August Hill Winery
August Hill Winery is a family-owned Illinois winery founded in 2002 that produces hand-crafted wines from estate-grown cold-hardy French-hybrid grapes, sells direct-to-consumer through its Utica Tasting Room, seasonal Wine on the Hill venue, a wine club, e-commerce shipping to 15+ states, and wholesale distribution to Illinois retailers and restaurants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersUtica, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What August Hill Winery does
August Hill Winery is a family-owned, Illinois-based producer of hand-crafted wines founded in 2002 by Mark and Teri Wenzel on land that has been in the Wenzel family for over 100 years. The company operates a 4-acre estate vineyard in Utica, Illinois, cultivating cold-weather-hearty French-hybrid grape varieties — including La Crescent, Frontenac Gris, Frontenac, Marquette, and Frontenac Blanc — that are suited to the Midwest climate. Its core production technology combines traditional winemaking with cave aging at a consistent 60 degrees year-round and maturation in both French and American oak barrels. The product portfolio spans five categories: red wines, white wines, rosé wines, bubbling fruit infusions, and fruit/specialty wines (including port-style Augie's Blackberry and a non-alcoholic grape juice). The company also operates the sister brand Illinois Sparkling Co., which produces sparkling and pét-nat wines from shared facilities and a shared founding team.
The company runs a multi-channel direct-to-consumer and wholesale business. Primary customer-facing assets include a year-round Tasting Room at 106 Mill St., Utica, IL, and a seasonal outdoor venue called Wine on the Hill at 21N 2551st Rd, Peru, IL, open May 10 to October 26. Distribution channels include on-premise tasting room sales, e-commerce shipping to 15+ states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington D.C., Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin), extended shipping through Vinoshipper to additional states, wholesale to retail wine stores and fine-dining restaurants across Illinois, and recurring revenue from the Insider's Wine Club — a subscription program offering bi-monthly shipments (January, March, May, July, September, November) plus member discounts of 10% on 1–11 bottle orders and 20% on 12+ bottle orders. Ancillary revenue streams include gift cards, custom wine labels (with a $25 set-up fee plus $2/label), wine tasting kits, private events and cave tastings (45-minute guided experiences), and venue rental. Customer segments are primarily wine enthusiasts (21+), wine club members, and event hosters.
August Hill Winery has no external investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company; it remains privately held by the Wenzel family. The company employs 11–50 people across winemaking, sales, hospitality, marketing, and operations. It has accumulated a strong award record at the Illinois State Fair Wine Competition between 2020 and 2025, including multiple Double Gold, Best of Class, Governor's Cup, and Top Red Wine trophies. Founder Mark Wenzel and Assistant Winemaker Sarah Hall were jointly named 2018 Enologists of the Year by the Illinois Grape Growers & Vintners Alliance, and the company is featured in the state's Illinois Made program.
August Hill Winery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- August Hill Winery
- Legal name
- August Hill Winery
- Website
- https://augusthillwinery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- August Hill Winery is a family-owned Illinois winery founded in 2002 that produces hand-crafted wines from estate-grown cold-hardy French-hybrid grapes, sells direct-to-consumer through its Utica Tasting Room, seasonal Wine on the Hill venue, a wine club, e-commerce shipping to 15+ states, and wholesale distribution to Illinois retailers and restaurants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
August Hill Winery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Winery / Craft Wine Production
- NAICS
- Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)
Keywords
Where August Hill Winery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Utica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
August Hill Winery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Wine Sales: On-site sales at Tasting Room and Wine on the Hill, plus online e-commerce orders shipped to customers across multiple states
- Insider's Wine Club Membership: Subscription-based wine club with bi-monthly shipments (January, March, May, July, September, November) or Shipping Saver option (quarterly). Free to join with charges only for wines shipped plus tax and shipping
- Events and Private Bookings: Cave tastings, private events, and venue rentals at Tasting Room locations
- Gift Cards: Gift cards sold online and at Tasting Room for purchases of wine, events, and merchandise
- Custom Wine Labels: Personalized wine labels for special occasions with $25 set-up fee plus $2/label charge
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Insider's Wine Club Illinois Shipping |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Insider's Wine Club Regional Shipping (IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, TN, WI) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Insider's Wine Club Extended Shipping (AZ, CA, CO, FL, TX, WA DC, MT) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Member Shipping Illinois |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Member Shipping Regional States |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
August Hill Winery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
August Hill Winery is a family-owned Illinois winery that produces hand-crafted wines from cold-hardy French-hybrid grape varieties grown on family land that has been in the Wenzel family for over 100 years. The company operates a main Tasting Room in Utica, IL and a seasonal Wine on the Hill venue in Peru, IL, alongside a sister sparkling wine brand (Illinois Sparkling Co.), offering red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fruit/specialty wines, plus an Insider's Wine Club subscription, custom wine labels, gift cards, and tasting experiences.
