OÜ Viinamärdi Talu

What OÜ Viinamärdi Talu does

OÜ Viinamärdi Talu is an Estonian artisanal dairy farm founded in 2013 by Italian-born cheesemaker Denis Pretto and his wife at the historical Veski-Viinamärdi farm in Luke village, Nõo vald, Tartumaa, southern Estonia. The company specializes in Italian-style cheesemaking using traditional techniques brought from Italy, including the pasta filata method for fresh cow milk cheeses (Burrata, Stracciatella, Mozzarella, Pizza Mozzarella) and aged sheep milk cheeses under the Pecorello brand (classic, al Pepe with black pepper, al Tartufo with black truffle, Brillo aged in grape skins and wine, Nero with black garlic), plus Ricotta Fresca, Tosella pan-fry cheese, and Cannoli Siciliani. In spring 2017 the farm imported the first Lacaune breed dairy sheep to Estonia from France, establishing a 100+ head herd that anchors the sheep milk supply chain.

The company generates revenue through four main streams: (1) direct-to-consumer product sales via e-commerce (viinamarditalu.ee with delivery across Estonia) and the on-farm shop/café opened in July 2025; (2) retail distribution through Selver (8+ named locations), Stockmann, and the Talu Toidab/Rimi chain; (3) foodservice supply to restaurants including LaSpa, Fotografiska, Pizzeria La Dolce Vita, and Gastronomist; and (4) agritourism services covering farm tours, cheese tastings in Estonian/English/Italian, children's birthday party packages (€300), and room rentals (€60/hour, up to 40 seats). Sheep milk gelato (seven flavors) and sheep milk yogurt (four flavors) extend the product range.

The business is founder-owned and operated with no external investors or parent company, structured as an Estonian OÜ (private limited company, registry code 12679416). The company has received EU MAK 4.2.1 co-financing (project 42102300012) for dairy processing facility reconstruction, production equipment, and gelato machinery to increase volume and resource efficiency. Growth levers include product line extension, agritourism packaging (a combined tour with Luke Manor and Järiste Wine Estate), and educational programming for kindergartens and schools. The 2019 Tartu Maitse award for Pecorello Brillo is the only disclosed industry recognition.

Name

OÜ Viinamärdi Talu

Legal name

OÜ Viinamärdi Talu

Website

http://www.viinamarditalu.ee

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

OÜ Viinamärdi Talu is an Estonian artisan dairy farm producing Italian-style cheeses from local sheep and cow milk, plus gelato, yogurt, and agritourism experiences, distributed via e-commerce, retail chains, restaurants, and an on-farm café.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Cheese Production

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Sheep and Goat Farming (1124), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pasta Filata Cheese Manufacturing (Mozzarella, Provolone, String Cheese) (AFAHABAC), Yogurt & Cultured Dairy Products Manufacturing (Kefir, Sour Cream, Labneh) (AFAKAKAC)

Keywords

• Artisanal cheese production
• Italian-style dairy products
• Sheep milk cheeses
• Farm-to-table dairy
• Agritourism experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Luke village, Nõo vald

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Farm Shop and Cafe: On-farm retail and cafe opened July 2025, selling own products and selected products from other local Tartu and Estonian small producers
2. Artisanal Cheese Sales: Sale of Italian-style cheeses made from local sheep and cow milk including burrata, mozzarella, stracciatella, pecorello, ricotta, and specialty aged cheeses
3. Gelato and Yogurt: Fresh lamb milk gelato in various flavors and lamb yogurt products sold through retail and direct channels
4. Agrotourism and Farm Experiences: Revenue from farm tours, group visits, cheese tastings, room rentals, and children's birthday party packages

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

OÜ Viinamärdi Talu is an Estonian artisanal dairy farm that produces Italian-style cheeses (Burrata, Mozzarella, Stracciatella, Pecorello varieties), sheep milk gelato, and sheep yogurt using traditional Italian cheesemaking techniques applied to local Estonian cow and sheep milk. The farm also operates agritourism experiences, a farm shop and café (opened July 2025), room rental for events, and children's birthday party packages, with distribution via e-commerce, retail chains, and restaurants across Estonia.

