Hi-Time Wine Cellars

What Hi-Time Wine Cellars does

Hi-Time Wine Cellars is a family-owned specialty beverage retailer founded in 1957 by Fritz Hanson and Jim McVay and now operated across three generations out of a 24,000 square foot retail store at 250 Ogle Street in Costa Mesa, California. The company's core offering spans an extensive catalog of wine (over 10,000 SKUs across American, French, and World regions), spirits (brandy, gin, rum, scotch, tequila, vodka, whiskey, cordials, and ready-to-drink), beer (craft, domestic, imported, cider, seltzer, gluten-free, kombucha, and mead), plus accessories, cigars through its "Smoke Shack" category, and curated gift baskets. A 3,000 square foot underground cellar maintained at 55°F, described as the largest temperature-controlled underground wine cellar west of the Mississippi River, anchors its rare and collectible wine inventory.

Revenue is generated through a multi-channel retail operation combining a physical storefront with a BigCommerce-powered e-commerce site that ships to most US states where legally permitted, plus local Orange County delivery and a DoorDash on-demand delivery partnership. The store monetizes beyond one-time retail sales via a multi-tier monthly wine club subscription ($29.95-$49.95/month across Gold, Platinum, All White, and Champagne tiers), a 1%-back loyalty points program (redeemable at 500 points for $5), wine bar rentals for private events ($200/hour bar fee plus $100/hour bartender), wine classes and WSET certification courses delivered in partnership with the Neptune School of Wine, and a corporate gifting program with a 10-item minimum and free custom messaging. Customer segments include Orange County walk-in retail shoppers, wine enthusiasts and collectors, party and event hosts, and corporate buyers, served by a long-tenured staff many of whom have 20+ years with the business.

The business is privately held with no external investment, parent company, or subsidiary relationships; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Distribution relies on FedEx, UPS, and GSO/GLS for nationwide shipping, Apple Pay for California checkout, and DoorDash for local on-demand delivery, with geographic restrictions on shipping hard liquor and beer to certain states. Strategic direction emphasizes extending monetization through channel partnerships, recurring subscriptions, education, and corporate gifting rather than physical expansion or new geographies.

Name

Hi-Time Wine Cellars

Legal name

Hi-Time Wine Cellars

Website

https://hitimewine.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hi-Time Wine Cellars is a family-owned specialty beverage retailer founded in 1957 in Costa Mesa, California, selling over 10,000 wines, spirits, beer, cigars, and accessories via a 24,000 sq ft store, e-commerce site, local delivery, and DoorDash, supplemented by a wine club, wine bar, education, and corporate gifting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alcoholic Beverage Retail

NAICS

Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (4453), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail) (CRANABAA), Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Bars (THAFAEAF)

Keywords

• Wine retail
• Spirits retail
• Craft beer selection
• Wine cellar storage
• Corporate gift baskets

Headquarters

HQ city

Costa Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Wine, Spirits & Beer Sales: Primary revenue from selling wines, spirits, beer, accessories, cigars, and related products through both physical retail store and e-commerce website. Offers rare and collectible wines, monthly specials, and featured wines.
2. Wine Club Subscriptions: Monthly wine club program delivering curated wine selections to members. Multiple plan tiers available (Gold, Platinum, All White, Champagne) with recurring monthly charges. No long-term commitment required.
3. Private Events & Wine Bar Rentals: Revenue from renting the wine bar for private functions, including bartender fees ($100/hour), bar rental ($200/hour), and food/beverage sales during events.
4. Corporate Orders: B2B orders for corporate gifts with minimum 10-item orders, bulk pricing, and custom gift messaging for business clients.
5. Loyalty Program: Customers earn 1% back on purchases as loyalty points (1 point per dollar spent), redeemable at 500 points ($5 value) on future purchases. Drives repeat business and customer retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hi-Time Wine Cellars is a family-owned retailer of wine, spirits, beer, cigars, and bar accessories, operating a 24,000 sq ft physical store with a 3,000 sq ft underground temperature-controlled wine cellar stocking 10,000+ wines. It supplements retail with a BigCommerce e-commerce site, a monthly wine club subscription, corporate gifting, and on-site wine bar rentals for private events.