Product overview
August Hill Winery is a family-owned Illinois winery founded in 2002 by Mark and Teri Wenzel, producing wines from cold-weather-hearty French-hybrid grapes grown on their family land. The company operates as a multi-venue business with its main Tasting Room in Utica, IL and the seasonal Wine on the Hill outdoor venue in Peru, IL, alongside sister brand Illinois Sparkling Co. for sparkling wines. The product portfolio centers on estate-grown wines across five categories: Red Wines (including award-winning Berlyn, Chambourcin Reserve, and Ginocchio), White Wines (Chardonel through Vignoles), Rosé Wines, Bubbling Infusions (fruit-flavored sparkling wines), and Fruit/Specialty offerings including port-style dessert wine and non-alcoholic grape juice. Additional revenue streams include the Insider's Wine Club subscription program, custom wine labels for special occasions, wine tasting kits, gift cards, and venue rental services including cave tastings and private event hosting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Illinois Sparkling Co. Sister sparkling wine brand of August Hill Winery, producing pét-nat wines and other sparkling offerings. Also known as ISC or ISC Bubbly.
Products and services
- Red Wines Collection of red table wines including dry, semi-dry, and semi-sweet varieties made from Illinois-grown grapes such as Marquette, Chambourcin, Norton, and Frontenac. Includes award-winning labels such as Berlyn, Chambourcin Reserve, Ginocchio, and Red Letter.
- White Wines Collection of white wines ranging from dry to sweet, including Chardonel, Moscato, Niagara, Seyval Blanc, Sweet William, and Vignoles.
- Rosé Wines Light-bodied rosé wines including Chambourcin Rosé, La Belle Rosé, and Sweet Catawba blush wine.
- Bubbling Infusions Light, sweet sparkling wines infused with natural flavors including Almond, Apple, Cranberry, and Raspberry infusions, plus Mimosa and Mardi Gras varieties.
- Fruit and Specialty Wines Specialty wines including Augie's Blackberry (port-style dessert wine), Caramel Apple, Emerald Apple, Indigo, Strawberry Peach Sangria, and non-alcoholic Early Bird Grape Juice.
- Insider's Wine Club Wine club membership offering bi-monthly shipments of hand-selected wines, exclusive discounts (10-20% off), complimentary tastings, and access to member-only wines like Red Letter. Free to join; members pay for wines shipped plus applicable tax and shipping.
- Tasting Room Experience Indoor tasting room at 106 Mill St., Utica, IL offering wine tastings, lounge seating (21+), patio, live music, and local art displays. Open 7 days a week.
- Wine on the Hill Outdoor wine tasting experience at 21N 2551st Rd, Peru, IL featuring hillside tastings, cave tastings, and seasonal events with live music. Operates seasonally May 10 - Oct 26, Saturday and Sunday, 12-5pm.
- Cave Tastings Guided 45-minute wine tasting experiences held in the winery caves at a consistent 60 degrees year-round. Reservations required with full refund for cancellations 48 hours prior.
- Private Event Hosting Private event hosting at the Tasting Room and Wine on the Hill for parties, corporate events, and special celebrations.
- Custom Wine Labels Personalized wine labels for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, business events, and engagements, with multiple label designs available in various colors. Setup fee of $25 plus $2 per label charge.
- Gift Cards Gift cards redeemable online or at the Tasting Room for wine purchases, event tickets, and merchandise.