Product overview

OÜ Viinamärdi Talu is an Estonian dairy farm and artisanal cheese producer founded by Italian cheesemaker Denis Pretto, specializing in Italian-style cheeses made from sheep and cow milk. The company's product portfolio comprises: (1) Fresh cow milk cheeses (Burrata, Stracciatella, Mozzarella, Pizza Mozzarella), (2) Aged sheep cheeses under the Pecorello brand including classic, truffle, pepper, and garlic varieties, (3) Sheep cheese specialty products (Ricotta Fresca, Tosella pan-fry cheese, Cannoli Siciliani), (4) Sheep milk yogurts in four flavors, (5) Gelato ice cream in seven flavors made primarily with sheep milk, (6) Cheese honey condiment, and (7) Gift packages combining multiple products. The company also operates agritourism services including farm tours, cheese production visits, sheep barn viewing, and group tours for tourists, as well as a café/shop opened in 2025 and event space rental.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Burrata Fresh, soft cow milk Italian cheese considered the Queen of Cheeses; a combination of mozzarella and stracciatella with a creamy interior and delicate flavor. Minimum net weight 140g. Sold to consumers through e-commerce, farm shop, retail chains, and restaurants.
• Stracciatella Italian cheese made from shredded mozzarella and fresh cream, with a soft and creamy texture. Net weight 180g. Sold through e-commerce, farm shop, retail, and foodservice channels.
• Mozzarella Fresh, soft pasta filata cheese made from pasteurized cow milk, packaged with preservation water, two balls per package. Minimum net weight 250g. Distributed via e-commerce, retail chains, and restaurants.
• Pizza Mozzarella Special pre-shredded mozzarella designed for pizza making, formulated to melt perfectly in the oven for ideal pizzas. Sold primarily through foodservice and retail channels.
• Pecorello (Classic) Classic semi-hard sheep milk cheese aged at least six months, the foundational Pecorello variety in the company's aged sheep cheese line.
• Pecorello al Pepe Sheep milk cheese aged at least six months with black pepper, providing a moderately spicy flavor profile.
• Pecorello al Tartufo Sheep milk cheese aged at least six months with black truffle (Tuber aestivum). Suitable as a snack or as a pasta and ravioli filling.
• Pecorello Brillo Semi-hard sheep milk cheese aged in grape skins and wine for at least 8 months. Award winner at Tartu Maitse 2019.
• Pecorello Nero Sheep milk cheese with black garlic, aged at least six months, offering a distinctive savory flavor.
• Tosella Italian-style pan-fry cheese made from sheep milk; slices are pan-fried without oil until golden brown on both sides. Minimum net weight 150g.
• Ricotta Fresca Fresh ricotta made from sheep cheese whey with added sheep milk; delicate mild taste, soft texture, and high nutritional value. Net weight 200g.
• Cannoli Siciliani Traditional Sicilian sweet pastry tube filled with orange ricotta; crisp wafer tube made with wheat flour, filled with sheep milk ricotta. Contains gluten and eggs.
• Lambajogurt (Sheep Yogurt) Sheep milk yogurt available in four varieties: Naturale (plain), Cappuccino, Cocco (coconut), and Limone (lemon). Sold through retail and direct channels.
• Gelato Italian-style gelato made primarily with sheep milk, using quality natural ingredients including Madagascar bourbon vanilla, Italian pistachio and lemon cream, and local Estonian strawberries from Marjamaa Farm. Available in multiple flavors including strawberry, pistachio, lemon, coconut, vanilla, chocolate, and sea buckthorn-yogurt.
• Mesi juustule (Cheese Honey) Honey with additives designed for pairing with cheese, created in collaboration with local honey masters Meemeistrid. Contains honey 95%, quince, lemon, mandarin, and mustard. Net weight 120g.
• Kinkepakk nr 2 (Gift Package nr 2) Gift package containing cheese honey and three varieties of sheep cheese (Pecorello classic, Pecorello al Tartufo with truffle, and Pecorello al Pepe or Pecorello Nero), plus Siidrikoja Rosanna raspberry-rhubarb sparkling wine.
• Kinkepakk nr 1 (Gift Package nr 1) Gift package containing cheese honey and three varieties of sheep cheese (Pecorello classic, Pecorello al Pepe with black pepper, Pecorello Nero with black garlic, or Pecorello Brillo aged in grape skins).
• Kohvik/Pood (Café/Shop) On-farm café and shop opened in July 2025 selling Viinamärdi Talu's own products and selected products from other local Tartu County and Estonian small producers. Located in Luke village, Nõo vald.
• Ruumi rent (Room Rental) Cozy and bright café space suitable for seminars, trainings, birthdays, and other events. Up to 40 seats with configurable environment. Priced at 60 EUR per hour.
• Laste sünnipäevad (Children's Birthday Parties) Children's birthday party package at 300 EUR including 3 hours of room rental, 1 hour of guided activities in the barn, jumping on hay bales, a play corner, one gelato ball per child, dishes, and post-party cleaning. Up to 25 guests. Offered only on weekends.
• Agroturism (Agritourism) Agritourism combining agricultural production and tourism, offering visits to the farm, cheese production facilities, and sheep barn. Available to individual visitors and groups.
• Turismifirmadele (Group Tours for Tourism Companies) Group tours for tourism companies including visits to production facilities, milking area, barn with sheep, product tasting, and sheep cheese sampling. Duration 1.5-2 hours. Conducted in Estonian, English, or Italian.
• Lasteadadele/koolidele (Educational Visits for Kindergartens/Schools) Active learning program for kindergartens and schools offering educational farm visits. Targeted at children and school groups seeking hands-on agricultural learning experiences.
• Nõo Pärlid (Combined Luke Manor + Viinamärdi + Järiste Tourism Package) Combined agritourism package visiting three Tartu County destinations: Luke Manor (historical tours of one of the best-preserved manor parks in southern Estonia with renovated Manager's House), Viinamärdi Farm (cheese production), and Järiste Wine Estate (vineyard tours, wine cellar visits, and local wine tastings).

Quantifiable outcome

• First Lacaune dairy sheep imported to Estonia from France in 2017
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Luke MõiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined agrotourism package visiting Luke manor, Viinamärdi farm, and Järiste wine estate. Luke manor offers historical tours of one of the best-preserved manor parks in southern Estonia with renovated Manager's House.
• Järiste VeinitalucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined agrotourism package including Järiste wine estate featuring vineyard tours, wine cellar visits, and local wine tastings. Known for combining traditional and modern wine production.
• MeemeistridminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration producing honey with additions specifically designed for cheese, containing honey 95%, quince, lemon, mandarin, mustard. Net weight 120g.
• Marjamaa TalustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupplier of quality local strawberries used in their gelato production, ensuring Estonian sourcing for key ingredients.
• EU MAK (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development)minorOthersProject 42102300012 co-financed by EU MAK measure 4.2.1 for micro and small enterprises processing and marketing agricultural products. Purpose: dairy renovation, production equipment, and gelato production machinery.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AS Tere: Estonia's largest domestic dairy processor offering a broad portfolio of milk, cheese, yogurt, and dairy desserts. Comparable because it competes for the same Estonian retail shelf space and foodservice customers, though at mass-market scale and pricing.
• Valio: Finnish dairy cooperative with a broad portfolio including specialty cheeses and yogurts sold across the Baltics. Comparable as a regional dairy incumbent offering overlapping cheese categories to the same retail customers Viinamärdi serves.
• Savencia Fromage & Dairy: French global cheese and dairy specialty group with a broad branded cheese portfolio. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps in soft pasta filata and aged cheeses, even though it operates at much larger scale.
• Bel Group: French global cheese company (The Laughing Cow, Babybel, Kiri, Leerdammer) with strong European branded cheese presence. Comparable because it competes in the same pasta filata and soft cheese categories Viinamärdi produces.
• Latteria Soresina: Italian dairy cooperative producing traditional Italian cheeses including pasta filata varieties and aged cheeses. Comparable as a producer of the same Italian cheese categories Viinamärdi specializes in, but at significantly larger cooperative scale.

Direct peers

• Jasper Hill Farm: Vermont-based artisan cheesemaker with on-farm aging and a strong farm-to-table brand. Comparable as a direct peer in business model — small-scale, farm-based artisan cheese production with deep quality differentiation and agritourism-adjacent brand storytelling.
• Rogue Creamery: Oregon-based artisan creamery producing award-winning blue and aged cheeses with national distribution. Comparable as a direct peer in artisan cheesemaking, multi-channel distribution, and brand-led premium positioning.
• Il Forteto: Italian agricultural cooperative in Tuscany producing pecorino and other sheep milk cheeses. Comparable as a direct peer in sheep milk cheese production and traditional Italian cheesemaking techniques.
• Vermont Creamery: US artisan creamery producing fresh and aged cheeses, butter, and cultured dairy for retail and foodservice. Comparable as a direct peer in small-batch artisanal dairy with premium restaurant and retail distribution.

Others

• Murray's Cheese: US specialty cheese retailer and wholesaler curating artisanal cheeses including Italian-style pasta filata and aged sheep cheeses. Comparable as an adjacent player in the artisan cheese ecosystem that sells similar categories, though operating as a retailer/distributor rather than producer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 OÜ Viinamärdi Talu