What Cupcake Vineyards does

Cupcake Vineyards is a US wine brand that produces and sells a portfolio of approximately 25 wines across four product ladders: Whites and Rosé (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Butterkissed Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Citruskissed Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Moscato d'Asti, Peach Moscato, Riesling, Rosé), Reds (Red Velvet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Black Forest, Sweet Red), Bubbles (Prosecco, Sparkling Rosé, Classic Mimosa, Mango Mimosa), and Low and No Alcohol (Lighthearted varietals at 80 calories / 8% ABV plus an Alcohol-Removed Sauvignon Blanc under 0.5% ABV). Grapes are sourced from California, Marlborough in New Zealand, the Veneto and Friuli regions of Italy, and Spain. Production techniques include sur lie fermentation for the Sauvignon Blanc, malolactic fermentation for the Butterkissed Chardonnay, careful tannin extraction for the Cabernet Sauvignon, and a dedicated alcohol-removal process. The brand is led by winemaker Jessica Tomei, recognized in Wine Enthusiast Magazine's 2024 Women in Wine feature.

The business operates a hybrid distribution model combining nationwide retail presence (grocery and wine shop channels supported by a store locator on the website) with direct-to-consumer channels including an e-commerce storefront and a recurring wine club membership requiring 30-day cancellation notice. Revenue is generated entirely from individual consumer purchases — no enterprise or B2B contracts are referenced. Marketing is concentrated on Instagram under the #ChooseJoy lifestyle positioning, supplemented by Facebook, email newsletter, and promotional sweepstakes campaigns such as 'Win Your Summer' (May–September 2026, with over $100,000 in cash prizes and coupons).

Cupcake Vineyards is operated as a brand within The Wine Group LLC, headquartered in Ripon, California, which is one of the largest wine producers in the United States. The legal entity is The Wine Group LLC, doing business as Cupcake Vineyards. The company is privately held with no venture capital or private equity investment history, no public listing, and no disclosed financial figures. The website restricts access to US residents aged 21 and older, and the geographic footprint is domestic only.

Name

Cupcake Vineyards

Legal name

The Wine Group LLC, doing business as Cupcake Vineyards

Website

https://cupcakevineyards.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cupcake Vineyards is a US wine brand producing approximately 25 wines sourced from California, New Zealand, Italy, and Spain, sold nationwide through retail stores and direct-to-consumer e-commerce and wine club channels. The brand is owned by The Wine Group LLC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAB)

Keywords

• Table wines
• Sparkling wines
• Low alcohol wines
• Wine club
• Direct to consumer wine

Headquarters

HQ city

Livermore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wine Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer wine sales through the company's e-commerce website and wine club membership program. Products are also distributed through retail stores nationwide.
2. Wine Club Membership: Ongoing wine club membership with recurring shipments. Members must be 21+ and someone must be present at the ship-to address to sign for packages. Cancellation requires 30 days notice prior to next shipment.
3. Retail Distribution: Sale of wines through retail store partners, with a store locator available on the website to help customers find Cupcake wines near them.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cupcake Vineyards is a wine brand that produces and sells a diverse portfolio of still wines, sparkling wines, and low/no-alcohol wines sourced from California, New Zealand (Marlborough), and Italy (Veneto). Products are sold through the company's own e-commerce site, a recurring wine club membership program, and nationwide retail store distribution. The brand is operated as a subsidiary of The Wine Group LLC, one of the largest U.S. wine producers.