- Wine Tasting Kits Curated wine tasting kits available in Dry, Dry/Semi-Dry, Sweet, and Specialty varieties for at-home wine tasting experiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple Gold, Silver, and Double Gold medals at Illinois State Fair Wine Competition
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use August Hill Winery
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
August Hill Winery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
August Hill Winery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Illinois Sparkling Co.coreSister brand of August Hill Winery specializing in sparkling wines and pét-nat wines. Shares the same founding team and facilities. Both brands are promoted together through the tasting room and website, with Illinois Sparkling Co. having its own separate website at iscbubbly.com.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
August Hill Winery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Galena Cellars Vineyard: Family-owned Illinois winery producing estate-grown wines with a Tasting Room and wine club. Closest geographic and business-model peer to August Hill — same state, same DTC plus wholesale motion, similar scale.
- Lynfred Winery: Long-established Illinois family winery with multiple tasting rooms, a wine club, and on-site events. Directly comparable on DTC tourism, club subscriptions, and Illinois regional brand positioning.
- Blue Sky Vineyard: Southern Illinois estate winery with tasting room, wine club, and event hosting. Comparable in scale, family operation, and DTC experiential model, with overlapping cold-climate varietal programs.
- Alto Vineyards: Southern Illinois estate winery with tasting rooms and a wine club, focused on estate-grown varietals. Comparable regional Midwest craft-winery positioning and direct-to-consumer distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- St. James Winery: Largest winery in Missouri and a major Midwest craft producer with broad distribution, multiple tasting rooms, and a large wine club. Sits at a larger scale than August Hill but shares the Midwest estate-wine, family-founded, DTC-plus-wholesale motion.
- Wollersheim Winery: Established Wisconsin estate winery with cave aging, tasting room, wine club, and national distribution. Comparable on cave aging, Midwest estate positioning, and DTC-led revenue model, but with significantly broader scale.
- Oliver Winery: Indiana's largest winery with a broad sparkling and still wine portfolio, large wine club, and extensive Midwest distribution. Comparable on Midwest craft-wine positioning and sparkling-wine focus (Oliver's Creekbend/Soft), but materially larger and more diversified.
- Huber's Orchard & Winery: Family-owned Indiana winery and Starlight Distillery with estate-grown wines, tasting room, events, and on-site agritourism. Comparable family heritage, Midwest estate positioning, and experiential revenue mix at a larger scale.
Regional players
- Fenn Valley Vineyards: Family-owned Michigan winery with estate-grown wines, tasting room, and wine club. Comparable Midwest family-winery model and cold-climate varietal program, serving a different geographic market than August Hill.
Emerging players
- Illinois Sparkling Co. Sister brand of August Hill Winery producing sparkling and pét-nat wines from the same facilities and team. Directly comparable product line and audience, with a narrower sparkling-only focus and a younger brand profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
August Hill Winery social profiles
Digital presenceAugust Hill Winery compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
August Hill Winery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
August Hill Winery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
August Hill Winery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
August Hill Winery 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 August Hill Winery
What does August Hill Winery do?
August Hill Winery is a family-owned Illinois winery that produces hand-crafted wines from cold-hardy French-hybrid grape varieties grown on family land that has been in the Wenzel family for over 100 years. The company operates a main Tasting Room in Utica, IL and a seasonal Wine on the Hill venue in Peru, IL, alongside a sister sparkling wine brand (Illinois Sparkling Co.), offering red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fruit/specialty wines, plus an Insider's Wine Club subscription, custom wine labels, gift cards, and tasting experiences.
Is August Hill Winery a public or private company?
August Hill Winery is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was August Hill Winery founded?
August Hill Winery was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is August Hill Winery based?
August Hill Winery is headquartered in Utica, United States, in the North America region.
How does August Hill Winery make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Direct Wine Sales are the primary driver. The others are insider's Wine Club Membership, events and Private Bookings, gift Cards and custom Wine Labels.
Who are August Hill Winery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Galena Cellars Vineyard, Lynfred Winery, Blue Sky Vineyard and Alto Vineyards. Broad incumbents are St. James Winery, Wollersheim Winery, Oliver Winery and Huber's Orchard & Winery. Fenn Valley Vineyards is listed as a regional player. Illinois Sparkling Co. is listed as an emerging player.
Does August Hill Winery have an API?
No public API is recorded for August Hill Winery.
What industry is August Hill Winery in?
August Hill Winery's product category is Winery / Craft Wine Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAB, Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAE, Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312130 and its SIC code is 5180.