Höcklistein Winery

What Höcklistein Winery does

Höcklistein Winery is a privately held Swiss estate winery located on the south-facing slopes above Lake Zurich in Rapperswil-Jona, operated by CKU AG as part of the family-owned Schmidheiny Weingüter group. The estate produces a Burgundy-inspired portfolio of still and sparkling wines organized across three quality tiers (Tradition, Gutswein, and single-vineyard Einzellagen) spanning Räuschling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Johanniter, and limited experimental bottlings, with Räuschling as the signature varietal and the estate ranked as the second-largest Räuschling producer globally.

Viticulture follows a Burgundian single-vineyard philosophy across three named parcels (Äfenrain, Egg, Paradies) on Nagelfluh-limestone soil. Production combines traditional winemaking with selective precision tools: drones equipped with hyperspectral cameras monitor vine biochemistry to support targeted pest and canopy management, and an augmented-reality mobile app (iOS/Android) brings labels to life for consumer storytelling. The core team numbers approximately nine people, led by Managing Director Adrian and oenologist Andreas Stössel, with fifth-generation family member Lisa Schmidheiny driving digital and project initiatives under proprietor Thomas Schmidheiny.

The business is a direct-to-consumer operation with three revenue streams: wine sales through the on-site Wein & Sein shop and lounge and the shared schmidheiny-weinshop.ch e-commerce platform; tasting experiences and vineyard tours; and event hosting across weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations, running at approximately 150 events per year. Bottles retail between CHF 32 and CHF 39 for estate wines; event and tasting packages range from CHF 39 to CHF 175 per person, with venues accommodating up to 120 guests. Distribution is restricted to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with international orders handled on a direct-contact basis. The estate has accumulated consistent recognition from Falstaff, VINUM, and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

Name

Höcklistein Winery

Legal name

CKU AG

Website

https://hoecklistein.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Höcklistein Winery is a family-owned Swiss estate winery on Lake Zurich producing premium terroir-driven wines (Räuschling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot) under the Schmidheiny Weingüter group, serving private wine enthusiasts and corporate event clients in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wines

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

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), Wine Bars (THAFAEAF), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF)

Keywords

• Swiss wine production
• Single vineyard wines
• Wine tasting experiences
• Winery event venues
• Burgundy style wines

Headquarters

HQ city

Rapperswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales: Direct retail sales of wines through Wein & Sein shop and online e-commerce platform. Includes Gutsweine (entry-level), single vineyard wines (premium), and limited editions.
2. Event Hosting and Venue Rental: Revenue from hosting private and corporate events including weddings, birthdays, firm events, seminars. Offers include Apéro Riche packages, banquet packages, and combined tasting tours.
3. Tasting Experiences: Wine tasting sessions, vineyard tours, and educational experiences sold as packages to visitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Höcklistein Winery produces and directly sells a portfolio of Swiss still and sparkling wines crafted from a centuries-old single-vineyard site on the south-facing slopes above Lake Zurich. Offerings are organized in three quality tiers (Tradition, Gutswein, Einzellagen) and include Räuschling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and assemblage wines. The winery also operates the Wein & Sein wine lounge and four event venues, and runs tasting, vineyard-tour, gift-package, and wine-subscription programs at the estate and online.

Product overview

Höcklistein Winery is a Swiss winery located on Lake Zurich, part of the Schmidheiny Weingüter family. The winery produces a portfolio of still wines (white, red, rosé) and sparkling wines, organized under a Burgundy-inspired quality system (Tradition, Gutswein, Einzellagen/single vineyard). Core products include Räuschling (the estate's specialty), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. The winery also offers an AR-enabled mobile app and hospitality services including a wine lounge, event venues, and various tasting experiences. The product portfolio is distributed across three quality tiers: Tradition (entry-level), Gutswein (estate wines), and Einzellagen (single vineyard premium wines).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wein & Sein: Wine lounge, event venue, and wine shop located at the winery in Rapperswil-Jona, featuring a garden terrace with views of Lake Zürich.
• Rebhüsli

