Foxen Vineyard & Winery

What Foxen Vineyard & Winery does

Foxen Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned California winery founded in 1985 by Bill Wathen and Dick Doré on the historic 2,000-acre Rancho Tinaquaic in Santa Maria, California. The winery operates two distinct brands — FOXEN, featuring Burgundian and Rhône-style varieties including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Syrah sourced from Santa Maria Valley and other Santa Barbara County AVAs, and foxen 7200, which showcases Bordeaux and Italian-style wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Vermentino. Operations rest on a minimalist winemaking approach, SIP-certified sustainable farming practices, and a solar-powered winery completed in 2009, with the firm's Anchor brand trademark tracing directly to the 1837 land purchase by Captain William Benjamin Foxen.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer-led model anchored by two estate tasting rooms (FOXEN and the historic 1860s blacksmith shop "Shack" at foxen 7200), a four-tier wine club subscription program (Compass, Anchor, Mariner, Master & Commander) shipping three to four times per year, an e-commerce storefront with nationwide shipping (excluding a handful of states), and a wholesale distribution network covering multiple U.S. states and seven international markets (Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom). Customer segments include wine enthusiasts and collectors, wine club members, wine tourists, and trade accounts, with pricing ranging from $25 tasting flights to $800 top-tier wine club releases and individual bottles priced from $30 to $76.

The portfolio of more than 40 wines across seven categories draws from long-term vineyard relationships including Bien Nacido (planted 1973), Ernesto Wickenden (Chenin Blanc planted 1966), and the estate Tinaquaic Vineyard (planted 1989). Critical acclaim — including Antonio Galloni's Vinous praise of Foxen as "year-in, year-out some of the most compelling wines tasted anywhere" and 90-96 point scores from Wine Spectator, Jeb Dunnuck, Vinous, Wine Enthusiast, and International Wine Report — underpins brand positioning. Leadership is transitioning to the second generation, with Kaitlin Armstrong in Sales & Marketing, Riley Wathen Slack in Operations & Finance, and Bingo Wathen in Winegrowing alongside founders Bill Wathen (Director of Winemaking) and Dick Doré (Director of Sales).

Name

Foxen Vineyard & Winery

Legal name

Foxen Vineyard, Inc.

Website

https://foxenvineyard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Foxen Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned Santa Maria, California winery producing Burgundian, Rhône, Bordeaux, and Italian-style wines across its FOXEN and foxen 7200 brands via estate tasting rooms, a four-tier wine club, e-commerce, and international wholesale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Estate Winery

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Grape Vineyards (111332), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Vineyard Establishment & Development (Site Prep, Trellising, Planting) (AFAGAJAA), Vineyard Certification & Sustainability Programs (Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative, GAP) (AFAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Estate wine production
• Wine club memberships
• Tasting room experiences
• Sustainable viticulture
• Vineyard direct sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Maria

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Wine Sales: Wines sold online for pickup at tasting room or shipment to customers' homes. Includes individual bottle purchases and case sales through the e-commerce platform.
2. Wine Club Memberships: Four-tier wine club (Compass, Anchor, Mariner, Master & Commander) providing recurring shipments 3-4 times per year with exclusive wines, complimentary tastings, discounts, and member-only event access.
3. Tasting Room Experiences: Paid tasting experiences including standard flights ($25), specialty flights ($30), and vineyard/winery tours ($35-65) at two tasting room locations. Club members receive complimentary tastings.
4. Personalized Label Program: Custom wine labeling service for events and celebrations, requiring minimum case orders (12 bottles) per product.
5. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution through retailers and restaurants in multiple US states and international markets (Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Foxen Vineyard & Winery produces and sells small-batch, sustainably-farmed wines from two distinct brands (FOXEN featuring Burgundian and Rhône-style varieties; foxen 7200 featuring Bordeaux and Italian-style varieties) sourced from vineyards across five Santa Barbara County AVAs. The winery sells through two estate tasting rooms, an e-commerce wine shop, a four-tier wine club subscription program, wholesale distribution, and customized-label wine services for events.

