We are back today for part two of our series “Six Essential Factors for Starting and Growing a Successful Vineyard.” Refer back to our previous blog post, “Three Essential Factors for Starting & Growing a Successful Vineyard,” for part one if you haven’t read it yet. Just make sure you read both to get all six factors new growers need to understand and consider before planting a vineyard.
In this blog, two of our favorite growers and friends, Rob Warren and Katy Jane Seaton, provide their perspectives and advice on the topics of vineyard management and labor, vineyard economics, and grape variety selection and marketing. Even if you’re an experienced grower, you’ll enjoy learning from Rob and Katy Jane as they share their experiences.
Let’s get into part two of this series!
Vineyard Startup Costs & Economics
Starting a vineyard requires a significant investment. A modern-day grape grower can expect to spend between $20,000 to $25,000 per acre to establish a vineyard, which includes site preparation, purchasing the vines, installing a drip irrigation system, and labor for tasks such as vine training and weeding. However, this does not include the cost of buying the land, equipment, or additional infrastructure, such as access roads or game fencing. One common issue new growers face is not budgeting enough to see the vineyard through the three-year establishment phase when cash flow is negative. Starting a vineyard can be a profitable venture despite these costs with careful planning and management.
Vineyard Management & Labor
Managing a vineyard requires consistent effort and dedication. Unfortunately, it is not a part-time endeavor that can be done only on weekends. The work is required all week long, demanding continuous attention. Vacations are rarely an option during the growing season, as it requires careful planning and ensuring a well-trained team is available to help with ongoing vineyard management tasks. .
It’s always recommended to start small. Rob, for example, started with a 10 acre vineyard, but even as an established farmer, he quickly discovered that starting out with 10 acres of winegrapes is an aggressive and not necessarily recommended start for a new grower. Through his skill, he has now grown his vineyard to over 30 acres with a full-time manager and an established in-house crew. Training individuals to become a trustworthy and involved team has been a crucial part of his success in vineyard management.
Grape Variety Selection & Marketing
When planning a vineyard, it is essential to consider how to generate income from it. Will you focus on growing grapes and selling them to other wineries? Alternatively, do you intend to eventually establish your own winery and produce your own wine? Another option is to contract with a winery to create a custom wine brand for your vineyard. It is crucial to have a clear endgame in mind before planting because what you want to do with your grapes will impact the varieties you plant…it will also factor into your site selection and it definitely factors into how you calculate your vineyard economics.
If you are planning to sell your crop, it is imperative that you select varieties that:
- Are suitable for your vineyard site.
- Can make high quality wine.
- Have high market demand – meaning the market is not already oversaturated with the variety and the variety is selling at a high price point compared to other varieties.
If you want to learn more about the essential factors for starting and growing a successful vineyard, check out https://www.vineyardundergroundpodcast.com/vu033.
