As demand for wine increases across the United States and the entire world, the planting of new vineyards has become more popular and lucrative.  Existing wine producers are having a difficult time increasing production capacity simply because there are not enough grapes.  Subsequently, there is high competition for new grapes, which is driving the increased planting of new vineyards.

However, growing quality wine grapes is not usually an easy task.  One should definitely be educated in agriculture, viticulture, and similar sciences. There are many factors to consider before deciding to plant a vineyard. The main key is determining the profitability of the venture. Up-front costs for starting a vineyard can be quite costly, averaging $10,000 per acre for the first few years before any grapes can be harvested. Those costs include stakes or trellises, wire, rootstock and labor. That doesn't include the substantial cost of the land. A typical Return on Investment for a new vineyard takes at least 10 years.

There is also quite a bit of risk involved in starting a vineyard.  Vine damage or loss can be caused by inclement weather, such as hail or frost. Diseases and pests such as birds, bugs and deer can hinder the proper growth of grapevines. Factors such as climate, topography and soil type have a great impact on grape quality.

Assuming the grapes are skillfully harvested, is there a market for the product? How will the grapes be used?  If the vineyard is not supporting a particular winery, then arrangements must be made to sell the grapes to an outside customer.  It is good to build relationships with winery owners and other wine producers in the same area that the vineyard occupies.  Many wineries grow little or none of their own grapes, thus relying heavily on outside vineyards to produce the grapes that make their wine.

Having said all this, planting a vineyard can be a great opportunity for someone with the time, money and knowledge required.  Hopefully, you will find the information on this website useful and productive.

Here's to the Harvest!

VineyardOwner.com