Start a Small Vineyard Selling Grapes Direct

Home winemakers and wine clubs, local families picking their own fruit, and small wineries that need extra grapes.

Price per pound, per lug or per ton, sold at harvest. Some growers add u-pick days or sales at farmers markets.

• Outdoor work and basic mechanical skills
• Simple marketing and customer service
• Willingness to learn pruning and vine care

• Check zoning, HOA and lease rules with your county before planting or opening to visitors
• Liability insurance matters if the public comes to pick on your land
• Selling grapes is usually not alcohol licensed, but making or selling wine needs federal and state permits, so check before going further
• Harvest is concentrated into a few weeks, so line up helpers and buyers in advance
• Check sales tax and farm rules with your state

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the size of your plot, whether you own or lease it, and how much you spend on vines and equipment. Your choices on scale will move the total considerably.

Check zoning, HOA and lease rules with your county before planting or opening to visitors. Look into liability insurance if the public will pick on your land, and check state sales tax and farm rules. Making or selling wine needs federal and state permits.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $500 to $2,500, depending on your yield and buyers. Harvest is concentrated into a few weeks, so line up helpers and buyers in advance. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week.