The Raleigh Wine Shop

What The Raleigh Wine Shop does

The Raleigh Wine Shop is a privately held, independent wine retailer founded in 2011 and headquartered at 317 S. Bloodworth St. in Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It operates a single physical location that integrates a curated retail floor, a full wine bar, a dedicated classroom, and private event space, supported by an online shop, local delivery within an 8-mile radius, and authorized wine shipping.

The business is built around a curated, value-oriented assortment of artisanal wines from around the world, supplemented by beer, cider, charcuterie, artisanal cheeses, accessories, and apparel. A notable technical component is the WineStation, an automated dispensing system offering 12 rotating wines by the ounce at ideal serving temperature. The company also runs an award-winning wine education program delivered both in-person and virtually, covering wine fundamentals, food pairing, and styles through ticketed classes.

Revenue is generated across multiple streams: one-time retail purchases (in-store and online), on-site consumption (by-the-glass pours, WineStation by-the-ounce, and a $10 corkage fee waived on Mondays for any bottle from the shop), three subscription tiers of Sir Walt's Wine Club priced at $30, $60, and $90 per month via Table22, ticketed classes, private and corporate events (including virtual instruction at $95/hour), cellar management and valuation services, and custom gift packages priced from $1 to $2,000. The company sells primarily to local wine enthusiasts, wine club subscribers, gift-givers, corporate and private event hosts, and wine collectors in the Raleigh metro area, with virtual classes extending reach beyond the local market.

Name

The Raleigh Wine Shop

Legal name

The Raleigh Wine Shop

Website

https://theraleighwineshop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Raleigh Wine Shop is an independent wine retailer and wine bar in Downtown Raleigh, NC, selling curated artisanal wines, beer, and provisions via retail, on-site consumption, subscription wine club, classes, private events, cellar services, and custom gifts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Wine Retail

NAICS

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

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAB), Wine Bars (CRANACAE), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Premium, Rare & Collectible Alcohol Retail (Fine Wine/Spirits) (CRANAAAJ)

Keywords

• Wine retail
• Wine bar service
• Wine education
• Wine subscription
• Custom wine gifts

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Wine Sales: Sale of curated wines, beer, provisions, accessories, and apparel through the physical shop and online store for take-home purchase.
2. On-Site Consumption: Wine bar sales including by-the-glass pours, by-the-bottle consumption on premises, draft beer and wine cocktails. Retail pricing applies with corkage fee of $10 (waived Mondays).
3. Wine Club Membership: Three subscription tiers: $90/month for 6-bottle pack, $60/month for Capital City 2-pack, $30/month for City of Oaks 2-pack. No commitment - flexible membership with member benefits.
4. Classes and Events: Educational wine classes including Introduction to Wine, Wine Styles, Aperitif/Vermouth/Digestif classes. Ticketed events with wine flights and snack boards.
5. Private Events: Virtual and in-person private tastings, corporate events, educational sommelier services. Virtual instruction at $95/hour plus variable kit costs.
6. Custom Gift Packages: Custom gift wrapping and gift bags with wine, local provisions, beer, and accessories. Price range from $1 to $2,000.
7. Cellar Services: Wine cellar management, organization, and professional valuation services. Includes cataloging, drinking windows, serving suggestions, and rare wine acquisition.
8. Delivery and Shipping: Local delivery within 8 miles of shop (fees from free to $20 based on distance) and authorized wine shipping service for further deliveries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Raleigh Wine Shop is a specialty wine retailer that curates and sells artisanal wines through a physical storefront in Raleigh, NC, which also functions as a wine bar with automated WineStation dispensers for tasting flights and by-the-glass service. Offerings extend beyond bottles to a wine club, in-store wine classes, private events, custom/corporate gifts, cellar services, and local delivery/shipping. The goal is to provide approachable, expert-guided access to artisan wines in a relaxed retail and hospitality environment.

Product overview

The Raleigh Wine Shop is a neighborhood wine retail store and wine bar offering a curated selection of artisanal wines from around the world. The business operates as a single unified offering combining wine retail, on-site wine bar service (featuring The WineStation for wines on tap), wine club membership (Sir Walt's Wine Club), wine education classes, private event hosting, professional cellar services, and custom gift packaging. The shop also provides local delivery and shipping services to serve customers beyond the physical location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sir Walt's Wine Club: A monthly wine subscription club offering hand-picked wine selections with exclusive member pricing, no commitment, and benefits including half off 'Drink It Here' fees, discounts on classes, and early access to events.

