“Wine Down” In Your Own Vineyard By Investing In East End Real Estate
There are many variables to consider when deciding whether or not to go into the business of winemaking. From harvesting the grapes to creating the finest vintages—there’s a great deal of knowledge and an enormous amount of passion needed to succeed.
Whether in Tuscany, Italy, Napa Valley, California or the North Fork of Long Island, the key to quality grapes weighs heavily on the growing and harvesting process. Long Island’s North Fork is now known as “Wine Country” for good reason. The East End offers acres and acres of rich farmland coupled with excellent growing conditions—making it capable of producing some of the finest world-class vintages today.
For those who may be considering buying or investing in an established vineyard, there are a few hot prospects. Starting with Las Cotes Vineyards in Aquebogue—Las Cotes is a 26.4-acre farm with nine acres of planted vineyard. Nestled in the perfect location for vineyard goers, Las Cotes successfully produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Malbec and Pinot Gris. For those investors interested in expanding, the land offers ample space to grow a flourishing vegetable or flower farm. Las Cotes is an affordable investment for the right buyer. Listed on landandfarm.com.
Next up, we have the award winning Palmer Vineyards. With 30 years of excellence, this North Fork gem is a one-of-a-kind deal. The 62-acre vineyard includes 5.5 acres located on Sound Avenue that is home to the vineyards state-of-the-art winemaking facility and tasting room. Palmer boasts over 48 acres of premier varietals including Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Riesling. The vineyard hosts an array of special events, weddings and private functions. Palmer is well-respected in the industry and has received praise amongst peers and awards including Gold, Silver and Bronze medals from the Beverage Testing Institute World Wine Championships, Tasters Guild International, The San Francisco Chronicle, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Lodi International Wine Awards as well as excellent reviews in The New York Times and Newsday. With an average of 400 to 700 visitors per day, this special vineyard is a popular favorite. Listed on vinesmart.com.
“Vineyard markets in sought-after locations often small and discrete, and without guidance, buyers never know they are on the market. It’s common for more than half of our vineyards to be privately listed, never advertised and never placed on a website,” said Micheal Baynes, Christies Real Estate Property Specialist in Bordeaux, christiesrealestate.com.
If you have the “wine bug” or desire to break into the business, there are always opportunities—Just take notes from some of our favorite celebrities like Drew Barrymore who recently ventured into the industry with her label Barrymore Wines based out of Italy, or Francis Ford Coppola who has been a successful winemaker for years with a vineyard in the Napa Valley region of California or perhaps even singer/songwriter Dave Matthews who paired up with veteran winemaker Steve Reeder to create the ever-so-popular, Dreaming Tree Wines—the list goes on and on.
“The better the grapes, the better the wine” is a standard reference when talking about the art of winemaking. Long Island continues to produce some of the most delicious wines on the market today. Maybe you have what it takes to be part of this fascinating and evolving industry.