Products and services

• Räuschling Äfenrain Intensive dry white single-vineyard wine from the Äfenrain parcel with lively acid-extract balance, excellent with freshwater fish, awarded 94 Falstaff points in 2024.
• Räuschling Tradition Traditional Räuschling entry-tier white wine from Lake Zurich, with clear aromas and slight spritzigkeit, suited as an aperitif or with lake fish.
• Räuschling Höcklistein Structured white Gutswein with powerful aromas and light minerality expressing Lake Zurich terroir.
• Chardonnay Höcklistein Mineral and noble Chardonnay Gutswein with flint and roasted aroma notes, full body with melt and balanced acidity.
• Chardonnay Egg Complex dry white single-vineyard Chardonnay from the westernmost Egg parcel; full-bodied, improves with additional aging.
• Chardonnay Paradies Noble, stylish single-vineyard Chardonnay from chalky Paradies terroir with multifaceted fresh aromatics and a graceful, structured palate.
• Sauvignon Blanc Höcklistein Gutswein Sauvignon Blanc with intensive fruit aromatics, fine acidity, and a companion profile for Asian dishes.
• Sauvignon Blanc Fumé Single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Fumé with ripe citrus (Amalfi lemon), summer cedar notes, and a juicy/salty drinking sensation.
• Pinot Noir Höcklistein Burgundy-style Gutswein Pinot Noir with clear terroir expression, a food companion with class and structure.
• Pinot Noir Egg Stylish and multifaceted single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the western Egg parcel; strongly built and develops in the glass over several hours.
• Pinot Noir Paradies Complex single-vineyard Pinot Noir with impressive aromatic richness, power, and elegance; smooths with further aging.
• Merlot Höcklistein Full-bodied Gutswein Merlot with intense fruit notes strengthened by Lake Zurich sun; the 2021 vintage earned 91 Falstaff points.
• Merlot Paradies Single-vineyard Merlot Paradies with an intense nose of plums, cinnamon, and dark fruits, full body, youthful power, and long finish; the 2015 vintage scored 90 Parker points.
• Merlot Bianco Fresh, fruity white Blanc de Noir from early-harvested healthy Merlot grapes from the Paradies parcel; a bestseller.
• RoséAmSee Rosé wine made by apprentice winemaker Marco from Pinot Noir grapes using whole-bunch pressing and the saignée method.
• PinotAmSee Fruity Pinot Noir made by Marco using full must attention to produce rich color and exceptional aromatic breadth.
• Ufergold (Johanniter) Sparkling wine produced via the traditional method from Johanniter grapes grown at the lakeside, with fine bubbles and refreshing character.
• Von Fluss und See White assemblage blending grapes from Lake Zurich and the Rhine Valley sister winery, with floral, flint, exotic fruit, and citrus notes.
• Schmidheiny Wine App (AR) AR-enabled mobile app (iOS/Android) that brings Höcklistein wine labels to life visually, projecting wine craftsmanship and storytelling onto bottles.
• Event Hosting (Weinbar, Galerie, Garden Terrace, Räbhüsli) Direct venue rental at the winery for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and corporate meetings across four spaces (Weinbar up to 70, Galerie up to 60, Garden Terrace up to 120, Räbhüsli up to 24 guests), often paired with banquet packages.
• Wein & Sein Wine Lounge On-site wine lounge and shop at the winery in Rapperswil-Jona with panoramic Lake Zurich views, offering tastings, sales, and bistro cuisine.
• Wine Tastings & Tours Tasting experiences and vineyard tours including Gutswein-Tasting, Wine Degustation, Rebbergführung, and themed tastings (Girls, Gossip & Grapes; Men's Tasting).
• Vineyard Discovery Tour Self-guided vineyard exploration with map showing grape varieties and parcel characteristics, paired with a concluding wine tasting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94 Falstaff points for Räuschling Äfenrain - Best of Zürichsee Weine 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Schmidheiny WeingütercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHöcklistein is part of the Schmidheiny Weingüter group, which also includes Weingut Schmidheiny (Heerbrugg, Rheintal), Cuvaison (Napa Valley, USA), and Finca Decero (Argentina). The group shares resources, expertise, and online sales platforms. Thomas Schmidheiny is the owner and patron across all properties.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Bündner Herrschaft wineries (e.g., Fromm, Studer): Cluster of small-to-mid premium wineries in the Graubünden Bündner Herrschaft region. Comparable in Swiss premium positioning and DTC focus, but serving a different regional terroir (Rhine valley) rather than Lake Zurich.

Broad incumbents

• Cave de la Côte: Large Swiss wine cooperative in Vaud. Comparable as a Swiss wine producer serving domestic consumers, but operates at much larger scale and broader portfolio rather than a single-estate focus.
• Henri Badoux: Established Swiss wine producer (Chablais, Vaud) with broad portfolio including Aigle Les Murailles brand. Comparable as a recognizable Swiss wine brand, but operates at meaningfully larger scale and broader market positioning.

Direct peers

• Weingut Gantenbein: Highly rated premium Swiss (Graubünden) single-vineyard winery. Comparable in Burgundy-inspired, terroir-driven single-vineyard philosophy and critical acclaim-driven positioning.
• Weingut Schwarzenbach: Boutique winery in Meilen on Lake Zurich producing estate wines on similar Nagelfluh-influenced slopes. Closest comparable in terroir, scale, and DTC/event-driven model serving the Zurich region.
• Rutishauser Weingut: Swiss family winery in Thurgau operating an estate model with direct sales, wine bar, and events. Comparable in multi-generational family ownership and DTC-focused GTM.
• Weingut Donatsch: Premium Swiss winery in Malans (Graubünden) with strong export presence and family ownership. Comparable in quality-first positioning, family heritage, and critical reputation among Swiss estates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/hoecklistein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Höcklistein Winery