Maker Wine
Maker Wine is a Novato, California-based canned wine company that sources premium wines from diverse, independent winemakers and packages them in 250ml aluminum cans for direct-to-consumer subscription, wholesale, and non-traditional channels including United Airlines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNovato, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Maker Wine does
Maker Wine is a Novato, California-based premium canned wine company founded in 2019/2020 by Sarah Hoffman, Kendra Kawala, and Zoe Victor. The company sources wines from small, independent winemakers — many of which are women or minority-led — and packages them in 250ml eco-friendly aluminum cans, marketed as zero-sugar, low-carb, single-serve pours. Its portfolio spans individual varietals (Sparkling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé, Zinfandel, Red Blend, Albariño, Orange Wine) and curated mixed packs, with quality validated by 50+ gold medals and 90+ point critic scores from Wine Enthusiast, James Suckling, and others.
The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining a direct-to-consumer subscription (The Can Club, billed monthly with 15-20% member discounts), an e-commerce storefront, a wholesale trade program across California, Oregon, and Washington, and non-traditional distribution including United Airlines in-flight beverage carts and corporate gifting/virtual tasting programs for enterprise clients such as Google, Airbnb, Slack, Carta, and Stanford. Pricing for DTC six-packs ranges from $54-$78, with bulk discounts of 25% for orders of three or more cases. Marketing relies on organic social, earned media across wine and lifestyle publications, editorial content, an affiliate program, and event-driven activations including virtual tastings and corporate events.
The underlying technology stack is a standard DTC e-commerce infrastructure: Stripe for payment processing, Google Analytics, and remarketing integrations with Google Ads, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. There is no proprietary AI/ML capability; competitive differentiation is built on curation of producer relationships, mission-driven sourcing narrative, packaging format, and distribution wins rather than technology. The company is founder-owned, privately held, and has disclosed $2.3M in seed funding as of November 2021, with no subsequent institutional rounds publicly reported.
Maker Wine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maker Wine
- Legal name
- Maker Wine Company
- Website
- https://makerwine.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Maker Wine is a Novato, California-based canned wine company that sources premium wines from diverse, independent winemakers and packages them in 250ml aluminum cans for direct-to-consumer subscription, wholesale, and non-traditional channels including United Airlines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maker Wine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Canned Wine
- NAICS
- Wineries (312130), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB), Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Beer, Wine, Spirits) (AFAIAGAA)
Keywords
Where Maker Wine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Novato
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Maker Wine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Subscription (The Can Club): Monthly recurring subscription service offering 15% off retail pricing (20% for members), billed monthly. Subscribers receive curated wine selections delivered directly, representing the primary recurring revenue stream. The subscription model drives predictable revenue and high customer lifetime value.
- Wholesale / Trade Program: Maker Wine sells to independent retailers, natural grocers, and regional restaurant/hotel chains through a trade wholesale channel in California, Oregon, and Washington. Wholesale pricing is available to qualifying trade partners. Bulk orders (3+ cases) receive 25% discount off retail, indicating a B2B pricing tier.
- Non-Traditional Distribution (Airline & Corporate): Placement of specific SKUs (e.g., Brut Bubbles) on airline beverage carts (United Airlines, 210 destinations) and corporate event gifting programs generates one-time and recurring bulk purchase revenue from enterprise customers including Slack, Carta, Google, Airbnb, and Stanford.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mixed Six-Pack (Best Sellers) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Varietal Six-Pack (Sparkling, Brut, Rosé) |
| Subscription | Monthly | The Can Club Subscription (Monthly) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk Case Discount (3+ cases) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate Gifting |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Maker Wine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maker Wine produces and sells premium canned wines (250ml single-serving aluminum cans) sourced from small, independent winemakers, with a focus on female and minority-led producers. The core commercial offering is a portfolio of individual varietals and curated mixed packs sold direct-to-consumer through a website subscription (Can Club), plus wholesale distribution to independent retailers, restaurants, hotels, and venues in the U.S. West Coast, and non-traditional distribution including corporate gifting and airline beverage carts.
