Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery

What Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery does

Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned LLC operating a craft winery and tasting room on Lazy Day Farms in Vienna, Dorchester County, Maryland. The company farms 14 acres of vineyards producing roughly 12,000 cases (~144,000 bottles) of wine annually across more than 20 SKUs that span estate varietals (Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, Traminette, Norton), fruit wines (BoBerry Strawberry, Laura's Lemonade, Alison's Wonderful Watermelon), charitable releases (Freedom, United, Rise Up Red, Isidore Red), and novelty wines (Imposter, Joe's Cool line). It was certified in 2020 as the Mid-Atlantic's first and only Certified Craft Winery by the Craft Wine Association, restricting production to 5,000-or-fewer case lots with winemaker-led, traceable fruit sourcing under William Layton, who holds a Certificate of Winemaking from UC Davis. Winemaking is supported by sustainable infrastructure including 177 solar panels generating about 70% of facility power.

Revenue is generated through five channels: (1) on-site tasting room sales with VIP tastings at $29/person and winemaker-led Library Tastings at $65/person; (2) the Gold Leaf Wine Club with quarterly two-bottle shipments, a $50 joining fee, and ongoing member discounts; (3) wholesale distribution to retail stores and restaurants across Maryland and Delaware on tiered volume discounts; (4) private events and group/bus tours at the 72-seat Vineyard View Room, complemented by the Concerts in the Country series at $15/person; and (5) Custom Wine Labels at $20/bottle with a one-case minimum. The customer base spans wine-tourist day-trippers, club members, corporate clients, tour operators, and regional retailers; brand reach is anchored by charitable partnerships with the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and United Way of the Eastern Shore, and by multiple Maryland Governor's Cup and Finger Lakes International Competition medals.

Name

Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery

Legal name

Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery, LLC

Website

https://laytonschance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned craft winery in Dorchester County, Maryland producing about 12,000 cases of wine annually across more than 20 SKUs, selling direct-to-consumer via on-site tasting room, Gold Leaf Wine Club, and online store, and to wholesale accounts across Maryland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery / Craft Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

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), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Craft winery
• Wine production
• Wine tasting
• Vineyard tours
• Wine club subscription

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales (Bottles and Cans): Sale of wines directly to consumers at the Tasting Room and through the online store. Offerings range from sweet to dry varietals, including fruit wines, estate wines, and specialty releases. Joe's Cool Red and Laura's Lemonade available in cans.
2. Gold Leaf Wine Club Membership: Quarterly subscription-style club delivering two hand-picked bottles per shipment (January, April, July, October). Members receive 15% discount on all wine purchases and room rentals, plus exclusive event access.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution through retail stores and restaurants. Wholesale pricing includes 20% introductory discount for 5 cases, with quantity discounts of 5% on 5 cases and 15% on 10 cases. Delivery schedule: every two weeks for Eastern Shore, every four weeks for western shore.
4. Event Rentals and Experiences: Revenue from private event room rentals (Vineyard View Room), corporate events, wine tasting experiences including VIP tastings ($29/person) and Library Wine Tastings ($65/person), concert tickets ($15/person), and group/bus tours ($7/person).
5. Custom Wine Labels: Personalized wine label service offering 4 wine types (Dry Chambourcin, Dry Vidal Blanc, Semi-sweet Red Blend, Semi-sweet White Blend) at $20/bottle with 1 case minimum order.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Layton's Chance is a craft winery producing roughly 20 wines from estate-grown grapes and locally sourced fruit, sold direct-to-consumer through an on-site Tasting Room, online store, and a quarterly Gold Leaf Wine Club subscription, with additional wholesale distribution to Maryland retailers and restaurants. The business also operates tasting experiences, vineyard tours, concerts, and private/corporate event venue rentals on the family farm in Vienna, Maryland.