Product overview

Hi-Time Wine Cellars is a family-owned retail store and e-commerce platform operating as a single unified business model combining physical retail (24,000 square feet in Costa Mesa, CA) with online sales. The core offering centers on an extensive alcohol beverage portfolio: Wine (10,000+ selections from American, French, and World regions with a temperature-controlled underground cellar), Spirits (brandy, gin, rum, scotch, tequila, vodka, whiskey, cordials), Beer (craft, domestic, imported, ciders, seltzers), and Accessories (bar tools, wine accessories, stemware, cigars). The business supplements its product sales with ancillary services including Wine Club subscriptions, a Loyalty Points program, Private Tastings at their wine bar, Wine Classes, Party Planning assistance, Local Delivery (including DoorDash), and Corporate Orders for bulk gifting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wine Over 10,000 wines from American (Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, etc.), French (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône), and World regions (Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, etc.), stored in a 3,000 sq ft underground temperature-controlled cellar maintained at 55°F.
• Spirits Full spirits category including Brandy, Cordials, Gin, Rum, Scotch, Tequila, Vodka, Whiskey, Vermouth, Ready-to-Drink cocktails, and 50ML sizes plus Non-Alcoholic options.
• Beer Comprehensive beer selection including Craft, Domestic, Imported, Cider, Seltzer, Sours, Gluten-free, Non-Alcoholic, Kombucha, and Mead, plus beer glasses, accessories, and keg system equipment.
• Accessories Bar and wine accessories including Bar Accessories, Tableware, Wine Accessories, Wine Openers, Wine Totes & Bags, Decanters, Flasks, Mixology tools, and Stemware.
• Smoke Shack Cigar and smoking accessories section offering Cigars, Ashtrays, Cutters, Humidors, Lighters, Pipes, and related accessories.
• Gift Ideas & Gift Cards Pre-packaged and customizable gift baskets for beer, spirits, and wine, plus gift cards. Custom basket design service available via phone.
• Wine Club Monthly wine subscription with curated selections including Gold Selection ($29.95/mo, red or mixed), Platinum Selection ($49.95/mo, premium wines), All White Selection, and Champagne Selection. No long-term commitment.
• Wine Bar & Private Events On-site wine bar available for private tastings and events with 2-hour minimum, including bar rental ($200/hour), bartender fee ($100/hour), and beverages purchased at Hi-Time. Also hosts informal wine classes taught by staff.
• Corporate Orders B2B corporate gifting service with 10-order minimum, free gift messaging, downloadable order form, and bulk pricing for client appreciation, employee rewards, and corporate events.
• Local Delivery Service Same-day and scheduled local delivery in Orange County between 9am-6pm (Sundays 10am-5pm), also available via DoorDash. Free storage offered for weather-sensitive orders on case purchases.
• Loyalty Points Program Rewards program offering 1% back on purchases as points (1 dollar = 1 point), redeemable at 500 points ($5 value) on future purchases. Points never expire and are usable online, in-store, or by phone.
• Wine Education Classes (WSET Certification) Monthly wine workshops and WSET certification courses (Level 2 Intermediate, Level 3 Advanced, Level 4 Diploma, French Wine Scholar) delivered in partnership with Master Sommelier Peter Neptune's Neptune School of Wine.

Quantifiable outcome

• Largest temperature-controlled underground wine cellar west of the Mississippi River
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DoorDashminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHi-Time has partnered with DoorDash to offer local deliveries through the DoorDash platform, making on-demand delivery more accessible to customers in the Orange County area. Customers can find Hi-Time Wine Cellars in the DoorDash app or website for convenient ordering.
• Neptune School of Wine (Peter Neptune MS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Neptune School of Wine, led by Master Sommelier Peter Neptune, provides WSET certification courses at Hi-Time Wine Cellars. Peter Neptune is one of only 172 individuals in North America to hold the Master Sommelier title and has taught over 500 students. The partnership offers Level 2 Intermediate, Level 3 Advanced, and Level 4 Diploma Certification programs, plus French Wine Scholar certification.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Astor Wines & Spirits: Long-established NYC wine and spirits retailer with strong e-commerce, gift services, and educational programming. Comparable in product mix, experiential elements, and independent operator DNA.
• Binny's Beverage Depot: Chicago-area beverage superstore retailer with deep wine/spirits/beer assortment and growing e-commerce. Comparable in scale, breadth of assortment, and family-grown independent positioning.
• Wine.com: Pure-play online wine retailer with nationwide shipping, gift programs, and a wine club subscription. Closest direct competitor on the e-commerce and wine-club axes of Hi-Time's business.
• K&L Wine Merchants: California-based multi-channel retailer of wine, spirits, and beer with an industry-leading online store and rare-wine allocation program. Highly comparable in product breadth, multi-channel GTM, and collector-oriented assortment.
• Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits: Iconic NYC fine-wine retailer with a long heritage, premium allocation access, and a wine club. Closely mirrors Hi-Time's specialty positioning, collector customer base, and brand legacy.
• Wine Access: Online wine retailer focused on rare, allocated, and limited-production bottles with a curated wine club. Direct overlap with Hi-Time's premium/collector wine club subscription model.

Emerging players

• ReserveBar: Online premium spirits marketplace with corporate gifting and concierge programs. Adjacent competitor — particularly for Hi-Time's spirits assortment and corporate gifting channel.
• Caskers: Online retailer specializing in premium wines and craft spirits with a discovery-driven subscription. Emerging player targeting a similar premium DTC customer base with a digital-first model.

Broad incumbents

• Total Wine & More: Largest US specialty beverage retailer with 200+ superstores and a strong e-commerce site. Overlaps broadly on assortment and pricing, but competes as a mass-market incumbent rather than a curated specialty player.

Others

• Wine Enthusiast Companies: Wine media, accessories, and storage products retailer. Not a direct competitor, but adjacent to Hi-Time's accessories business and a potential ecosystem partner for education/loyalty programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MrHiTime
• Instagraminstagram.com/mrhitime
• Xx.com/hitimewine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hi-time-wine-cellars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Hi-Time Wine Cellars