How to Make Money Growing Grapes & Making Wine

A well-run vineyard can be profitable.

Growing grapes and making wine are enjoyable hobbies, but making money at these activities is more of a challenge. Starting a commercial vineyard and winery requires a good location, a large investment and a willingness to devote years of your life to building up a reputation and a business. The quality of your grapes is central to your chances of success, so good vine stock and land with ideal grape growing conditions are essential.

Instructions

Grow Grapes

1. Find a location that has sandy soil, southern exposure and a climate that doesn't get too hot or too cold for grape growing.

2. Plant a vineyard using the best vine stock that you can find. Be prepared for several years of rough growing as you learn the tricks of making grape vines thrive. Learning the quirks of your particular location and how to cope with them will take time.

3. Decide what type of wine you intend to specialize in and grow the varieties of grape that are appropriate for that wine. Red, white, rose and ice wines all require different varieties of grape grown ideally under different conditions.

Make Wine

1. Harvest and process your grapes at the ideal time in the fall. Acquire all the necessary infrastructure for wine making ready before harvest time arrives.

2. Have all of your wine making equipment approved by the necessary authorities in your area before you begin production. Making wine commercially is different from making it for yourself and is subject to regulation by various food and alcohol agencies.

3. Age your wine in large vats until it is ready for bottling.

Sell Wine

1. Design an attractive wine label to market your wine with.

2. Begin an advertising campaign to make the public aware of your wine and where it can be purchased.

3. Market your wine to supermarkets, local specialty shops and chains with wide distribution.

4. Offer vineyard and winery tours and wine tasting events to the public to increase the public profile of your business.

5. Charge enough for your wine to cover your costs and make a reasonable profit. Conduct market research to determine what demographic you are marketing to, and price the wine appropriately for that market.

References

• Mother Earth News: Growing Grapes and Making Wine
• CNN Money; Getting Started - Wineries; Bettina Teodoro; June 18, 2001
• University of Tennessee: Starting Your Own Wine Business