Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards

What Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards does

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards is a privately held, family-owned winery operating two locations in New York's Finger Lakes region: the original estate at Hector on Seneca Lake (founded 1985) and Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars in Naples (acquired 2011 from Constellation Brands' former Widmer Wine Cellars). The company produces a broad portfolio spanning the flagship Red Cat wine family (semi-sweet Labrusca-based wines including Red Cat, White Cat, Pink Cat, Red Cat Dark, plus Fizz and Sangria variants), premium vinifera wines (Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Cabernet Franc, etc.), dessert wines (Solera Sherry, Port), hard ciders under the Cider Tree brand, and recently launched Splash wine seltzers and fruit-infused wines. Core technology centers on traditional and hybrid winemaking techniques including native Labrusca grape cultivation, solera-style outdoor cask aging for sherry, and sustainable viticulture practices; the Naples facility provides 3+ million gallons of production capacity, also housing the wholly-owned East Coast Crush & Co-Pack (EC3) custom beverage co-packing business.

Revenue is generated through four channels: direct-to-consumer sales at two tasting rooms and retail shops (100,000+ annual visitors), e-commerce shipping to 40 states, wholesale distribution to wine and liquor stores across 9 states plus DC, and a quarterly Wine Club subscription program (4 bottles per shipment). Tasting experiences range from $10 standard flights to $30 private tastings; bottles range from $11.99 for the Cat wines and fruit-infused varieties to $40 for Solera Sherry. The customer base is consumer-facing and highly fragmented, spanning wine tourists, Wine Club members, and retail/wholesale buyers, with no single customer concentration. Leadership comprises 6th-generation co-CEOs Doug Hazlitt and Leigh Hazlitt Triner alongside professional managers President/COO Daniel DeBell and CFO Marc Hurlbut; the 7th generation has been joining operations since 2020.

Name

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards

Legal name

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards

Website

https://hazlitt1852.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards is a family-owned Finger Lakes winery producing Red Cat wines, premium vinifera, hard ciders, and wine seltzers across two tasting-room locations, selling direct-to-consumer, wholesale in 9 states plus DC, and via a quarterly Wine Club subscription.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery and Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Finger Lakes wine
• Winemaking production
• Hard cider brewing
• Wine tasting experiences
• Wine club subscription

Headquarters

HQ city

Hector

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales at Winery Locations: Tasting room and retail shop sales at Hector and Naples locations. Wines sold by glass, bottle, and flights.
2. E-commerce Online Store: Direct-to-consumer online sales shipping to 40 states. Includes wine, merchandise, and gift items.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution to wine and liquor stores in 9 states and DC including NY, PA, AZ, CT, DC, DE, MD, NC, VA, WA.
4. Wine Club Subscriptions: Quarterly shipments (February, May, August, November) of 4 bottles with 15% off wine and 20% off shipping discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards is a multi-generation Finger Lakes winery that produces and sells a diverse portfolio of wines, hard ciders, and wine seltzers across two winery locations in Hector and Naples, NY. The company operates tasting rooms, a wine club subscription program, an online store shipping to 40 states, and wholesale distribution to retail channels.

Product overview

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards is a multi-location winery operation in the Finger Lakes region of New York producing a diverse portfolio of wines, hard ciders, and wine seltzers. The core product portfolio centers on the Red Cat brand family (Red Cat, White Cat, Pink Cat, Red Cat Dark, plus their Fizz and Sangria variants), complemented by premium vinifera wines (Riesling in multiple styles, Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Dry Rosé), dessert wines (Solera Sherry, Port, Late Harvest Vidal Blanc), fruit-infused wines (Bramble Berry, Strawberry Watermelon, Peach Mango, Blueberry Passion Fruit), wine seltzers (Red Cat Splash, White Cat Splash, Pink Cat Splash, Red Cat Dark Splash), and Cider Tree hard ciders (Original, Cinnamon Spice, with Citra Hops, Light'n Dry). The company operates two distinct winery locations: Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards in Hector, NY (Seneca Lake, focused on estate-grown vinifera wines) and Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars in Naples, NY (production facility and tasting room for native/hybrid wines). Additional offerings include the seasonal outdoor Oasis bar venue, The Wine Chalet experience room, a 0.7-mile hiking trail, and the Hazlitt Wine Club subscription membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red Cat: Signature semi-sweet red wine, top-selling wine in New York State. Made from Catawba and red hybrid grapes.
• White Cat
• Pink Cat
• Cider Tree
• Splash Wine Seltzers
• The Oasis

