Issue No. 19

HOBBY
HOMES
Vineyards
Many of us have a romantic notion of owning
some vines so we can produce our own wine
to bottle and share with friends and family.
It’s a trend that has grown internationally with
Chinese and American buyers dreaming of
having their own Grand Cru.
But buying a vineyard where the vines are
too young, too old, or not planted to the
correct density can turn your dream sour. It’s
essential you seek the advice of a specialist
vineyard agent. Leggett Immobillie's Xavier
Routurier comes from a vineyard-owning
family and advises buyers in his native
Bordeaux, Bergerac and Lot-et-Garonne
areas.
He says that the typical hobby vineyard is 1
to 2 hectares (15,000 bottles of wine a year),
with a nice house attached, and costs
€400,000 to €1,000,000. This compares with
a professional vineyard of 15 - 25 hectares
costing €1.5 - €3 million, depending on the
renovation and size of the chateau/house. Of
course prices will be lower outside the
internationally famous Bordeaux region. “The
biggest mistake buyers can make is to buy a
vineyard that doesn’t conform to the latest
regulations – and/or the quality of the vines
and terroir is poor. The peak age for vines is
around 20 years.”
Vineyard properties selection
€1,449,000 Bergerac, Dordogne
Charming and cosy vineyard in AOC
Pécharmant, 10.30 hectares. Near all
commodities. Details
€2,730,000 Commercial in Gironde
This beautiful château has been
transformed into a well run and profitable
wine business - 20 ha of AOC Bordeaux
vines. Details