Product overview

Cupcake Vineyards is a wine company offering a diverse portfolio of still wines, sparkling wines, and low/no alcohol wines. The product lineup includes: Whites & Rosé (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Butterkissed Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Citruskissed Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Moscato d'Asti, Peach Moscato, Riesling, Rosé); Reds (Red Velvet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Black Forest, Sweet Red); Bubbles (Prosecco, Sparkling Rosé, Classic Mimosa, Mango Mimosa); and Low & No Alcohol wines under the Lighthearted collection plus Alcohol-Removed Sauvignon Blanc. Grapes are sourced from world-class wine regions including California, Marlborough New Zealand, and Italy. The winemaker is Jessica Tomei.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lighthearted: A collection of lower-calorie, lower-alcohol wines (80 calories, 8% ABV) crafted for an active lifestyle, including Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Rosé variants.
• Win Your Summer

Products and services

• Sauvignon Blanc Vibrant and crisp white wine with notes of citrus and melon, crafted from grapes grown in the Wairau and Awatere Valleys of Marlborough, New Zealand, with sur lie fermentation for added richness and natural acidity.
• Chardonnay Creamy and rich white wine with elegant citrus flavors, crafted from grapes grown in Monterey County, California coastal vineyards.
• Butterkissed Chardonnay Creamy and rich white wine with notes of butter and vanilla, crafted in California with malolactic fermentation for a rich and creamy mouthfeel.
• Pinot Grigio Bright and crisp white wine with notes of delectable pear and lemon, crafted from grapes grown in the foothills of the Italian Alps in the Veneto region.
• Citruskissed Pinot Grigio Bold and vibrant white wine with notes of fresh citrus and crisp apple, artfully blended from grapes grown in California.
• Moscato Sweet and smooth white wine with notes of peach and honey, crafted from grapes grown in California vineyards.
• Moscato d'Asti Effervescent and smooth sparkling wine with notes of nectarine and honey, hailing from hillside vineyards of Asti, Italy.
• Peach Moscato Crisp and effervescent wine with notes of stone fruit, crafted from California vineyards with natural fruit flavors and effervescence.
• Riesling Zesty and crisp white wine with notes of peach and lemon, from vineyards along steep cliffs above the Columbia River in Washington State.
• Rosé Crisp and refreshing wine with notes of watermelon and strawberry, a blend of Grenache, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Merlot from California.
• Red Velvet Rich and silky red wine with mocha, blackberry and chocolate flavors, a blend of Merlot, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah from California vineyards.
• Cabernet Sauvignon Bold and rich red wine with notes of blackberry and espresso, from sun-drenched vineyards of California, with careful extraction of soft, silky tannins and aging on oak.
• Pinot Noir Silky and elegant red wine with notes of strawberry and cherry, grown in California vineyards and aged on French and American oak.
• Merlot Jammy and elegant red wine with notes of raspberry and spice, crafted from grapes sourced primarily from California's Central Coast.
• Black Forest Decadent and rich red blend with notes of cherry and coffee, crafted from California's desirable coastal vineyards.
• Sweet Red Bright and effervescent wine with notes of blackberry and cherry, crafted from California vineyards with natural fruit flavors and effervescence.
• Prosecco Bubbly and crisp sparkling wine with notes of citrus and toasted brioche, crafted from Glera grapes grown in the Veneto and Friuli regions of Italy.
• Sparkling Rosé Refreshing and delightful sparkling wine with raspberry and floral notes, crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from vineyards bordering the Adriatic coastline in Italy.
• Classic Mimosa Bubbly and bright wine with notes of freshly-squeezed orange juice, crafted from real orange juice and Bubbly Brut wine from Spain. Launched in 2025.
• Mango Mimosa Bubbly and vibrant wine with tropical notes of freshly-pressed mango juice, crafted from real mango juice and Bubbly Brut wine from Spain. Launched in 2025.
• Alcohol-Removed Sauvignon Blanc Vibrant and bright alcohol-removed wine with notes of ripe citrus and crisp green apple, from California vineyards. Contains less than 0.5% ABV, produced by gentle alcohol removal after the full winemaking process. Launched in 2025.
