Startup CPG Newswire:
Sipwell Wine Co. Expands Retail Footprint Across California with Gelson’s & Raley’s Launches, Safeway Expansion
PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Hilary Cocalis for Sipwell Wine Co.
ENCINITAS, CA (SEPTEMBER 2026) — Sipwell Wine Co., the award-winning, organic sparkling wine company making premium wine for modern consumers, today announced a wave of retail expansion across California, adding new store doors and new SKUs at Gelson’s, Raley’s, and Safeway.
Gelson’s (Southern California): Tiny Victories Sparkling White Wine (4-packs) are now available at all 25 Gelson’s locations from San Diego to Santa Barbara, marking Sipwell’s first placement with the SoCal specialty grocer.
Raley’s (Northern California): Tiny Victories and Rock Steady Sparkling Rosé, both in 250mL cans, are now rolling out to shelves at approximately 100 Raley’s, Nob Hill Foods, and Bel Air Market stores, expanding Sipwell’s presence with NorCal shoppers, and mark Sipwell’s first major presence in the Sacramento area.
Safeway (Northern California): Beginning this month, both Rock Steady and Go Getter Chilled Red cans join Sipwell’s existing Tiny Victories placement at roughly 100 Safeway stores in Northern California, bringing the brand’s full portfolio to the banner for the first time.
“Every one of these moments — launching with a new retailer, entering a new market, or expanding from one wine to all three on a shelf — is its own tiny victory for us,” said Hilary Cocalis, Founder & CEO of Sipwell Wine Co. “And every new placement is an opportunity to introduce customers to a canned wine like they’ve never tried before.”
Sipwell’s sparkling wines are uniquely made via the traditional method with naturally fermented Champagne-style bubbles — a first in canned wine — resulting in fine, feisty effervescence and more complex flavor. Their flagship Tiny Victories became the first and only canned wine ever named to Wine Enthusiast’s “Top 100 Wines” list, and was listed by Wine Business Monthly as one of 7 “Hot Brands of 2025.” Sipwell has earned over 20 medals and 90+ point ratings for its entire wine portfolio.
Sipwell’s portfolio of canned wines is all zero sugar, made with organically farmed grapes from California’s Central and Sonoma Coasts and packaged in infinitely recyclable cans, offering consumers a convenient, environmentally conscious way to enjoy premium wine.
This latest round of growth builds on Sipwell’s recent expansion into Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions in Southern California. Other California retail partners include JIMBO’S, Lunardi’s, Cardiff Seaside Market, Rainbow Acres, and many more. Sipwell is distributed in California by Monterey Bay Wine Company, its woman-owned statewide distribution partner.
About Sipwell Wine Co.
Sipwell Wine Co. is a California wine company making award-winning premium sparkling wine in a sustainable, single-serve can. Founded in 2021 by wine industry veteran Hilary Cocalis, Sipwell is proud to be female-founded and Black-owned, with a mission to make wine more approachable, sustainable, and inclusive. Sipwell specializes in Champagne-style sparkling wines, and is the first in the category to pioneer a natural carbonation method through fermentation in the can. Sipwell sources organic grapes from California’s Central & Sonoma Coasts, and are available at retail stores in California or shipping directly to 40+ states. For more information, visit www.sipwellwine.com.
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