Alapay Cellars

What Alapay Cellars does

Alapay Cellars is a privately-held, founder-owned Central Coast winery founded in 2001 by Scott and Rebecca Remmenga and headquartered in Avila Beach, California. The company produces hand-crafted, small-lot French-oak barrel aged wines sourced from premium vineyards spanning Santa Ynez Valley to Monterey County, with annual production exceeding 6,000 cases across white wines (Chardonnay, Viognier Grenache Blanc, Rosé, sparkling), red wines (Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Grenache, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Tannat, Valdiguie, Cinsault, Dolcetto, and proprietary reserve blends), and dessert wines (Port and Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc). Its wines have earned multiple Gold, Double Gold, and Best in Class awards at regional wine competitions, including Best Dessert Wine at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition.

The company's commercial model is overwhelmingly direct-to-consumer, with over 95% of sales flowing through its own channels rather than wholesale or three-tier distribution. The primary retail surface is a ~2,300 sq ft ocean-themed tasting room in downtown Avila Beach featuring salt water aquariums, ocean murals, and live music every Wednesday and Sunday; the secondary recurring-revenue engine is a wine club with nearly 2,000 members receiving two to three shipments per year of 6-bottle mixed, red-only, or white-only allocations at $250 per shipment, plus a dessert wine club at $120 per shipment. Pricing spans $38-$90 per bottle and merchandise/apparel lines extend the brand; direct shipping is enabled to most US states via UPS and GSO. Founders Scott and Rebecca Remmenga remain actively involved in daily operations, with Scott frequently pouring in the tasting room and managing production, and Rebecca handling business management and sales.

Beyond the core tasting room and wine club, Alapay Cellars drives acquisition and engagement through regular events (Wine Down Wednesdays and Sundays, winemaker dinners, September and April Open Houses) and experiential partnerships including a February 2028 AmaWaterways 'Riches of the Mekong' cruise. The business is a single-location operator with no subsidiaries, no external investment, and no parent company, operating under a straightforward founder-operator model that emphasizes wine quality, brand personality ('wine tasting without the attitude'), and direct customer relationships over scaled distribution.

Name

Alapay Cellars

Legal name

Alapay Cellars

Website

https://alapaycellars.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Alapay Cellars is a privately-held, founder-owned Central Coast winery producing hand-crafted French-oak barrel aged wines through direct-to-consumer channels, serving wine enthusiasts and tourists via its Avila Beach tasting room, a ~2,000-member wine club, and direct shipping to most US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery / Craft Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAFAAAB

Wine Production & Winemaking

Agriculture & Food Production/Beverage Production/Alcoholic Beverage Production (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider)

SECONDARYTHAFALAE

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries (Taprooms/Tasting Rooms)

SECONDARYCRANABAF

Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail)

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

SECONDARYCRANACAE

Wine Bars

Consumer Products & Retail/Tobacco, Alcohol & Cannabis Retail/On-Premise Alcohol Retail (Bars, Pubs & Taprooms)

Keywords

• Hand-crafted wine production
• Central coast winery
• Wine club subscriptions
• Tasting room experiences
• Direct-to-consumer winery

Headquarters

HQ city

Avila Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales: The winery sells wines directly to consumers through its tasting room in Avila Beach. Over 95% of sales are direct-to-consumer. Wines include whites, reds, and dessert wines ranging from $38 to $90 per bottle.
2. Wine Club Membership: Semi-annual subscription shipments of 6 bottles (mixed, red-only, or white-only options) at $250 per shipment, plus a dessert wine club at $120 per shipment. Members receive complimentary tastings, discounts on purchases, and preferential access to limited releases. Nearly 2,000 members.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of wine-related merchandise and apparel items such as the 'Bubbles Fix Everything Sweatshirt' at $49.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alapay Cellars produces small-lot, hand-crafted French-oak barrel aged Central Coast California wines across sparkling, white, red, rosé, and dessert varietals, sells them through an ocean-themed tasting room in Avila Beach and direct shipping, and distributes them via a recurring wine club membership program with nearly 2,000 members. Over 95% of sales are direct-to-consumer.

Product overview

Alapay Cellars is a Central Coast California winery founded in 2001 by Scott and Rebecca Remmenga, producing hand-crafted French-oak barrel aged wines. The product portfolio includes three main wine categories: White Wines (sparkling, Chardonnay, Viognier Grenache Blanc, Rosé), Red Wines (Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Grenache, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Tannat, Dolcetto, Valdiguie, Cinsault, and various reserve blends), and Dessert Wines (Port and Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc). The winery also operates a Wine Club subscription service offering mixed, red-only, white-only, or dessert-only options with twice-yearly shipments, plus merchandise including branded apparel. Over 95% of sales are direct-to-consumer through the tasting room in Avila Beach and online.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grand Cuvee Sparkling Brut style sparkling wine made with 85% French Colombard and 15% Chardonnay grapes with aroma notes of lemon/lime, light toast, and light buttery-creamy quality. Dry, crisp, and slightly tart with a long clean finish.
• 2025 Viognier Grenache Blanc Blend White wine blend of 54% Viognier and 46% Grenache Blanc with bright tropical fruit aromas of banana and pineapple, stone fruit, and citrus on the palate with crisp acidity.
• 2025 Beachtown Blush Rosé Dry and elegant French-style Rosé made from Santa Barbara County Cinsault grapes with bright acidity and notes of strawberry and raspberry. Minimal skin contact gives a 'sunset in a bottle' appearance.
• 2022 Chardonnay Best-selling Chardonnay with perfect balance of silky butter and robust acidity, delicate fruits and lemon citrus from start to finish. Great pairing wine for creamy dishes.
• 2021 Barrel Select Chardonnay Extended barrel aging gives this Chardonnay rich caramel notes layered with bright lemongrass and subtle fresh citrus. Aged four years in neutral French oak with depth, elegance, and a long polished finish.
• 2021 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County Rich, smooth, and beautifully balanced Chardonnay with layers of golden apple, lemon zest, and creamy rounded texture with bright acidity. Pairs well with creamy pastas and seafood dishes.
• 2024 12:01 Cinsault Remarkably aromatic red wine with vaporous perfume, nice raspberry aromas, and a soft light finish. A great sipping wine 'Any Time After Noon'.
• 2024 Reserve Petite Sirah Luscious fruit harvested from French Camp Vineyards in Paso Robles. Dark jewel with rich toasty nose of blueberry and black fruit, finishing with a long, spicy, slightly dry finish.
• 2023 Tempranillo Silver Medal Winner. Bold yet smooth Paso Robles Tempranillo spent 12 months in French oak with ripe blackberry, dark cherry, cocoa, earthy undertones, and hint of tobacco. Medium-bodied with smooth finish.
• 2023 Valdiguie Double Gold Medal/Best in Class Winner. Rare French varietal red wine similar to Grenache and Cinsault. Medium-bodied with beautiful color and fresh plump strawberry and red raspberry aromas with soft French oak finish.
• 2023 Zinfandel Consistent Alapay favorite showcasing vibrant aromas and flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, and ripe plum with silky tannins and signature finish of cracked white pepper and warm spice. Classic Paso Robles Zinfandel.
• 2023 Reserve Tannat Gold Medal Winner. Traditionally a big robust red with heavy tannins, but preserves delicate and luscious fruit character. Pairs great with BBQ and red meat.
• 2022 Reserve Pinot Noir Pinot Noir from Monterey County, one of California's most famous regions for this varietal. Brings soft, delicate red fruits such as strawberries and raspberries with robust and firm acidity.
• 2021 Dolcetto First release of Dolcetto (meaning 'little sweet one' in Italian) - dry, low alcohol red wine grape from Piedmont region of Italy. Light to medium body with characteristics of black cherry, plum, blackberry, and subtle floral notes.
• 2021 Reserve Grenache Zinfandel Blend Lengthy French Oak barrel aged blend that is spicy and bursts with dark fruit and silky tannins. Excellent all-around drinker encompassing everything that makes big reds fabulous.
• 2019 Renée Blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 25% Dolcetto, 25% Syrah. Garnet-colored with aromas of blackberry and soft florals leading to hint of tobacco, opening into rich core of dark fruit—plum, black currant, and black cherry with warm baking spices.
• 2019 Grenache Double Gold Medal Winner. Beautifully aged Rhône varietal that spent 36 months in French oak. Bright ruby with dried herbs, red plum, warm spice, baked cherry, subtle leather, and hint of vanilla. Smooth, balanced, food-friendly wine.
• 2019 Reserve Alatre Red Blend Consistent Alapay favorite with current blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Syrah & 20% Grenache. Barrel aged over 18 months in French Oak with notes of bright red fruit balanced with pomegranate, plum, and currant.
• 2019 Reserve Rebekah Gold Medal Winner. Crafted from Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Robust notes of cherry and ripe red fruit with currant and wisp of smoke. Aged 5 years in French oak with remarkable depth and complexity.
• Alapay Port Dessert wine dominated with intense, jammy aromas of blueberry and raspberry with spicy notes of pepper and mint. Fruit explosion of berry and plum with lingering silky finish. Composition: 100% Zinfandel.
• 2024 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Award-winning dessert wine that previously won Best Dessert Wine at SF Chronicle Wine Competition. Brings enticing and refreshing qualities of white wine with delicate sweetness. Apricot, Kiwi, and White Peaches dominate with elegant acidity.
• Alapay Cellars Wine Club Recurring wine club membership with options for Mixed, Red Only, White Only, and Dessert wine tiers, each delivering 6 bottles (or 3 for dessert) per shipment 2 or 3 times per year at $250 (or $120 for dessert) per shipment including tax and shipping. Members receive complimentary tastings, 15% discount on wine purchases, 20% on case purchases, 10% on apparel/gifts, locked-in pricing for the duration of membership, and preferential access to limited releases.
• Walk-in Tasting Room Experience Walk-in tasting experience at the 2,300 sq ft ocean-themed Avila Beach tasting room featuring salt water aquariums, ocean murals, and live music every Wednesday and Sunday. Tasting fee of $30 per person is waived with any bottle purchase. No reservations required.
• Bubbles Fix Everything Sweatshirt Branded Alapay Cellars sweatshirt sold in Blue, Green, Grey, and Pink colors and sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,000 cases produced annually
• +3 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AmaWaterwaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2028Alapay Cellars has partnered with AmaWaterways for a luxury cruise experience. Scott and Rebecca Remmenga will host a 'Riches of the Mekong' cruise aboard the AmaMaya river ship in February 2028, cruising through Vietnam and Cambodia. This event is marketed to Alapay customers as a special experience while promoting the winery to AmaWaterways passengers.
• Camarillo TravelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2028Camarillo Travel (Karen King) serves as the travel agent handling bookings for the AmaWaterways cruise partnership. Contact: (805) 233-7678, [email protected]