Products and services

• Wine Retail (in-store) In-store retail purchase of curated artisanal wines, with sommelier guidance, at the Raleigh, NC storefront. For individual wine drinkers seeking expert-curated bottles.
• The WineStation (wine bar / by-the-glass) In-store wine bar using Napa Technology's WineStation automated dispensers to serve tasting flights, individual glasses, and bottles of curated wines. For walk-in customers wanting to taste and drink wine on-premise without buying full bottles upfront.
• Sir Walt's Wine Club Recurring wine subscription club delivering sommelier-selected curated wines to members on an ongoing basis. For individual consumers who want regular exposure to new, curated artisanal wines without re-selecting each shipment.
• Wine Classes Paid in-store wine education classes such as Wine 101 and Cru Classe, hosted by the shop's wine professionals. For individuals and groups seeking to learn about wine selection, regions, and tasting.
• Private Events On-premise hosted private and corporate events (celebrations, rehearsal dinners, receptions, office parties) with wine and beverage service. For event hosts and corporate event planners wanting a curated venue experience.
• Custom & Corporate Gifting Customizable wine gifts including personalized bottle selections, engraving, and corporate gift programs, shipped to recipients. For individual gift-givers and corporate gifting buyers.
• Cellar Services Wine cellar storage and bulk purchase services, allowing customers to buy wine in quantity and have it stored by the shop for later pickup or use. For local wine collectors and bulk-buying consumers.
• Local Delivery & Shipping Local delivery within North Carolina via Narangine and UPS shipping to most U.S. states for online and phone orders, including wine club shipments, gifts, and retail purchases.
• Charcuterie & Provisions Charcuterie boards and accompanying food provisions sold in-store to pair with wine by-the-glass and bottle purchases.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Vias Imports: Importer and retailer of Italian wines with adjacent educational events and tastings—related as a small-mission wine specialist that informs how niche retailers build curation authority and event programming.

Direct peers

• Flatiron Wines & Spirits: Boutique NYC independent focused on small-producer, terroir-driven selections with on-site tastings and educational programming—closely aligned with Raleigh's emphasis on artisanal curation and approachable expertise.
• K&L Wine Merchants: California-based independent wine merchant combining deep curated retail, on-site tasting bar, classes, and online/direct shipping with a strong education program—directly analogous to Raleigh Wine Shop's integrated retail-plus-education model.
• Astor Wines & Spirits: NYC independent retailer blending curated wine, spirits, and beer with regular in-store tastings and a strong educational/customer-engagement program—closely mirrors Raleigh's curation-meets-experience positioning.
• Sherry-Lehmann: Historic NYC independent wine and spirits merchant built on curated inventory, customer relationships, and in-store events—another single-region specialist sharing Raleigh Wine Shop's heritage and education-led approach.
• The Wine & Cheese Place: St. Louis–area independent multi-store retailer combining curated wine retail with regular classes, tastings, and complementary provisions—comparable model to Raleigh's shop-plus-classroom-plus-charcuterie approach.
• Corkbuzz Wine Studio: Multi-location wine bar and education concept combining retail wine sales with classes and sommelier-led events—closely analogous to the wine-bar-plus-classroom component of Raleigh's offering.
• Binny's Beverage Depot: Chicago-region independent chain offering a broad selection of wine, beer, and spirits with in-store tastings and education-oriented retail—comparable in offering breadth and emphasis on customer guidance over discount positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Wine.com: Largest U.S. online wine retailer offering nationwide shipping, broad selection, and consumer education content—relevant as the dominant digital/channel competitor to a brick-and-mortar curated specialist.
• Total Wine & More: Largest U.S. specialty beverage retailer offering massive SKU breadth, frequent classes, and in-store tastings—relevant as the broad incumbent that independent curated retailers compete against on assortment and price.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RaleighWineShop
• Instagraminstagram.com/raleighwineshop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-raleigh-wine-shop

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 The Raleigh Wine Shop