Founded in 2011 by Claire Weinkauf, Picayune Cellars is a négociant-style winery dedicated to making wines of outstanding quality that are also exceptional values. Picayune means a little bit in regional French. In the US, it used to be an old Spanish coin worth half the value of the Real. They make over ten different wines from Rosé to a Napa red blend with a special mention for their Champagne (a partnership with a French family). Building on her relationships with some of the wine country’s most respected winemakers, Claire sources small lots of wine from Napa Valley, the Sonoma Coast, and Lake County. The key on the Picayune label represents the idea of “Unlocking Secret Wines from California.”

Claire Weinkauf

Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf, a French native grew up in Auvergne; the land of Volcanoes and fabulous cheeses. Inspired by the power of a Mouton Rothschild, she earned a wine degree in Chile and then embarked for France to work harvest in St Emilion and the Côte du Rhône. After numerous opportunities to taste amazing wines and meet wine industry leaders, Claire started a consulting company in 2010. Claire de Lune Consulting focuses on helping fantastic producers including Matthiasson Wines, Anomaly Vineyards, Morlet Family Estate, Cowhorn Winery and more to grow their businesses.

Picayune Cellars was founded in 2011 by Claire with her good friend Jennifer Roberts. They both shared the same love for drinking quality wines and the same drive for searching for a great value. Surrounded by a pool of amazing winemaker friends they decided to follow the classic French Negociant model and buy small lots from the hands of their talented friends and give them a new future.