Product overview

Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned winery founded in 2010, operating as a single unified product portfolio centered on craft winemaking. The core offering consists of approximately 20 wines ranging from sweet to dry and traditional estate wines to fruit-based wines. Flagship products include the 'Joe's Cool' line (Joe's Cool Red, Joe's Cool White, Joe's Cool Red Turbo Charged), estate wines (Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, Traminette, Norton, Lazy Day Rosé, Lazy Day White), and seasonal fruit wines (Laura's Lemonade, Bo Berry Strawberry, Alison's Wonderful Watermelon Wine). The portfolio includes specialty wines like Freedom (Harriet Tubman-inspired, benefiting the Tubman Visitor Center), Isidore Red (Patron Saint of Farming), and anniversary wines (Turbo Pink, Twilight Delight Maryland). Complementary services include the Gold Leaf Wine Club (quarterly shipments), Custom Wine Labels, Tasting Room experiences (standard flights, VIP tastings, Library Wine Tastings), Vineyard Tours, Group/Bus Tours, Corporate Events, and the Concerts in the Country music series. Products are available for purchase at the Tasting Room, online via OrderPort, and through wholesale distribution to retailers and restaurants. As the Mid-Atlantic's first Certified Craft Winery, all wines are produced in limited batches of 5,000 cases or fewer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Joe's Cool: Signature wine line including Joe's Cool Red, Joe's Cool White, and Joe's Cool Red Turbo Charged - flagship wines of the winery.
• Lazy Day
• Freedom
• Isidore Red
• United
• Library Tasting
• Ridgeton Red
• Twilight Delight Maryland
• Rise Up Red

Products and services

• Joe's Cool Red Flagship sweet red wine from Layton's Chance, fruit-forward, available in bottles and cans; one of the original five wines launched in 2010 and the namesake of the Joe's Cool line.
• Joe's Cool White Flagship white companion to Joe's Cool Red, one of the original five wines launched in 2010.
• Joe's Cool Red Turbo Charged Enhanced version of the flagship Joe's Cool Red; won Bronze at the 2016 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
• Lazy Day Rosé Premier estate rosé made exclusively from Chambourcin grapes grown at the Layton's Chance vineyard; won Silver at the 2016 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
• Lazy Day White Semi-sweet estate white wine; one of the original five wines launched in 2010.
• Chambourcin Estate Wine Medium- to full-bodied complex wine from estate-grown Chambourcin grapes with flavors of raspberry, cloves, cherry, plum, and tobacco.
• Vidal Blanc Estate white wine made from Vidal Blanc grapes, suitable for off-dry Germanic-style wines, sparkling cuvées, and Ice Wine.
• Traminette White wine offspring of Gewürztraminer featuring floral aroma, spicy flavor, residual sweetness, well-balanced and textured.
• Norton Dry red wine made from the oldest cultivated American grape variety, known for durability and hearty character; suitable for barrel aging.
• Laura's Lemonade Sweet lemonade-style wine available in bottles and cans; 2017 Maryland Governor's Cup Bronze Medalist.
• Bo Berry Strawberry Wine made entirely from locally-grown Eastern Shore strawberries; 2018 Maryland Comptroller's Cup Best in Class Fruit and Gold Medal winner.
• Freedom Wine Off-dry blend of native Catawba and Chambourcin grapes with berry essence and clean finish; $5 per bottle donated to Friends of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center.
• Isidore Red Red wine named after Patron Saint of Farming St. Isidore; black cherry wine that complements Norton and Chambourcin grapes; celebrates farming heritage.
• Turbo Pink Sweet anniversary wine with notes of raspberries, pink lemonade, and cotton candy; launched June 2020 for the 10th anniversary.
• Twilight Delight Maryland Medium-bodied dry-to-off-dry Cabernet Franc with notes of sour cherry and cranberry; launched in 2020 for the 10th anniversary. Won 2022 Maryland Governor's Cup Gold Medal.
• Alison's Wonderful Watermelon Wine Fruit wine made from locally-grown Eastern Shore watermelon; summer seasonal offering.
• United Wine Dry, light Chambourcin with notes of dry fig and cranberry; $5 from each bottle benefits United Way of the Eastern Shore.
• Custom Wine Labels Personalized wine label service allowing customers to customize bottles with names, photos, or logos; four wine options (Dry Chambourcin, Dry Vidal Blanc, Semi-sweet Red Blend, Semi-sweet White Blend) at $20/bottle with 1-case minimum, 1-week lead time.
• Tasting Room Experience On-site wine tasting and purchase experience featuring wine flights, VIP tastings, cheese and charcuterie pairings, and vineyard tours at the Vienna, MD farm.
• Library Wine Tasting Premium winemaker-led tasting in the personal library featuring over 100 classic vintage wines plus charcuterie & chocolate; $65 per person, 6-15 guests, reservations required one week in advance.
• Gold Leaf Wine Club Quarterly subscription membership delivering two hand-picked bottles per shipment (January, April, July, October); $50 one-time joining fee; 15% discount on all wine purchases and room rentals, free tastings, exclusive events including Tank Tasting previews.
• Vineyard Tours Guided tours of the vineyard and winery offered free on Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm and 3pm; weekday group tours (10+ people) by reservation.
• Group and Bus Tours Structured wine tasting experiences for travel and bus tour groups at $7 per person, including winery tour, vineyard walk, and shopping.
• Corporate Events Private event hosting for corporate team-building outings, staff training, customer appreciation events, company picnics, and seminars; features indoor and outdoor event spaces with Wi-Fi and customizable wine experiences.
• Concerts in the Country Series Outdoor live music event series on the vineyard grounds featuring local artists, food trucks, and wine service; tickets $15 per person, under 21 free, Gold Leaf members receive 2 tickets for $5 each.
• Wholesale Distribution B2B wholesale wine distribution program for retailers and restaurants across Maryland and Delaware; introductory 20% discount on initial 5-case order, 5% discount on 5 cases and 15% on 10 cases, minimum 3 cases per delivery, biweekly (Eastern Shore) or monthly (western shore) delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Total donations exceeding $11,000 to Friends of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center through Freedom wine sales
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Ridgeton Vineyards (Pat Neild)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Pat Neild's Ridgeton Vineyards on Taylors Island supplies Chambourcin, Norton, and Vidal Blanc grapes for Layton's Chance wines. Grapes from this 92-year-old grower's vineyard have won gold medals in Maryland competitions, demonstrating the importance of quality local grape sourcing.
• Friends of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Ongoing charitable partnership where $5 from each bottle of 'Freedom' wine (a blend of Catawba and Chambourcin grapes) is donated to support education and outreach programs at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Church Creek, MD. Donations have exceeded $11,000 since 2017.
• United Way of the Eastern ShoreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017$5 from each bottle of 'United' wine (dry Chambourcin with notes of dry fig and cranberry) is donated to support United Way of the Eastern Shore programs.
• Tall Tales Brewing CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015Joe's Cool Red wine dispensed on tap using Key Keg bag-in-keg technology, representing an innovative wine delivery method to reach customers at partner venues.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Wine Group: One of the largest private wine producers in the United States, with a broad portfolio across price points and channels. Useful as a scaling benchmark for wholesale distribution and shelf competition, though its mass-market focus differs from Layton's Chance craft positioning.
• Williamsburg Winery: Larger Virginia winery with a full hospitality complex including tasting rooms, an inn, and a restaurant. Comparable as a Mid-Atlantic farm winery with a multi-channel DTC and event-driven hospitality model, though at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• Boxwood Estate Winery: Estate winery in Middleburg, Virginia, focused on Bordeaux-style wines with a tasting room and wine club. Comparable as a nearby Mid-Atlantic estate winery targeting premium positioning and DTC/wholesale mix.

