The Vacation Wine Story

Think back and imagine how life might have unfolded if you hadn’t met certain people. Our story would never have happened without a series of coincidences and two guys sharing a passion for wine.

Markus Ettenauer and Stefan Mühlhauser, Co-founders of Vacation Wine – a Schampus Club brand.

It All Started with a Job Promotion 

It was the year 2021 when Stefan received a promotion in his role as a management consultant. Naturally, the occasion was celebrated with a bottle of Champagne, an act that soon turned into a team tradition. Over time, this tradition sparked a growing enthusiasm for sparkling wine among colleagues, along with a regular demand for rare and special bottles. In 2023, Stefan and Markus founded Schampus Club, a sparkling wine community, welcoming their first customers. 

Schampus Club turns Vacation Wine 

Over the years, Schampus Club built strong relationships not only with its customers, but also with winemakers. During this journey, Stefan and Markus repeatedly encountered the same challenge:How can U.S. visitors remain long-term customers even after visiting a winery? Within just a few months, the necessary supply chain was established. Since spring 2025, Schampus Club has been operating Vacation Wine, an export platform serving consumers in 42 U.S. states. 

Pivoting into the right Direction

What began as a sparkling wine community among colleagues, now helps winemakers in Austria and Germany (with more to come) sell their products directly to end consumers in the United States.