I just read a story in the
Wall Street Journal about a trend for successful businesspeople to buy hobby vineyards after their illustrious careers. The story said most of the hobby vineyards are in Europe where these businesspeople can retire and bottle their own private-label brand. These former executives are not looking at winemaking to make a profit. Owning a vineyard offers them a place to escape and appreciate nature. It also gives them a new challenge and allows them to literally enjoy the fruits of their labor.
What these executives are experiencing in Europe is wild weather, hungry caterpillars, wild boar, deer and many other unknown things that can sour anyone on the hobby. Even as a leisure pursuit, winemaking requires significant commitment.
Take Nick Ferrand and his Italian wife, Margherita Gardella, for example, who bought a four-bedroom, three-bathroom 16th-century manor house in Morra, a tiny town in Italy’s Umbria region. Their dream property included a 1-acre vineyard with a 200-liter stainless-steel wine tank, bottles, corker and labels, plus an electric fence to keep wild boar and deer out.
Nick and his wife wanted a hobby vineyard to “go back to nature.” And that’s just what happened at their European vineyard. Recalling the time caterpillars infested his property, he said, “It was like having a sick child. You are there every day, brushing these caterpillars away and making sure they don’t eat the grapes.”
In
Napa Valley and
Sonoma Valley, wine enthusiasts find the pursuit of a hobby vineyard even more rewarding. The distinct microclimates and soils in these regions make cultivating vines an experience that blends challenge with immense satisfaction.
Many of my friends and clients own private vineyards, whether they feature just a few grape tendrils spilling over a trellis or acres of carefully tended vines. The process of winemaking here offers both escape and fulfillment, set against the backdrop of some of the world’s most picturesque wine country.
If you’re looking to purchase one of the many luxury estates with hobby vineyards in Napa or Sonoma Valley, I’d be delighted to help. Contact me at 415.516.3939 or email me at [email protected]. Don’t forget to visit my website and follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest news for both homebuyers and sellers.
Header Photo Source: spainisdelicious.com
