Winery profits?

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey
A certain successful California winery that controls nearly 150 acres of vineyards nets ~$2 million a year.

To the extent that generalizing is possible, is profit on this scale common or is it extraordinary?

. . . . . . Pete
 
A certain successful Gevrey estate that controls 40ish acres nets 5 or 6 times more.

I can swear this is not a generality.
 
Jim, Ha! What a thought! Nothing could be farther from my inherent persona.

And this statement in NO way implies anything negative toward the fine people who are in the trade.

I was just curious since a friend offered up the factoid that was the basis for my original posting. Eric's response was quite interesting. I actually speculated in advance that you might have some observations to share given your wide exposure to the "biz".

. . . . . Pete
 
Pete,
I’ve already said all I need to about my experience in the wine business.
But I would guess that there are more tales of economic failure than success, at least in the US.
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
Pete,
I’ve already said all I need to about my experience in the wine business.
But I would guess that there are more tales of economic failure than success, at least in the US.
Click to expand...

I don't think it is generally better in Europe. But very different manifestations of "failure".
In Germany there are thousands of wineries that barely make a living selling wines for a few euros a bottle. But the difference is that they don't have massive debt as the vineyards and buildings have been in the family forever. And the extended family works together, often without real compensation, so they don't go belly up quickly. But if you did a real financial assessment the hourly wages would be bizarrely low. And so more and more of these small family wineries pretty much fade away, as the younger generation is not content with making a rather simple living from pretty hard work. Or, and that is thankfully not that rare, the next generation changes course and starts to make interesting wine that sells for a reasonable price.
 
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