About
FermSoft Amphora is a full-featured winery production and management software suite designed for winemakers, brewers, and producers of fermented beverages. Whether you run a small boutique winery or a large-scale operation, Amphora handles the entire production workflow from vine to bottle with precision and ease. At its core, Amphora provides a full relational database management system that supports both cloud-hosted and local database configurations. Operators benefit from over 100 pre-defined reports with automatic export to spreadsheets, and built-in charting tools that generate 2D/3D pie, bar, and line charts for operational insights. Key modules include Batch Management for tracking crush-to-bottle operations, Container Management for tanks and barrels, Vineyard Management for field-level operations, and Inventory Management for tracking purchases and sales of both general and packaged goods. All modules are tightly integrated to provide a complete picture of production activity. Additional features include a built-in calendar system with automatic task scheduling, customizable data-aware maps of winery and vineyard layouts, and free ongoing software updates and email support throughout the subscription. Amphora is currently in version 15.14 and is available for Windows and macOS at $60/month with a free trial option. It is an ideal solution for craft producers, commercial wineries, meaderies, cideries, and breweries seeking to digitize and streamline their production management.
Key Features
- End-to-End Batch Management: Track every stage of production from crush to bottle, with all events linked across integrated modules for complete traceability.
- Container & Inventory Management: Manage tanks, barrels, and other containers alongside general and packaged inventory, including purchases and sales tracking.
- 100+ Pre-Defined Reports & Charts: Generate detailed operational reports automatically, export to spreadsheets for custom analysis, and visualize data with 2D/3D pie, bar, and line charts.
- Cloud or Local Database Flexibility: Choose between cloud-hosted or on-premise local databases to suit your operational and security preferences.
- Vineyard Mapping & Calendar: Create customizable visual maps of your winery and vineyard, and manage tasks with a built-in calendar featuring automatic entry creation.
Use Cases
- A small family winery uses Amphora to track grape harvests, fermentation batches, and barrel aging, then generates reports to optimize production quality and yield.
- A craft brewery manages tank inventory, monitors brew batches from grain to glass, and schedules maintenance tasks using Amphora's container management and calendar modules.
- A commercial vineyard leverages Amphora's vineyard management and mapping tools to coordinate field activities, link operations to final product lots, and comply with traceability requirements.
- A meadery tracks honey inventory purchases, fermentation containers, and finished mead packaging with full linkage between production stages for end-to-end visibility.
- A winery operations manager generates 100+ pre-built reports and exports data to spreadsheets for custom financial and production analysis, supporting decision-making across departments.
Pros
- Comprehensive Module Coverage: All production stages—vineyard, batch, containers, and inventory—are handled in one tightly integrated platform, eliminating data silos.
- Cross-Platform with Cloud Option: Available on both Windows and macOS with the flexibility to store data in the cloud or locally, supporting diverse operational setups.
- Globally Proven: Used by producers in more than 30 countries across wine, beer, mead, and cider industries, demonstrating broad reliability and versatility.
- Free Updates & Email Support: Subscribers receive ongoing software updates and email support at no extra cost, reducing total cost of ownership.
Cons
- Subscription-Only Pricing: At $60/month with no perpetual license option mentioned, ongoing costs may be a concern for very small or seasonal producers.
- Mac Requires Java 11: The macOS version has a dependency on Java 11, which adds an extra setup step and potential compatibility considerations.
- Niche Focus: Designed exclusively for fermented beverage production, making it unsuitable as a general-purpose business management tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of producers can use FermSoft Amphora?
Amphora is designed for wineries, vineyards, breweries, meaderies, and cideries—essentially any producer of fermented beverages. It is used in over 30 countries by operations of varying sizes.
Is there a free trial available?
Yes, FermSoft offers a free trial version of Amphora. You can request it directly from their website via the 'Request Trial Version' option for both Windows and Mac.
Can I store my data in the cloud?
Yes. Amphora supports both cloud-based and local (on-premise) database configurations, giving you flexibility to choose the storage method that fits your workflow.
What platforms does Amphora support?
Amphora is available for Windows and macOS. Note that the Mac version requires Java 11 to be installed. Both versions are currently at version 15.14.
What is included in the subscription?
The $60/month subscription includes all modules (Batch, Container, Vineyard, and Inventory Management), free software updates for the duration of the subscription, and email support.
