across 16 bottlings by 2019, including a flagship Dry Riesling Classique blend, single-vineyard lieu-dit Rieslings and Pinot Noirs, reserve Les Alliés bottlings, and a Caywood Chardonnay sourced from a historic 1970s-planted site.
The business operates across three revenue streams. Wholesale distribution runs through Winebow Inc. (covering 14+ states) and approximately 20 additional regional distributors across 35+ US states, with international reach to 20+ countries coordinated through Château de Saint Cosme as European importer. Direct-to-consumer revenue is generated through two on-premise hospitality venues— The Salon (no-reservation wine bar, $23 flights, $11.30-$20 bottles) and Summer House ($40 guided tastings)—plus an e-commerce storefront shipping to most US states. The Foundry wine club adds a subscription layer with four tiers (4, 6, and 12-bottle memberships at $115-400 per shipment) shipped three times annually on annual commitments. Pricing ranges from $20-40 for Classique wines to $40-48 for single-vineyard Pinot Noirs.
The production platform combines biointensive organic viticulture (cover crops, compost, hand cultivation, cedar trellis posts, compostable ties) with minimal-intervention winemaking using indigenous yeast fermentations in small French barriques, low sulfur use, and unfiltered reds. The winery itself is built with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for energy efficiency, and bottles ship without PVC or tin capsules to reduce plastic waste. Forge Cellars holds Living Wage for US Tier 1 Plus Designation certification (2022) and has earned multiple Wine Spectator Top 100 placements (#31 in 2017 and 2020) plus consistent 90+ point critic scores across Wine Spectator, James Suckling, Vinous, Robert Parker, and Decanter.
Forge Cellars firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forge Cellars
- Legal name
- Forge Cellars
- Website
- https://forgecellars.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Forge Cellars is a Finger Lakes winery founded in 2011 that produces bone-dry Riesling, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc across 16 bottlings and ~10 vineyard sites, distributing through wholesale partners in 35+ US states and 20+ countries, with DTC sales via The Salon, Summer House, and The Foundry wine club.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forge Cellars industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Winery / Premium Wine Production
- NAICS
- Wineries (312130)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)
Keywords
Where Forge Cellars is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burdett
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Forge Cellars business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Wine Sales: Wines sold directly to consumers at the winery through The Salon (casual flights and glasses) and Summer House (guided tastings), plus e-commerce online orders with shipping discounts for 6+ bottles.
- Wine Club Membership (The Foundry): Subscription-based wine club with 4 membership tiers (4, 6, or 12 bottles) shipped 3x per year. Provides complimentary tastings, priority event access, and 15% shipping discounts. Annual commitment required.
- Wholesale Distribution: Wines sold through distributor network across 35+ US states and internationally to 20+ countries. Distributors include Winebow Inc. and regional partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Summer House Guided Tasting |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | The Salon Wine Flights |
| Subscription | Annual | 4-Bottle Foundry Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | 6-Bottle Red + White Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | 6-Bottle Riesling-Only Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | 12-Bottle Membership |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single-Vineyard Rieslings |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Forge Cellars product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forge Cellars produces and sells bone-dry Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc wines from 16 vineyard sites on southeast Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The winery's portfolio includes Classique blends, single-vineyard bottlings, and reserve Les Alliés wines, complemented by on-site hospitality experiences at The Salon and Summer House, e-commerce shipping, and The Foundry wine club membership.
Product overview
Forge Cellars is a Finger Lakes winery specializing in bone-dry Riesling, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc from Seneca Lake. The core portfolio includes the flagship Dry Riesling Classique and Pinot Noir Classique blends, supplemented by single-vineyard lieu-dit wines from over a dozen distinct vineyard sites that explore terroir diversity along the eight-mile stretch of southeast Seneca Lake. The winery also produces reserve wines under the Les Alliés label. Beyond bottle sales, Forge offers hospitality experiences including The Salon (casual no-reservation tasting room) and Summer House (guided reservation tastings), along with The Foundry wine club membership program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Foundry: A wine membership club offering quarterly shipments of Forge Cellars wines, with tiered membership levels (4, 6, and 12 bottles) providing complimentary tastings, priority access to limited releases, and discounts on shipping.
Products and services
- Dry Riesling Classique The flagship Riesling blend combining fruit from all 16 vineyard sites, representing the foundation and DNA of Forge Cellars. Each vintage aims to craft a wine that speaks of Forge's style and a pure expression of Finger Lakes terroir. The wine has scored 90+ points for 8 consecutive vintages (2015-2023).
- Pinot Noir Classique
Quantifiable outcome
- 13,000 cases production capacity as of 2019, grown from 400 cases in 2011
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Forge Cellars
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Forge Cellars technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Forge Cellars partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Château de Saint CosmecoreLouis Barruol, winemaker of Château de Saint Cosme (14 generations in Gigondas, France since 1570), co-founded Forge Cellars and serves as Winemaker and Visionary. Château de Saint Cosme also serves as European importer for Forge Cellars wines internationally. Forge wines are crafted with similar philosophy to Château de Saint Cosme's winemaking approach.