Product overview
Maker Wine is a premium canned wine brand offering a portfolio of canned wines from diverse, independent winemakers. The core product line consists of individual canned wines (250ml, ⅓ bottle serving) including Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Rosé, Red Blend, and specialty wines like Cabernet Pfeffer, Orange Wine, and Carbonic Sangiovese. These wines are complemented by curated Mixed Packs (Best Sellers, Red Wine, White & Rosé, Natural Wine, Sparkling Wine, Women-Owned, and the 12 Days of Canned Wine Advent Calendar) that bundle multiple varietals. The company also offers subscription services through its Can Club, bulk ordering for events, virtual corporate wine tastings, wedding wine services, and corporate gift programs. All wines feature zero sugar, under 5 carbs per serving, and are sourced from organic, biodynamic, or sustainably farmed vineyards. The company partners with female and minority-led wineries to bring award-winning wines in eco-friendly aluminum cans.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Best Sellers Mixed Pack A curated selection of top-selling wines including red, white, rosé, and sparkling varieties from award-winning independent winemakers, packaged in six 250ml cans.
- Sparkling Wine Mixed Pack
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ gold medals across major international wine competitions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Maker Wine
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Maker Wine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature2 records
Maker Wine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Regal Wine CompanycoreRegal Wine Company serves as a key distribution partner for Maker Wine, enabling wholesale distribution across the state of California. This partnership provides Maker Wine with established trade relationships and logistics infrastructure to reach independent retailers, grocers, and restaurants throughout California.
- United AirlinesflagshipMaker Wine's Brut Bubbles is featured on United Airlines' in-flight beverage cart, making it available to passengers across United's network of 210 destinations worldwide. This non-traditional distribution channel provides premium brand exposure and a captive consumer audience of frequent travelers.
- Luke's Local GroceryminorLuke's Local Grocery carries Maker Wine products in its San Francisco Bay Area retail locations, providing point-of-sale presence among a health-conscious and natural foods consumer demographic.
- Berkeley Bowl MarketplaceminorBerkeley Bowl Marketplace, a well-known natural foods grocery retailer in the East Bay, carries Maker Wine's canned wines, reaching the retailer's core health-conscious shopper demographic.
- K&L Wine MerchantsminorK&L Wine Merchants, an established independent wine retailer with multiple Bay Area locations, stocks Maker Wine products, providing access to a wine-knowledgeable consumer base.
- Gus's Community MarketminorGus's Community Market, a neighborhood grocery chain in the San Francisco Bay Area, carries Maker Wine products across its retail locations.
- Lunardi's MarketminorLunardi's Market, a family-owned independent grocery retailer in the Bay Area, carries Maker Wine's canned wine products.
- Woodlands MarketminorWoodlands Market, an independent grocery retailer in the Bay Area, stocks Maker Wine products in its retail locations.
- Epicurean TraderminorEpicurean Trader, a specialty food and beverage retailer in the San Francisco Bay Area, carries Maker Wine products as part of its curated alcoholic beverage selection.
- Chase CenterminorChase Center, home arena of the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, features Maker Wine products at on-site concessions and retail locations, reaching a sports and entertainment audience.
- Hollywood RooseveltminorThe Hollywood Roosevelt hotel in Los Angeles serves Maker Wine products through its on-site beverage program, reaching hotel guests and local patrons.
- Palisades TahoeminorPalisades Tahoe resort features Maker Wine products in its on-site hospitality and retail outlets, reaching alpine recreation consumers.
- Torrey PinesminorTorrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego features Maker Wine products at its on-site hospitality and retail locations, reaching golf and hospitality consumers.
- Equator CoffeesminorEquator Coffees, a specialty coffee roaster and café chain in the Bay Area, carries Maker Wine products, representing a cross-category retail placement that reaches coffee-forward lifestyle consumers.
