Byington Vineyard & Winery

What Byington Vineyard & Winery does

Byington Vineyard & Winery is a privately held premium estate winery founded in 1987 in Los Gatos, California, currently operated as a trade name of Los Altos Vineyards LLC, a holding company controlled by Danish-born technology entrepreneur Benny Madsen (former CEO of LitePoint). The company produces handcrafted wines from two estate vineyard holdings: 8 acres of Pinot Noir in the Santa Cruz Mountains at 2,000+ feet elevation, and 36 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot at Tin Cross Vineyards in the Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA of Alexander Valley, acquired in 2014. Production follows biodynamic and sustainable farming methods, employs native yeast and whole-cluster fermentation, and the production facility is 100% solar-powered.

The business operates across four revenue streams: (1) direct-to-consumer sales via two tasting rooms (the Los Gatos estate and MADSEN in Los Altos), an online store on ObtainWine, and a three-tier subscription wine club (Explorers Club, Collectors Club Red, Diamond Club) offering 4-6 shipments per year with 20-30% member discounts and library wine access; (2) corporate and private event hosting including team building, picnics, paella and food truck experiences, VIP dining, casual conferences, and virtual Zoom tastings; (3) wholesale distribution to 50+ restaurants, wine bars, hotels, and retail accounts in California, Hawaii, Washington, and Florida; and (4) international distribution through import partners in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and Japan.

The company's customer base is bifurcated between an anonymous, recurring wine club membership segment and an enterprise corporate event client segment that includes multiple large technology, biopharmaceutical, financial services, and pharmaceutical firms. Operational headcount is small at 11-50 employees, distribution is multi-channel across DTC and wholesale, and the company has expanded its product portfolio to roughly 30 SKUs across red, white, rosé, and sparkling categories.

Name

Byington Vineyard & Winery

Legal name

Los Altos Vineyards LLD dba Byington Vineyard & Winery

Website

https://byington.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Byington Vineyard & Winery is a privately held premium estate winery producing biodynamic Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains and Bordeaux varietals from Alexander Valley, serving wine club members, corporate event clients, and trade accounts across California, Hawaii, and international markets through two tasting rooms, online sales, and wholesale distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Estate Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Luxury Farmhouses, Country Houses & Vineyard Estates (THAMAEAG), Wine Bars (CRANACAE), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)

Keywords

• Estate wine production
• Wine club memberships
• Vineyard tasting experiences
• Corporate event hosting
• Biodynamic viticulture

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Gatos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales: Direct bottle and case sales through estate tasting room, MADSEN Los Altos tasting room, online wine store (byington-winery.obtainwine.com), and wine club shipments. Primary revenue stream with member discounts of 20-30% for wine club members.
2. Wine Club Memberships: Three-tier wine club model: Explorers Club (4 shipments/year, 4 mixed bottles, 20% discount), Collectors Club Red (4 shipments/year, 4 red wines), Diamond Club (6 shipments/year, 6 bottles of collectible library wines, 30% discount). Members receive first access to new releases, complimentary tastings, and exclusive wines.
3. Event Hosting: Corporate events, private parties, weddings, and team building experiences. Signature packages include Team Building ($15 discount on additional wine), Winery Picnic (3 hours with tour and tasting), Taste of California food truck events, Taste of Spain paella dinners, VIP Dining (5 hours), and Casual Conference (8 hours with meals and meeting space). Virtual team tastings available for remote teams.
4. Trade Distribution: Distribution to restaurants, wine bars, hotels, and retail wine shops across California, Hawaii, and internationally. Regional sales directors manage California and Hawaii markets. International distribution through partners in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and Japan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Byington Vineyard & Winery is an estate winery that grows and handcrafts premium wines (Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, red blends, sparkling wines, and rosé) from two ultra-premium California AVAs: the Santa Cruz Mountains and Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak. It sells these wines direct-to-consumer through two tasting room locations (Los Gatos estate and MADSEN in Los Altos), an online wine store, and a tiered wine club, and generates additional revenue from on-site corporate and private event hosting, food-truck dining experiences, vineyard tours, and hiking/bocce amenities.

