Hare Wine Co, The

What Hare Wine Co, The does

The Hare Wine Co. is a privately held, family-owned boutique winery operating from an 11-acre estate in the Four Mile Creek sub-appellation of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. The winery produces small-batch Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) certified wines including reds (notably a French-oak aged Cabernet Merlot and Jack Rabbit Red), whites, sparkling wines, and Icewines, drawing primarily on estate-grown Vidal and Riesling varietals and supplementing with grapes from three local Niagara vineyards. Production techniques leverage the Niagara region's warm-day/cool-night climate for Icewine and traditional French oak aging for premium reds, with the operation under the ownership of John Hare, who continues a family winemaking tradition dating to the early 1900s in Kochovo, Bulgaria.

The company runs a direct-to-consumer model through four revenue streams: (1) on-site wine sales via the tasting room and retail boutique at 769 Niagara Stone Road, (2) an e-commerce online shop with complimentary shipping on 6+ bottle orders, (3) a tiered quarterly wine club subscription (4 Bottle Founders at $99, 6 Bottle Founders at $149, and invite-only Red Brick at $199), and (4) private event hosting covering corporate gatherings (20-130 guests) and weddings (up to 130 guests). Hospitality services include guided wine tastings, charcuterie boards, wood-fired pizza, and Grandma Hare's Shortbread cookies (with proceeds to Gillian's Place shelter), complemented by seasonal ticketed programming such as the Twilight Jazz & Blues Series and a formal catering partnership with Vintage Hotels and the Prince of Wales Hotel for elevated wedding and corporate offerings.

Customers are concentrated in the Niagara wine tourism market and span individual wine enthusiasts, wine club members, corporate clients, and wedding couples. Marketing relies on organic social media (Instagram and Facebook), on-premise experiential events, and word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid acquisition. The company is family-owned with no disclosed external funding or investors, operates only within Ontario/Canada, and is too small to have a public profile beyond its property and wine club footprint.

Name

Hare Wine Co, The

Legal name

The Hare Wine Co.

Website

https://theharewineco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hare Wine Co. is a family-owned boutique winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, producing small-batch VQA wines including Icewines from an 11-acre estate and serving wine tourists, wine club members, corporate clients, and wedding couples through tasting room sales, e-commerce, a tiered wine club, and private event hosting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080), 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), Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)

Keywords

• Small-batch winery
• VQA wine production
• Icewine specialty
• Wine club subscriptions
• Winery event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Niagara-on-the-lake

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales: On-site wine sales through tasting room and retail boutique, plus online shop with complimentary shipping on 6+ bottles.
2. Wine Club Memberships: Quarterly wine club shipments with three tiers (4-bottle, 6-bottle, and Red Brick clubs). Members receive discounts, complimentary tastings, charcuterie, priority seating, and early access to new releases.
3. Corporate Events: Private corporate events for 20-130 guests including executive meetings, client appreciation events, and company celebrations. Venue fee includes exclusive use, tables, chairs, professional staff, curated wines, and full coordination.
4. Wedding Events: Wedding ceremonies and receptions up to 130 guests with exclusive venue use, catering partnerships, and professional wedding planning services.
5. Event Ticketing: Jazz & Blues concert series with ticket sales for events like Cuban Jazz Night, Nancy Walker Trio performances, and Soul Jazz in the Vineyard.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Hare Wine Co. is a small-batch VQA-certified winery operating an 11-acre estate in the Four Mile Creek sub-appellation of Niagara-on-the-Lake, producing red, white, sparkling, and Icewine wines from estate-grown Vidal and Riesling grapes and locally sourced varietals. The winery sells wine directly to consumers through an on-site tasting room and retail boutique, an e-commerce shop, and a tiered wine club subscription program. It also generates revenue from on-site hospitality experiences including guided tastings, food pairings, and hosted private events for weddings and corporate gatherings.

Product overview

The Hare Wine Co. is a small-batch VQA winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake operating 11 acres in the Four Mile Creek sub-appellation. The core product portfolio includes Red Wines (Cabernet Merlot, Jack Rabbit Red), White Wines, Sparkling Wines, and Icewines crafted from estate-grown Vidal and Riesling grapes, supplemented by sourced varietals from three local Niagara vineyards. The company operates a tiered wine club subscription program with three membership levels (4 Bottle, 6 Bottle Founders, and Red Brick), and offers hospitality experiences including guided tastings, charcuterie boards, wood-fired pizza, and Grandma Hare's Shortbread Cookies (with proceeds to Gillian's Place). Event services encompass corporate events (20-130 guests) and weddings (up to 130 guests), with exclusive property use, curated wines, and chef-driven catering through a partnership with Prince of Wales Hotel. Seasonal entertainment includes the Twilight Jazz & Blues Series. Virtual gift cards provide gifting options across the product and experience portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 4 Bottle Founders Club: Wine club membership offering four seasonal wine releases per year with 15% discount, complimentary tastings and charcuterie board, starting at $99.
• 6 Bottle Founders Club
• Red Brick Club
• Grandma Hare's Shortbread