- Independent Winemakers (Sourced Producers)coreMaker Wine partners with independent, small-scale winemakers — including women and minority-owned wineries — to source wines for its canned wine portfolio. These winemakers provide the production capacity and winemaking expertise, while Maker Wine provides packaging, branding, distribution, and market access.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Maker Wine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Underground Wine (Union Wine Co.): Pioneer of premium canned wine in the U.S., best known for Underwood brand. Most directly comparable to Maker in format, quality positioning, and target consumer seeking premium wine in cans rather than bottles.
- Babe Wine: DTC-led canned wine brand targeting millennial and Gen Z consumers with low-ABV, low-sugar positioning. Overlaps with Maker on premium canned format, health-conscious positioning, and digital-first GTM.
- Blue Fish Canned Wine: Premium canned wine brand offering varietals like rosé and sparkling wines in single-serve cans. Comparable to Maker on premium canned format and DTC/wholesale distribution model.
- The Canned Wine Co. Specialty canned wine company curating and packaging premium wines in cans for retail and DTC. Mirrors Maker's approach of sourcing quality wine from independent producers and repackaging in consumer-friendly cans.
- Garces Canned Wine: Premium canned wine brand from chef Jose Garces, offering varietal wines in single-serve cans with restaurant and retail distribution. Comparable on premium canned format, hospitality channel placement, and DTC sales.
Emerging players
- Winc: DTC wine subscription service that introduced canned wine SKUs to its portfolio. Overlaps with Maker on subscription business model, DTC channel focus, and curated discovery experience for modern wine drinkers.
- Vinebox: Wine-by-the-glass format company offering premium wines in single-serve vessels via subscription. Comparable on the single-serve, premium-quality, and DTC-subscription model serving modern wine consumers.
Broad incumbents
- E. & J. Gallo Winery: Largest family-owned winery in the world with broad wine and spirits portfolio. A potential competitive threat if it expands premium canned offerings, and a comparison point on distribution scale and trade relationships Maker must eventually match.
- Constellation Brands: Major global wine, beer, and spirits conglomerate with extensive wine portfolio. Comparable as a large-scale incumbent with the distribution, marketing budget, and trade access that Maker would need to compete with at national scale.
- Delicato Family Wines: Multi-brand wine producer with national distribution and a portfolio that includes emerging-format products. Comparable as a broad incumbent with the trade infrastructure and capital base to enter premium canned wine at scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Maker Wine social profiles
Digital presenceMaker Wine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maker Wine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Maker Wine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maker Wine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Maker Wine
What does Maker Wine do?
Maker Wine produces and sells premium canned wines (250ml single-serving aluminum cans) sourced from small, independent winemakers, with a focus on female and minority-led producers. The core commercial offering is a portfolio of individual varietals and curated mixed packs sold direct-to-consumer through a website subscription (Can Club), plus wholesale distribution to independent retailers, restaurants, hotels, and venues in the U.S. West Coast, and non-traditional distribution including corporate gifting and airline beverage carts.
Is Maker Wine a public or private company?
Maker Wine is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Maker Wine founded?
Maker Wine was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Maker Wine based?
Maker Wine is headquartered in Novato, United States, in the North America region.
How does Maker Wine make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Subscription (The Can Club) is the primary driver. The others are wholesale / Trade Program and non-Traditional Distribution (Airline & Corporate).
Who are Maker Wine's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Underground Wine (Union Wine Co.), Babe Wine, Blue Fish Canned Wine, The Canned Wine Co. and Garces Canned Wine. Emerging players are Winc and Vinebox. Broad incumbents are E. & J. Gallo Winery, Constellation Brands and Delicato Family Wines.
Does Maker Wine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maker Wine.
What industry is Maker Wine in?
Maker Wine's product category is Premium Canned Wine. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAB, Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands, with a secondary code of CRANABAB, Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants). Its NAICS code is 312130 and its SIC code is 2080.