Product overview

Foxen Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned winery founded in 1985 by Bill Wathen and Dick Doré, operating two distinct wine brands: FOXEN featuring Burgundian and Rhône-style wines (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Rosé, Syrah, Grenache), and foxen 7200 showcasing Bordeaux and Italian-style wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Vermentino). The winery operates multiple tasting experiences including the main FOXEN tasting room, the historic foxen 7200 Shack, and a club member lounge. Foxen offers four-tiered wine club memberships (Compass, Anchor, Mariner, Master & Commander) delivering wines three to four times annually with escalating benefits. Additional offerings include virtual tastings, personalized label wines, merchandise, event tickets, and EV charging stations. All operations are sustainable with a solar-powered winery completed in 2009.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FOXEN: The primary brand featuring Burgundian and Rhône-style wines, showcased in the solar-powered tasting room.
• foxen 7200

Products and services

• FOXEN Wine Brand

Quantifiable outcome

• Antonio Galloni (Vinous) rates Foxen among the most compelling wines tasted anywhere in the world
• +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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• State and International DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFoxen is distributed through local distributors in multiple US states and internationally in Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. The distribution network enables broad retail and restaurant presence beyond direct-to-consumer channels.
• Santa Barbara Vintners FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoxen donates to and participates in fundraising events including the biennial Santa Barbara Wine Auction, Vintners Golf Classic, and Holiday Hope program. The foundation supports healthcare access for vineyard agricultural workers through Community Health Centers of the Central Coast.
• Santa Ynez Valley People Helping PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoxen provides continual support including wine donations for annual Vino de Sueños fundraising event and silent auction donations. One Foxen owner sits on the board of directors. Organization addresses emergency needs and provides comprehensive family support services in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sanford Winery: Historic Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer at similar boutique scale. Closely comparable in terroir focus, varietal mix, and DTC-plus-wholesale distribution model.
• Cambria Estate Winery: Santa Maria Valley winery producing estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah at a similar family-owned, multi-channel scale. Jenny Williamson Doré previously served as Director of Sales and Marketing at Cambria, making it a strong operational and stylistic peer.
• Au Bon Climat / Qupe: Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez producer of Burgundian and Rhône-style wines at boutique scale. Direct comparable on style, geography, and producer size to Foxen's FOXEN line.
• Zaca Mesa Winery: Santa Ynez Valley estate Rhône-style producer with on-site tasting room and DTC focus. Direct comparable to Foxen on Rhône varietal emphasis, estate vineyard access, and tasting-room-led hospitality.
• Brewer-Clifton: Sta. Rita Hills specialist in single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with strong critical acclaim. Comparable to Foxen in boutique production size, critic-driven reputation, and AVA-specific positioning.
• Fess Parker Winery / Epiphany Cellars: Santa Barbara County producer of estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rhône-style wines with a comparable DTC tasting room and wine club structure. Closely aligned on geographic footprint and multi-channel DTC model.
• Beckmen Vineyards: Santa Ynez Valley family-owned Rhône specialist producing estate Syrah, Grenache, and Cabernet. Comparable to Foxen on family ownership, multi-AVA sourcing, and small-batch DTC-plus-trade model.
• Presqu'ile Winery: Santa Maria Valley winery producing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé with a comparable DTC tasting room and wine club program. Matches Foxen on geography, premium positioning, and hospitality-driven DTC motion.

Broad incumbents

• Wente Vineyards: Multi-generational California winery with broader varietal portfolio, larger DTC hospitality footprint, and estate-grown sustainability credentials. Larger and more diversified than Foxen but useful as a family-owned California winery benchmark.

Regional players

• L'Aventure Winery: Adjoining Paso Robles Rhône-style and Cabernet producer with similarly elevated single-vineyard pricing and critic acclaim. Comparable on style, small-batch production, and premium positioning, though in a neighboring region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/foxenwinery
• Facebookfacebook.com/foxenwinery
• Instagraminstagram.com/foxenwines/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foxen-vineyard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Foxen Vineyard & Winery