- Château de RouanneminorSister winery in the Rhône Valley, France. Forge Cellars offers wines from Château de Rouanne alongside their own wines at The Salon.
- Winebow Inc.coreMajor wine and spirits distributor handling Forge Cellars distribution across California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
- Classic Beverage CompanymajorColorado-based wine and spirits distributor handling Forge Cellars distribution in Colorado.
- Cutting Edge SelectionsmajorWine and spirits distributor handling Forge Cellars distribution in Kentucky and Ohio.
- Vintage Wines (Winebow)majorWinebow Inc. division handling Forge Cellars distribution in Illinois and Wisconsin.
- The Country Vintner (Winebow)majorWinebow Inc. division handling Forge Cellars distribution in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, and West Virginia.
- Jacques PrieurminorBurgundy winery where Léana Godard (Forge Cellars Winemaker) worked harvest in 2018, learning from respected winemaker Nadine Gublin in Meursault.
- Living Wage for UScoreCertification organization that certified Forge Cellars as a Tier 1 employer with Plus Designation in 2022, recognizing their commitment to paying living wages and providing additional benefits.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Forge Cellars competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ravines Wine Cellars: Finger Lakes producer on Seneca Lake emphasizing terroir-expressive Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay. Comparable in French-inspired minimal-intervention winemaking and DTC hospitality focus.
- Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery: Pioneering Finger Lakes winery founded in 1962, known for cool-climate Germanic varietals including Riesling. Comparable in terroir focus, vintage-dry Riesling philosophy, and trade-direct distribution model.
- Red Newt Wine Cellars: Finger Lakes winery producing Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc with a bistro-style tasting room. Comparable in Finger Lakes single-vineyard Riesling focus and DTC hospitality model.
- Fox Run Vineyards: Seneca Lake winery focused on Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay with a tasting room and restaurant. Comparable in single-vineyard bottlings and Finger Lakes DTC hospitality.
- Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard: Finger Lakes winery specializing in dry Riesling and Chardonnay from Seneca Lake vineyards. Highly comparable in grape focus, single-vineyard bottlings, and premium pricing structure.
- Sheldrake Point Winery: Finger Lakes winery on Cayuga Lake producing estate-grown Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc with sustainable farming certification. Comparable in cool-climate terroir focus and sustainability positioning.
Regional players
- Bedell Cellars: Long Island, NY premium winery known for Merlot and Cabernet Franc with strong critical reputation. Comparable in premium positioning and DTC hospitality focus but operates in a different NY region.
- Dr. Loosen: Mosel, Germany producer of premium dry Riesling with significant US distribution. Comparable in dry Riesling focus and US trade positioning, but operates in established European terroir versus emerging Finger Lakes.
Broad incumbents
- Trinchero Family Estates: Large US wine company with broad portfolio including Sutter Home, Napa wines, and imported brands. Comparable as a wholesale-driven US wine producer but operates at vastly larger scale and broader price points.
Others
- Château de Saint Cosme: Forge's co-founder Louis Barruol's family estate in Gigondas, Rhône Valley, and Forge's European importer. Related as strategic partner, importer, and source of winemaking philosophy rather than direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forge Cellars social profiles
Digital presenceForge Cellars compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Forge Cellars financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forge Cellars leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Forge Cellars funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forge Cellars 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 Forge Cellars
What does Forge Cellars do?
Forge Cellars produces and sells bone-dry Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc wines from 16 vineyard sites on southeast Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The winery's portfolio includes Classique blends, single-vineyard bottlings, and reserve Les Alliés wines, complemented by on-site hospitality experiences at The Salon and Summer House, e-commerce shipping, and The Foundry wine club membership.
Is Forge Cellars a public or private company?
Forge Cellars is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Forge Cellars founded?
Forge Cellars was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Forge Cellars based?
Forge Cellars is headquartered in Burdett, United States, in the North America region.
How does Forge Cellars make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Wine Sales are the primary driver. The others are wine Club Membership (The Foundry) and wholesale Distribution.
Who are Forge Cellars's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ravines Wine Cellars, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Red Newt Wine Cellars, Fox Run Vineyards, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Sheldrake Point Winery. Regional players are Bedell Cellars and Dr. Loosen. Trinchero Family Estates is listed as a broad incumbent. Château de Saint Cosme is listed as an others.
Does Forge Cellars have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forge Cellars.
What industry is Forge Cellars in?
Forge Cellars's product category is Winery / Premium Wine Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAB, Wine Production & Winemaking, with a secondary code of CRADAIAB, Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands. Its NAICS code is 312130 and its SIC code is 5180.