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Booker Vineyard: Ultra-small-lot Paso Robles producer making premium Rhône-style reds with a tasting room and waiting-list allocation model. Comparable in small-scale craft positioning and premium bottle pricing.
• Zaca Mesa Winery: Santa Ynez Valley estate winery with tasting room and DTC emphasis on Rhône-style wines. Comparable Central Coast origin, small-lot craft approach, and tasting-room-driven acquisition model.
• L'Aventure Estate Winery: Small-lot, owner-operated Paso Robles winery focused on premium Rhône-style blends sold primarily DTC. Comparable in scale, founder-operator model, and small-production premium positioning.
• DAOU Vineyards & Winery: Paso Robles premium winery with a destination tasting room and large wine club. Comparable to Alapay in DTC-first model, premium Central Coast positioning, and tasting-room-as-acquisition-channel approach.
• Epoch Estate Wines: Boutique Paso Robles winery producing premium Rhône and Bordeaux-style blends with strong DTC and wine-club emphasis. Comparable to Alapay in small-lot premium craft production and DTC distribution mix.
• Tablas Creek Vineyard: Paso Robles estate winery producing Rhône-varietal wines with a strong direct-to-consumer and wine-club program. Closely comparable to Alapay in small-lot premium production, DTC focus, and tasting-room-driven club acquisition.
• Turley Wine Cellars: California small-lot Zinfandel and Rhône specialist with strong DTC and wine-club presence. Comparable in small-production premium craft positioning and French/American oak aging approach.

Broad incumbents

• Justin Vineyards & Winery: Larger Paso Robles producer with broad distribution and an established tasting-room and wine-club program. Comparable product category and DTC model, but at meaningfully greater scale and broader geographic reach.

Regional players

• Firestone Walker Brewing Company: Central Coast beverage producer with a major destination taproom/tasting facility and direct-to-consumer emphasis. Comparable experiential, tourism-driven DTC model on the Central Coast, though in beer rather than wine.

Emerging players

• Winc: Subscription-based wine club with nationwide direct shipping and personalized wine curation. Comparable recurring-revenue subscription model and DTC direct-shipping distribution, though at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Alapay Cellars