Direct peers

• Black Ankle Vineyards: Maryland estate winery (Mount Airy, MD) producing small-lot estate wines with sustainable farming practices and a farm-based tasting experience. Comparable in estate-grown, sustainably-focused craft positioning and farm-adjacent tasting room model.
• Boordy Vineyards: Maryland's oldest winery, based in Hydes, MD, producing a wide range of estate wines with both a tasting room and wholesale distribution. Directly comparable as a Maryland family-rooted winery with agritourism focus and craft positioning.
• Elk Run Vineyards: Family-owned Maryland winery (Mount Airy, MD) producing estate wines with on-site tastings and events. Comparable in family ownership, estate-grown grape sourcing, and Maryland craft winery positioning.
• Old Westminster Winery: Maryland craft winery (Westminster, MD) founded by a young family, focused on small-batch, terroir-driven wines with a tasting room and DTC sales. Comparable as a next-generation family craft winery with similar scale and ambition.
• Linganore Winecellars: Family-owned Maryland winery (Mount Airy, MD) offering fruit wines, traditional varietals, a tasting room, events, and a wine club. Closely comparable in product mix (sweet to dry, fruit-forward wines) and DTC event-driven business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/laytonschance
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/laytonschancewines
• Pinterestpinterest.com/Laytonschance

Compliance2 records

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 Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery