Starting a winery doesn’t have to be a frightening endeavor. Starting your own winery is easy if you follow these five steps.
Step 1: Research the regulations:
Before you start a winery, you need to determine what regulations are in place and what you need to do to comply with these regulations. There are three main regulations that you need to be aware of:
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) regulates wineries that produce more than 7,500 gallons of wine per year. The TTB requires wineries to fill out paperwork, pay yearly taxes and submit reports regarding their wine production and any wine sold.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) also maintains a list of approved wine labels and verifies that the labels are not misleading.
Additionally, there are local rules that you must follow. In Georgia, wineries must apply for a licence with the Alcoholic Beverage Code Enforcement Division.
Step 2: Purchase vineyard land and equipment
If you decide to buy land and winery equipment separately, you need to determine how much the land will cost and how much the equipment will cost. Contact several vineyard owners and ask how much they charge per acre to find out how much the land will cost. Based on their answers, you’ll be able to identify the land that is within your price range.
Step 3: Choose your location
Once you’ve purchased the land and equipment, you need to choose the location where you’re going to build your winery. The following factors should be taken into account while deciding on a location:
- The climate of the region.
- The weather in the area. The region’s soil.
- The soil of the region. The land zoning.
- The land zoning. The availability of water.
- The availability of water. The accessibility to markets.
Step 4: Create a business plan:
Once you’ve chosen a location, you need to create a business plan. There is a lot of information in the business plan that you will need to keep track of.
SMART goals and objectives are critical to your success (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound). For example, your goals may be:
- To create an annual income of $20,000 by October 1, 2021
- To create an annual income of $20,000 by October 1, 2021.
- To have 10 wine club members by January 1, 2021.
- To have a retail sales volume of $25,000 by the end of 2022.
A marketing plan should include your target audience, what you’ll do to reach your target audience, and how you’ll measure your success.
A financial plan should include your startup costs, operating costs, and projected income.
Step 5: File the necessary paperwork:
The last step to starting a winery is to file the necessary paperwork. You need to apply for your winery license (if you’re required to apply for one) and fill out the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) paperwork.
The TTB requires winemakers to fill out a winery bond, a specific kind of surety bond that guarantees that you’ll pay taxes and file reports. The bond cost will depend on how much wine you plan to make and how many wines you plan to sell.
One of the first steps to starting a winery is to decide what type of winery you want to have. There are four main options:
Farms
Farms have the advantage of not purchasing tonnes of equipment, but the disadvantage is that a farm doesn’t usually have a large tasting room.
Farms have the advantage of not purchasing tonnes of equipment, but the disadvantage is that a farm doesn’t usually have a large tasting room.
Destination wineries
Destination wineries provide a large tasting room and the ability to have events, but the disadvantage is that they tend to be expensive to build.
Destination wineries provide a large tasting room and the ability to have events, but the disadvantage is that they tend to be expensive to build.
Industrial wineries
Industrial wineries are the most affordable to build, but they have the disadvantage of being less visually appealing.
Industrial wineries are the most affordable to build, but they have the disadvantage of being less visually appealing.
Commercial wineries
Commercial wineries provide a large tasting room and the ability to have events, but the disadvantage is that they can be expensive to build.
Since 1975, the number of wineries in the United States has grown by 1,200 percent. Starting a winery can be a great way to earn a profit and provide a unique service to the community if you want to get in on this trend.
Starting a winery can be a great way to earn a profit and provide a unique service to the community if you want to get in on this trend.