Products and services

• Red Wines A portfolio of red wines including Cabernet Merlot aged in French oak with notes of dark cherry, plum, raspberry, and fresh mint, plus Jack Rabbit Red. Sold to consumers through the tasting room, online shop, and wine club.
• White Wines Crisp white wines crafted for patio and casual occasions, complementing the estate-grown Vidal and Riesling varietals. Available through the winery shop and online.
• Sparkling Wines A selection of sparkling wines available for purchase and on-site tasting within the winery's diverse portfolio.
• Icewine Premium VQA dessert wines produced from Vidal and Riesling grapes harvested frozen, capturing concentrated flavors characteristic of Niagara's cold-climate winemaking.
• 4 Bottle Founders Club A quarterly wine club membership delivering four seasonal wine releases per year, fully customizable. Members receive 15% off wine, events, and by-the-glass pours, complimentary tastings, charcuterie, and invitations to seasonal pickup parties. Starting at $99 per quarterly shipment.
• 6 Bottle Founders Club The core wine club experience delivering six wines each season hand-selected by season. Members receive complimentary shipping, 15% off wine, access to a member-only tasting room, and complimentary tastings for up to four guests with a shared charcuterie board. Starting at $149 per quarterly shipment.
• Red Brick Club An invite-only elevated tier of the wine club offering six wines per season with full customization, 20% off wine and by-the-glass pours, complimentary shipping, preferred event pricing, seasonal perks, and exclusive event room rental rates. Starting at $199 per quarterly shipment.
• Virtual Gift Card Digital gift cards allowing recipients to select wines, experiences, or merchandise from the winery.
• Guided Wine Tastings Educated staff guide guests through flights of four carefully selected table wines or Icewines with tailored recommendations and insights into estate history and winemaking.
• Charcuterie Boards Handcrafted boards featuring local Niagara meats, cheeses, and seasonal accompaniments thoughtfully paired to complement wine tastings.
• Wood Fired Pizza Wood-fired pizzas available for enjoyment in the tasting room or patio alongside wine selections.
• Grandma Hare's Shortbread Cookies Butter shortbread cookies made using John Hare's grandmother's cherished family recipe, packaged in sets of three. All proceeds support Gillian's Place, a local shelter for women and children experiencing abuse.
• Corporate Events Private corporate event venue accommodating 20 to 130 guests with exclusive winery use, curated wines, chef-driven menus, guided tastings, and full event coordination for executive meetings, client appreciation, and team celebrations.
• Wedding Events Full-service wedding venue hosting ceremonies and receptions for up to 130 guests with exclusive winery use, partnership with Prince of Wales Hotel for luxury dining, barrel room and courtyard spaces, and professional wedding planning services.
• Twilight Jazz & Blues Series Seasonal ticketed live music events featuring jazz and blues performers held at the winery, including Cuban Jazz Night, Nancy Walker Trio, Dizzy & Fay, and Soul Jazz in the Vineyard performances.
• Corporate Gifting Curated wine selections and gift sets tailored for corporate gifting needs, including packaging and preparation coordination for client appreciation and team recognition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exclusive venue use for corporate and wedding events ensures privacy and high-value bookings
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Vintage HotelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-service wedding partnership with Vintage Hotels allowing The Hare to offer luxury dining experiences. The partnership provides access to catering by The Prince of Wales Hotel, enabling winery to offer deluxe hotel-level service in a unique vineyard setting for weddings and events.
• Prince of Wales HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium catering partner for weddings at The Hare. Provides luxury dining experience including table settings and furniture for supremely elegant events. Partnership enables winery to offer hotel venue amenities in a unique wine country location.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate: Niagara winery with tasting room, tour experiences, and event hosting. Comparable experiential DTC model with broader portfolio including VQA wines.
• Stratus Vineyards: Niagara-on-the-Lake boutique winery focused on small-lot VQA wines with a tasting room. Comparable premium positioning and small-batch production philosophy.
• Pillitteri Estates Winery: A family-owned Niagara-on-the-Lake winery specializing in Icewine production using Vidal and Riesling, with a wine club and tasting room. Closest direct comparable given Icewine specialization, family ownership, and DTC tasting room model.
• Peller Estates: Major Niagara-on-the-Lake winery with VQA-certified wines, Icewine, wine club, tasting room, and on-site restaurant. Operates at significantly larger scale but shares the same DTC and experiential format.
• Two Sisters Vineyards: Niagara-on-the-Lake winery with tasting room, restaurant, and event hosting. Comparable combined wine-and-hospitality DTC model targeting similar experiential customers.
• Château des Charmes: Family-owned Niagara-on-the-Lake winery with estate vineyards, VQA wines, and tasting room. Comparable boutique family winery positioning and DTC focus.
• Marynissen Estates Winery: Family-owned Niagara-on-the-Lake winery with estate vineyard, tasting room, and small-lot production. Comparable boutique family-run DTC winery profile.
• Trius Winery & Restaurant: Niagara-on-the-Lake winery with tasting room, restaurant, and private event hosting. Comparable in combining wine production with hospitality and event venue revenue streams.
• Inniskillin Wines: Pioneering Canadian Icewine producer based in Niagara-on-the-Lake with extensive DTC, wine club, and tasting room operations. Direct competitor in the same sub-region with overlapping varietal focus and DTC channels.
• Konzelmann Estate Winery: Niagara-on-the-Lake lakefront winery with tasting room, tours, and private events. Comparable DTC and event-based revenue model in the same sub-region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theharewineco
• Instagraminstagram.com/theharewineco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-hare-wine-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Hare Wine Co, The