• Lighthearted Pinot Grigio Bright and crisp low-alcohol wine with notes of lemon and apple, crafted from California vineyards. 80 calories, 8% ABV, less than 1g sugar per serving, part of the Lighthearted collection.
• Lighthearted Chardonnay Creamy and vibrant low-alcohol wine with notes of ripe pear and subtle vanilla, crafted from California vineyards. 80 calories, 8% ABV, less than 1g sugar per serving, part of the Lighthearted collection.
• Lighthearted Sauvignon Blanc Vibrant and crisp low-alcohol wine with notes of lime zest and melon, crafted from California vineyards. 80 calories, 8% ABV, less than 1g sugar per serving, part of the Lighthearted collection.
• Lighthearted Pinot Noir Light and juicy low-alcohol wine with notes of wild strawberry and plum, crafted from California vineyards. 80 calories, 8% ABV, less than 1g sugar per serving, part of the Lighthearted collection.
• Lighthearted Rosé Bright and lively low-alcohol wine with watermelon and strawberry lemonade notes, crafted from California vineyards. 80 calories, 8% ABV, less than 1g sugar per serving, part of the Lighthearted collection.
• Cupcake Vineyards Wine Club Recurring wine club membership with ongoing shipments to adult (21+) consumers in the United States. Cancellation requires 30 days notice prior to next shipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple wines have received 90+ point ratings and Best Buy awards from Wine Enthusiast
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Wine Group LLCcoreOthersThe Wine Group LLC is the parent company of Cupcake Vineyards. The company is operated as a subsidiary under The Wine Group's portfolio of wine brands. The Wine Group is one of the largest wine producers in the United States.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Beringer Vineyards: Beringer is a Treasury Wine Estates-owned mainstream U.S. wine brand sold through national retail, with a broad varietal range and accessibility positioning similar to Cupcake Vineyards. Both brands rely on California-sourced grapes and broad grocery distribution.
• Sutter Home Winery: Sutter Home is a Trinchero Family Estates-owned wine brand known for accessible varietals and is one of the most established mainstream U.S. wine labels. It competes with Cupcake across the same value red, white, and sparkling categories in retail.
• 14 Hands Winery: 14 Hands is a Ste. Michelle Wine Estates-owned mainstream wine brand sourced from Washington State vineyards, sold nationally through grocery retail. It overlaps with Cupcake on varietal coverage and everyday-occasion positioning.
• Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi: Woodbridge is a Constellation Brands-owned mainstream wine label sold nationally through grocery and off-premise channels at accessible price points. It targets the same everyday-occasion consumer as Cupcake Vineyards.
• Franzia: Franzia is a value wine brand also owned by The Wine Group LLC, Cupcake Vineyards' parent company. Both brands share the same parent distribution infrastructure, target everyday-occasion consumers, and compete in the mass-market U.S. wine category.
• Bota Box: Bota Box is a Delicato Family Vineyards-owned bag-in-box wine brand targeting the same everyday, casual-occasion consumer as Cupcake Vineyards. It competes directly on convenience, value, and lifestyle positioning in mainstream U.S. retail.
• Apothic Wines: Apothic, owned by E. & J. Gallo, is a mass-market wine brand with a broad varietal range and similar approachable, lifestyle-driven branding. It competes directly with Cupcake Vineyards for off-premise shelf space in the same mainstream consumer segment.

Broad incumbents

• Barefoot Wine: Barefoot is the largest wine brand in the United States, owned by E. & J. Gallo, and is the dominant player in the accessible, mainstream wine category where Cupcake Vineyards competes. Both brands target everyday occasions at value price points with nationwide grocery distribution.

Emerging players

• Meiomi Wines: Meiomi is a Constellation Brands-owned wine brand with broader varietal range and a slightly more premium everyday positioning. It competes with Cupcake Vineyards in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at retail, overlapping on the same mainstream occasion set.
• Giesen Non-Alcoholic Wine: Giesen is a New Zealand-based producer that has scaled its 0% alcohol-removed wine range into the U.S. market. It directly competes with Cupcake's Lighthearted and Alcohol-Removed Sauvignon Blanc lines in the growing low/no alcohol wine category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cupcakevineyards
• Xx.com/cupcakevineyard
• Facebookfacebook.com/CupcakeVineyards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cupcake Vineyards