Product overview

Byington Vineyard & Winery is a traditional winery offering premium wines and wine country experiences. The core products are estate-grown wines including Pinot Noir from Santa Cruz Mountains and Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and blends from Tin Cross Vineyards in Alexander Valley, sold through wine clubs (Explorers Club, Collectors Club Red, Diamond Club) and direct-to-consumer experiences. The company supplements its wine sales with venue rental and event services for corporate and private gatherings, including team building activities, winery picnics, paella experiences, and VIP dining. Additional experiences include wine tastings, vineyard tours, hiking trails, and bocce ball. A secondary retail location called MADSEN in Los Altos offers art and wine receptions. The winery operates sustainably using biodynamic methods and is 100% solar powered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Estate Pinot Noir Wines Estate-grown premium Pinot Noir wines from the 8-acre Byington Estate in the Santa Cruz Mountains, including the flagship estate Pinot Noir, single-block Pinot Noir Block 4, Reserve Pinot Noir, and a Triple Pinot Noir Sparkling Rosé made by Methode Champenoise with cherry, strawberry, and peach flavors. Available through the tasting rooms, online store, wine club, and trade distribution.
• Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Wines Estate Cabernet Sauvignon wines from both AVAs, including Santa Cruz Mountains Bates Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (vanilla, dark fruit, herbs, gripping tannins) and Tin Cross Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in American Oak with the corresponding Reserve and Dreem variants.
• Estate Chardonnay Wines Estate Chardonnay portfolio from Tin Cross Vineyards in Alexander Valley, offering a bright and lively classic Chardonnay, a Reserve expression, and the TJill unoaked stainless-steel Chardonnay with zero malolactic for citrus, tropical, and stone fruit flavors.
• Estate Red Blends Bordeaux-style and red-blend portfolio including Alliage (Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from Santa Cruz Mountains with Merlot from Alexander Valley), Blend 122, Pine Mountain Red Blend, Idyl, and Hygge.
• Byington Blend 122 Byington's signature red blend with fruity and spicy flavor profile, recognized by trade customers including Urfa Bistro for pairing with Mediterranean cuisine.
• Other Estate Varietals (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Grenache Noir, Sangiovese, Barbera) Expanded varietal portfolio from sourced and estate partner vineyards including Bordeaux varietals (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot), Sauvignon Blanc blends, and Mediterranean/Rhone-style reds (Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Grenache Noir, Sangiovese, Barbera).
• Sparkling and Rosé Wines Sparkling and rosé offerings including the Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine, the Sparkling Rosé crafted by Methode Champenoise from estate-grown Triple Pinot Noir, and rosé wines including Amuse Rosé and Rosé of Merlot.
• Wine Club Membership (Explorers Club, Collectors Club Red, Diamond Club) Three-tier subscription wine club offering curated shipments and member benefits: Explorers Club (4 mixed bottles per shipment, 4 shipments/year, 20% discount), Collectors Club Red (4 red wines per shipment, 4 shipments/year), and Diamond Club (6 bottles of mostly collectible library wines per shipment, 6 shipments/year, 30% discount). Benefits include first access to new releases, complimentary tastings, exclusive event invitations, discounts of 20-30%, and winemaker notes.
• Wine Tasting Experience Estate wine tasting experience at the Los Gatos property, offering four pours of award-winning wines with vineyard and Monterey Bay views, priced $25-$35 per guest. Available Fridays through Sundays with reservations recommended and limited walk-ins.
• Wine Tour & Tasting Comprehensive guided tour of the vineyard, production facility, and wine cave with history of Byington and the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, concluding with a tasting flight. Approximately 45 minutes, priced at $35 per person; guests must be 21+.
• Private & Corporate Event Hosting Multi-package event hosting at the estate spanning Team Building (2 hours), Winery Picnic (3 hours with tour and cave access), Taste of California food truck experience, Taste of Spain Paella (4 hours), VIP Dining (5 hours, custom 3-course), and Casual Conference (8 hours with AV and meeting space). Multiple venue options include VIP Room & Veranda, Barrel Room, Cave Patio, Estate Front Lawns, Block 4 Outlook, Hiking Trail, and MADSEN Los Altos.
• Virtual Zoom Team Tasting Virtual team wine tasting led by a Byington wine expert for remote and distributed corporate teams, including guided tasting and analysis with three wines shipped to participants; custom logo wine glasses available; complimentary hour with $1,500 minimum wine purchase.
• Art & Wine at MADSEN Two-hour fine art and sparkling wine reception at MADSEN in downtown Los Altos, priced at $65 per person with a 15-guest minimum and 30-guest maximum. Includes one glass of sparkling wine per guest, with French cheese collection available for an additional $15 per person. Tax and 15% gratuity added.
• Estate Recreation (Bocce Ball, Hiking Trail & Block 4 Outlook) On-site recreational amenities available to visitors including a bocce ball court (one-hour reservations) and a 2.2-mile hiking trail with 365 feet of elevation change ending at the Block 4 Outlook with views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, open noon to 5pm on weekends.
• eGift Cards Digital gift cards available through the online store, redeemable for wine purchases and on-site experiences at the Byington estate.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ charity auction gift certificates issued annually, $350 value each, supporting 2,500+ charity events since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, regional and international.

• MADSENcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMADSEN is a second tasting room location operated by Los Altos Vineyards (same ownership as Byington) in downtown Los Altos village. Offers fine art and sparkling wine two-hour receptions, providing complementary urban wine experience to Byington's estate vineyard setting. Both venues are owned by Benny Madsen and Amy Madsen.
• The Waffle Roost TruckminorOthersFood truck partner providing Southern-inspired cuisine including authentic Belgian waffles and buttermilk fried chicken. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Provider works 3 weeks advance notice for event bookings.
• Justin Ihrig (Sales Director)coreOthersSales Director managing wholesale distribution relationships with restaurants, wine bars, and retail accounts across all markets.
• Vince Robledo (California)coreOthersRegional sales representative managing California distribution relationships.
• Cayman Davis (Hawaii)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner managing Hawaiian market for Byington wines.
• Kobaj.com (Alexander Kidd)internationalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner covering Denmark, Germany, and Sweden markets. Contact: Alexander Kidd, [email protected].
• Premier Cru Co., Ltd. (Kuniyuki Otani)internationalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese distribution partner for Byington wines. Contact: Kuniyuki Otani, [email protected], +81-422-27-6874.
• Los Altos VineyardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company that acquired Byington Vineyard & Winery in 2012-2013 and Tin Cross Vineyards in 2014. Owned by Benny Madsen and Amy Madsen. Responsible for significant investments in vineyards, wine production facilities, and new visitor amenities including solar power, cave patio, and Los Altos tasting room.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Benziger Family Winery: Sonoma-based winery known for biodynamic and sustainable farming, estate vineyard experiences, and strong tasting room/event business; comparable to Byington's biodynamic methods and destination estate programming.
• Frog's Leap Winery: Napa Valley pioneer of organic and dry-farmed viticulture with farmhouse-style tasting experiences; comparable to Byington in sustainability credentials and estate-driven DTC hospitality.
• Kistler Vineyards: Highly regarded Sonoma Coast producer of premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a tight mailing list/DTC allocation model; comparable to Byington in premium estate positioning and limited-availability wines.
• Beauregard Vineyards: Small family-run Santa Cruz Mountains producer offering estate tastings, tours, and outdoor experiences; closely comparable in AVA, scale, and DTC-led go-to-market.
• Bonny Doon Vineyard: Santa Cruz Mountains-based boutique producer with strong personality and direct-to-consumer focus; comparable in scale, regional positioning, and emphasis on distinctive terroir-driven wines.
• Mount Eden Vineyards: Boutique estate producer located in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA focused on limited-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sold primarily DTC; closely matches Byington's high-elevation, small-production estate model.
• Foxen Vineyard: Small, family-run Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Valley winery known for low-intervention, estate-grown wines; comparable in small-production ethos and DTC-driven business model to Byington.
• Ridge Vineyards: Iconic Santa Cruz Mountains estate producer of premium Cabernet and Chardonnay with a strong DTC, tasting room, and wine club model — directly comparable in AVA focus, estate-grown positioning, and small-production ethos to Byington.

Broad incumbents

• Chateau Montelena Winery: Iconic Napa/Calistoga producer with estate castle, tasting room experiences, and premium distribution; relevant as a prestige California wine brand with estate tourism — broader incumbent versus boutique Byington.
• Stag's Leap Wine Cellars: Premium, larger-scale Napa Valley producer with broad distribution and DTC channels; comparable as a higher-volume premium California wine brand, but at materially greater scale than Byington.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuTwbxE7g4yxuf8beRnoBrw/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/byingtonwine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Byington Vineyard & Winery