​HOW TO START MY WINE BRAND ?
Even if you've never sold a single bottle before, you don’t need to be a wine expert to launch your own brand.
With my winery, TWF, a leader in the French private label wine industry, I’ll show you just how easy it is to start your brand… and how profitable it can be.
STEP 1 : BE SURE TO HAVE THOSE 2 THINGS :
The most important element to build a successful wine brand is :
​
1. Your network, your community, your existing clients or followers.
2. Money : 20 000€ at least.
​
This is the one thing I cannot help you with.
You have to bring that yourself.
​
Interestingly, my most successful clients are not always the professional wine importers we work with (we export to 28 countries).
In fact, the best results often come from people who had never imported a single bottle of wine before, but who already had an existing business or audience: restaurant owners, brand agencies, influencers, boutique owners (fashion, art galleries, etc.).
​
And secondly, yes… you need money.
I’ve already written about the budget on my blog, but let’s be honest, if you don’t have at least €20,000 to invest (including logistics, wine production, taxes, etc.), it will be difficult.
​
Don’t forget : with private label wine, the average net profit margin is around 50% to 55%.
So the potential return is strong, if you’ve got the audience and the means to start.
STEP 2 : DESIGN, THE FUNNY ONE
Create Your Wine Brand, Your Way :
​
We make it easy.
At TWF, we have in-house designers , super talented, fast, and 100% dedicated to you. And the best part? It’s completely free.
We’ll start by creating a custom mock-up for your brand.
Some of our clients come with a very precise idea:
“I want this name, this bottle, this label.”
Others just have a concept or a mood.
Either way, we’ll guide you step by step.
​
This stage takes time, but it’s essential. We want your brand to reflect your values, your business, and your personality.
​
What will you choose for your wine brand ?
​
1. The wine itself
White, rosé, red? Dry or sweet? From Languedoc, Rhône, Provence?
IGP or AOP? A bold blend or a single variety? Fruity or oaky? Entry-level or premium?
​
2. The bottle shape
Standard or premium? Lightweight or heavy? Classic or sculpted?
​
3. The closure
Natural cork? Premium glass? Screw cap? Want your logo on it? We can do that.
​
4. The finishing touches
Adhesive paper label ? Screen printing ? Embossed texture ? Gradient coating ? Painted glass ?
​
We offer more options than anyone else, and we’ll explain every detail when we work together.
Our clients often say it:
"You spent hours with me to build the perfect brand. For free. No one else does that."
That’s our mindset.
We don’t just make wine, we build wine brands.
STEP 3 : SAMPLES
Step 2 was the fun part, designing your brand. But now, let’s talk wine.
​
Tasting great French wine is part of the experience too, right ?
It’s important to understand that we can’t send you a finished bottle with your custom label and packaging for the samples.
Why ? Because effects like screen printing, textured paper, gradient painting, or custom bottles are only done during mass production.
​
That’s why our samples are purely to confirm the wine quality, not the final look.
The bottles will look like the photo above : simple labels, no special effects, but same wine as in your future brand.
​
We ask for a deposit per bottle, which we’ll fully refund on your first order. ✅
​
So in the end, you’ll have:
-
A beautiful custom mock-up made by our designers
-
A wine sample to validate the quality​
That’s everything you need to feel confident before launching your wine brand.
STEP 4 : DEPOSIT PAYMENT & BOTTLING
OK, now comes the exciting, and a little scary, step : the big leap !
Your wine brand is about to come to life.
​
Once we’ve confirmed all the final details, front label, back label, price, closure, box design, etc. it’s time for you to make the pre-payment for your order.
​
As soon as we receive your payment, we’ll need about 6 weeks to bottle your brand.
During this time, we’ll keep you updated with videos of the bottling process and pictures of the finished product.
​
Your brand is born. It’s real.
You made it happen.
Now you can proudly show your wine to your friends, clients, and partners and say:
“This is MY wine !”
STEP 5 : LOGISTICS & IMPORT
Once your wine is bottled, my logistics department will coordinate with your international freight forwarder to organize the pickup from my winery to the port of destination.
​
We will handle all the required documentation, such as the DAE, packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, and bill of lading.
​
Not sure what all of this means ? No worries.
If you're not familiar with this kind of paperwork, I can recommend our trusted forwarder and even manage the transportation all the way to your country.
I've been working with the same logistics partner for decades. We've shipped thousands of containers worldwide, they offer great rates and excellent responsiveness.
Are you familiar with the import process in your country? Customs clearance? Local taxes?
If not, don’t worry, we can go over it together.
I can also recommend a local importer in your country who can take care of everything.
Some importers are also distributors, which means they can store your wines and deliver them directly to your customers, whether individuals, restaurants, beach clubs, and so on.
This part depends on the country and your strategy, so we'll discuss it on a case-by-case basis.
STEP 6 : RE-ORDER AND AFTER SALES SERVICE
You’ve received your wines, and you’re selling them well !
​
Sometimes, my clients want to adjust the label or the box design after their first sales.
The market gives you feedback, listen to your customers, it’s valuable.
Most of my clients place a second order quite quickly. Yes, the first one took time, a long process to fine-tune every detail, with a bit of pressure.
But now ? It’s the second order, and it goes much faster. All pleasure, and great profits for you.
​
Many of my clients have turned this into a real cash machine, ordering 5 to 6 times a year!
Some even expand their range.
You started with a premium rosé? Perfect time to add a great white wine!