Products and services

• Red Cat Wine Hazlitt's flagship semi-sweet red wine, a blend of Catawba and red hybrid grapes. One of the top-selling wines in New York State.
• White Cat Wine Semi-sweet white wine made from 100% Niagara grapes. Fruity and approachable, described as similar to white grape juice.
• Pink Cat Wine Light and refreshing semi-sweet blush wine made from traditional pink Catawba grapes.
• Cider Tree Hard Cider Hard cider line including Original, Cinnamon Spice, with Citra Hops, and Light'n Dry varieties. Made from locally sourced apples. 6.6% ABV.
• Splash Wine Seltzers Wine seltzer line including Red Cat Splash, White Cat Splash, Pink Cat Splash, and Red Cat Dark Splash. Made with real wine. 6.1% ABV in 250ml cans.
• Fruit Infused Wines Fruit-infused wines including Bramble Berry, Strawberry Watermelon, Peach Mango, and Blueberry Passion Fruit varieties. Semi-sweet wines with natural fruit flavors.
• Premium Vinifera Wines Estate-grown premium wines including Riesling (Dry, Semi-Dry, Sweet, Bubbly, Homestead Reserve), Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Dry Rosé.
• Dessert Wines

Quantifiable outcome

• Red Cat ranked #1 selling wine in New York State
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• East Coast Crush and Co-Pack (EC3)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Custom beverage production services company founded in 2011 at the Naples facility. Works with customers regionally, nationally, and globally. Specializes in production and packaging of controlled beverages including wine, cider, seltzer, and spirits.
• Seneca SantaminorOthersNon-profit founded in 1940s providing Christmas gifts for Schuyler County underprivileged children. Hazlitt hosts annual fundraising events and donations.
• Humane Society of Schuyler CountyminorOthersLimited admission, no-kill animal shelter in Montour Falls, NY. Hazlitt collects Wish List donations, sells products benefiting the shelter, and makes annual donations.
• Seneca Lake PURE WATERS AssociationminorOthersOrganization formed to protect Seneca Lake water quality. Hazlitt provides donations and family members serve on voluntary board of directors.
• Operation Santa (Naples)minorOthersOrganization sponsored by Naples Central School providing holiday gifts and emergency assistance to Naples School District residents in need. Hazlitt hosts Red Cats in Santa Hats fundraiser.
• Grist Iron Brewing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighbor brewery in the area. Hazlitt partnered with Grist Iron to co-host the Seneca Santa fundraising event after it grew too large for the winery.
• Seneca Lake Wine TrailcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional wine trail organization with 33+ member wineries. Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards participates in monthly events including chocolate and wine weekends, cabin fever adventures, and meet-n-greets.
• Canandaigua Lake Wine TrailcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional wine trail organization for the Canandaigua Lake area. Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars is a member, offering trail passport programs.
• Kaizen Ridge FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoat yoga provider hosting yoga sessions with goats at Hazlitt locations. Sessions held at both Hector (Oasis lawn) and Naples (vineyards).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fox Run Vineyards: Seneca Lake Finger Lakes winery operating a tasting room and DTC model with estate vinifera production, directly comparable to Hazlitt's Hector location in geography, customer base, and experiential GTM.
• Glenora Wine Cellars: Seneca Lake winery with on-site tasting room, restaurant, and lodging plus DTC distribution. Operates a similar mix of estate wine and experiential tourism directly comparable to Hazlitt's two-location model.
• Bully Hill Vineyards: Finger Lakes winery with a strong regional brand identity, on-site tasting room, and DTC focus; comparable positioning to Hazlitt's regional heritage brand play.
• Willamette Valley Vineyards: Oregon-based publicly traded regional winery with a strong DTC, tasting room, and wine club model. Comparable in terms of brand-led, experience-driven go-to-market even though it sits in a different U.S. wine region.
• Anthony Road Wine Company: Seneca Lake Finger Lakes winery with estate vineyard, tasting room, and DTC distribution. Operates a similar family-owned, multi-generation, experiential-led model in the same regional market.
• Vermont Hard Cider Company (Woodchuck): Largest U.S. hard cider producer (Woodchuck, Woodpecker, Domestique brands), the most direct national peer to Hazlitt's Cider Tree line, comparable in category, packaging, and on-premise retail motion.
• Heron Hill Winery: Finger Lakes winery (Keuka Lake) with tasting room, DTC e-commerce, and award-winning vinifera portfolio (notably Riesling). Closely comparable product mix and GTM motion.
• Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery: Historic Finger Lakes winery on Keuka Lake with a tasting room, DTC shipping, vinifera-focused portfolio, and multi-generation provenance closely paralleling Hazlitt's heritage storytelling.

Broad incumbents

• Constellation Brands: Multi-national alcoholic beverage conglomerate and former owner of the Widmer Wine Cellars facility Hazlitt acquired in 2011. Broad incumbent across beer, wine, and spirits with materially larger scale and distribution.
• E. & J. Gallo Winery: World's largest wine producer and a broad industry incumbent. Operates a massive national portfolio across price points, providing direct context for Hazlitt's competitive position against the largest U.S. wine companies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hazlitt1852
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoI-dgiyTuQCVmDiRky3beA
• Facebookfacebook.com/hazlitt1852
• Instagraminstagram.com/hazlitt1852vineyards
• Pinterestpinterest.com/hazlitt1852/_created
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hazlitt-1852-vineyards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards