Head High Wines
Head High Wines is a privately held Sonoma County winery founded in 2009 that produces low-intervention Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and small-lot wines, selling via DTC e-commerce and select wholesale accounts to environmentally conscious, ocean-lifestyle consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersSonoma, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Head High Wines does
Head High Wines is a privately held Sonoma County winery founded in 2009 by Bill Price III, who also owns Three Sticks, Kistler, and Gary Farrell. The company produces a focused portfolio centered on two flagship varietals — Chardonnay and Pinot Noir — supplemented by the Shoreline Series of limited small-lot wines (Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel, and a skin-contact white blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Vermentino, and Muscat), and expanded in June 2024 with a non-alcoholic skin-contact white. Winemaking is deliberately low-intervention under Britt Richards, with fruit sourced from sustainably farmed Sonoma vineyards and a grape-to-glass program emphasizing varietal and clonal specificity.
The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront (shop.headhighwines.com) with wholesale distribution through select restaurants and wine shops nationwide, supported by a zip-code Brand Finder tool, a dedicated trade sales function, and a heavy experiential calendar (Taste of Sonoma, California Wine Festival venues, Big Sur Food & Wine Festival, Waterman's Gala, and resort partnerships at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa and The Lodge at Sonoma). Pricing is unit-based, positioned as accessible quality rather than luxury-tier Sonoma. The brand is differentiated primarily by intangible and community assets — the first verified ocean-positive certification through Seatrees, a $186,442.80 cumulative contribution to environmental and social causes, and brand ambassadors anchored by two-time Olympic water polo gold medalist Kaleigh Gilchrist and world champion waterman Zane Kekoa Schweitzer. Head High is sub-10 employees, has not raised institutional capital, and reports no revenue figures publicly.
Head High Wines firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Head High Wines
- Legal name
- Head High Wines
- Website
- https://headhighwines.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Head High Wines is a privately held Sonoma County winery founded in 2009 that produces low-intervention Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and small-lot wines, selling via DTC e-commerce and select wholesale accounts to environmentally conscious, ocean-lifestyle consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Head High Wines industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wine Production
- NAICS
- Wineries (312130), Wineries (31213), 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
- Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAB)
Keywords
Where Head High Wines is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sonoma
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Head High Wines business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Head High Wines operates an e-commerce storefront at shop.headhighwines.com, selling wines directly to consumers. Customers can purchase bottles, holiday gift sets, and comparative wine sets online.
- Wholesale to Restaurants and Wine Shops: Head High Wines is distributed through select restaurants and wine shops across the United States, identified via a Brand Finder tool on their website.
- Environmental Cause Marketing: Donations to environmental non-profits funded through wine sales proceeds. Proceeds support SeaTrees, Maui Strong wildfire relief, and Dukes Ocean Fest. Zero Foodprint partnership contributes $1 per holiday gift set sold to climate-smart farming grants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Flagship Wines (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) — the heartbeat of Head High, truest representation of Sonoma County. |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shoreline Series — small-lot wines including Syrah, Viognier, and Zinfandel. |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Alcoholic Skin Contact White Wine — first NA wine released June 2024. |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Holiday Gift Sets — bundled wine sets sold through December 31st with $1 per set donated to Zero Foodprint. |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Head High Wines product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Head High Wines produces and sells Sonoma County wines built around flagship Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals, complemented by the Shoreline Series small-lot wines (Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel) and a Skin Contact (orange-style) White Wine. In June 2024 the company launched its first Non-Alcoholic Skin Contact White Wine. Wines are made with a minimal-intervention, grape-to-glass approach from sustainably farmed Sonoma County fruit and are sold direct-to-consumer via an online shop, through wholesale to restaurants and wine shops, and via on-premise events.
Product overview
Head High Wines is a Sonoma County winery offering a portfolio of wines centered around two flagship varietals (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) complemented by the Shoreline Series sub-brand featuring limited small-lot wines (Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel, Skin Contact White). The company recently expanded into non-alcoholic offerings with their 2023 Non-Alcoholic Skin Contact White Wine. All wines emphasize minimal intervention winemaking, sustainability, and ocean-positive certification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Shoreline Series: Small lots of unique varieties including Syrah, Viognier, and Zinfandel. These wines are described as a love letter to the coast, comprised of winemaker selections adorned with coastal vignettes as label art.
Products and services
- Flagship Chardonnay Flagship Sonoma County Chardonnay crafted with minimal-intervention winemaking to express terroir; positioned as the heartbeat of the Head High brand for everyday wine consumers.
- Flagship Pinot Noir Flagship Sonoma County Pinot Noir made with earth-friendly practices and minimal intervention; positioned as the truest representation of Sonoma County in the Head High portfolio.
- Shoreline Series (Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel) Limited small-lot wines including Syrah, Viognier, and Zinfandel under the Shoreline Series sub-brand, with winemaker selection and coastal-vignette label art; positioned as a love letter to the coast for consumers seeking unique varietals.
- Skin Contact White Wine (Orange Wine) Orange-wine-style white blend (Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Vermentino, Muscat) with seven-day skin contact to build complexity; featured by Wine Enthusiast as an excellent example of the orange wine style.
- Non-Alcoholic Skin Contact White Wine Head High's first non-alcoholic wine, a dealcoholized version of the 2023 Skin Contact White Wine launched in June 2024 for Dry January, Sober October, and other alcohol-free occasions.
- Holiday Gift Sets Bundled wine gift sets sold seasonally through the DTC e-commerce store, with $1 per set donated to Zero Foodprint for climate-smart farming regenerative grants.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94 points — Wine Enthusiast Editors' Choice for 2022 Sonoma County Syrah
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Head High Wines
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Head High Wines technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Head High Wines partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- SunDROP SaunaminorHead High Wines partnered with SunDROP Sauna in Sonoma wine country for a wellness day event pairing their Non-Alcoholic Skin Contact White Wine with sauna and cold plunge experiences. Highlights the brand's commitment to community, wellness, and everyday enjoyment.
- Zero FoodprintcoreHead High Wines partnered with Zero Foodprint and 35+ other businesses to raise funds for climate-smart farming. From November 20 through December 31st, Head High contributed $1 to Zero Foodprint for every holiday gift set sold, with funds distributed to farmers and ranchers via regenerative grants.
- Seatrees (Sustainable Surf)coreHead High Wines is the first verified ocean-positive wine brand, partnering with Seatrees to offset their carbon footprint by rebuilding kelp forests, watersheds, and mangroves worldwide. Seatrees protects and restores ocean health by encouraging low-carbon lifestyles, ending plastic pollution, and restoring coastal ecosystems. Blue carbon coastal ecosystems supported can be 5-10x more effective than rainforests at removing carbon from the air.
- Maui Strong (Hawaii Community Foundation)minorHead High Wines supports Maui Strong wildfire relief efforts through fundraisers, contributing to those affected by wildfires in Maui. The company has strong ties to Hawaii with many friends and family in the region.
- Duke's OceanfestminorDuke's Oceanfest is a non-profit organization whose mission is to share Duke's celebrated life and excellence and provide resources to organizations such as ODKF to enrich the lives of Hawaii's scholar-athletes. Head High's contributions help champion Hawaii's youth.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Head High Wines competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RAEN Winery: Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir specialist focused on cool-climate, coastal vineyards with minimal-intervention techniques. Comparable in producer pedigree, critic recognition, and DTC-first distribution model targeting similar lifestyle-oriented buyers.
- Peay Vineyards: Sonoma Coast boutique Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah producer with a similar low-intervention, single-vineyard ethos. Comparable as a small, allocation-driven craft winery with limited production and DTC focus.
- Patz & Hall: Sonoma/Napa Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producer with comparable DTC + wholesale distribution and premium positioning. Similar scale and emphasis on Sonoma-sourced fruit with critic-recognized quality.
- Littorai Wines: Biodynamic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer known for minimal-intervention winemaking. Comparable in sustainability ethos, terroir-driven philosophy, and small-lot, premium pricing strategy.
- Flowers Vineyards & Winery: Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist with a similar minimalist, terroir-driven winemaking philosophy. Comparable in premium positioning, critic scores, and DTC-led distribution targeting similar lifestyle-oriented consumers.
- Gary Farrell Winery: Russian River Valley/Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer also owned by Bill Price III. Comparable in varietal mix, Sonoma terroir emphasis, and DTC + fine-dining wholesale distribution approach.
- Three Sticks Wines: Sonoma County producer also owned by Head High Wines' founder Bill Price III. Directly comparable as a Sonoma-based Pinot Noir and Chardonnay brand with shared proprietor relationships, sourcing channels, and similar DTC + select wholesale distribution model.
- Walt Wines: Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer with strong trade relationships and similar premium positioning. Comparable in varietal mix and focus on single-vineyard Sonoma fruit with critic-friendly quality.
- Kistler Vineyards: Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist also owned by Bill Price III. Comparable Sonoma Coast terroir focus, minimal-intervention philosophy, and allocation-based distribution model serving similar premium consumers.
Emerging players
- Surely (Non-Alcoholic Wine): Non-alcoholic wine brand with direct-to-consumer focus and similar sober-curious consumer targeting. Comparable as Head High's most direct competitor in the NA wine category it entered in June 2024.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Head High Wines social profiles
Digital presenceHead High Wines compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Head High Wines financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Head High Wines leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Head High Wines funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Head High Wines M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Head High Wines
What does Head High Wines do?
Head High Wines produces and sells Sonoma County wines built around flagship Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals, complemented by the Shoreline Series small-lot wines (Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel) and a Skin Contact (orange-style) White Wine. In June 2024 the company launched its first Non-Alcoholic Skin Contact White Wine. Wines are made with a minimal-intervention, grape-to-glass approach from sustainably farmed Sonoma County fruit and are sold direct-to-consumer via an online shop, through wholesale to restaurants and wine shops, and via on-premise events.
Is Head High Wines a public or private company?
Head High Wines is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Head High Wines founded?
Head High Wines was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Head High Wines based?
Head High Wines is headquartered in Sonoma, United States, in the North America region.
How does Head High Wines make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are wholesale to Restaurants and Wine Shops and environmental Cause Marketing.
Who are Head High Wines's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RAEN Winery, Peay Vineyards, Patz & Hall, Littorai Wines, Flowers Vineyards & Winery, Gary Farrell Winery, Three Sticks Wines, Walt Wines and Kistler Vineyards. Surely (Non-Alcoholic Wine) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Head High Wines have an API?
No public API is recorded for Head High Wines.
What industry is Head High Wines in?
Head High Wines's product category is Wine Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAB, Wine Production & Winemaking, with a secondary code of CRADAIAB, Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands. Its NAICS code is 312130 and its SIC code is 5180.