December 3, 2009 Celebrity Vineyards: The New Hobby of the Wealthy

The popularity of starting vineyards is growing, as should the protection provided these start-ups

The number of celebrity vineyards that are popping up all over the world is growing as process of growing grapes and making wine grows in popularity.  Actors, directors, and even politicians are using a part their substantial incomes to open up their own “grape-stomping grounds,” and some are actually achieving quite a bit of respect from many people within the wine community for the quality of their output—and not just for the celebrity-factor.

Vineyards require a great deal of investment of both time and money, and it’s worth taking look at the famous names that have done a fine job with the allocation of each.

A Rundown of a Few Top Celebrity Vineyards and Their Locations

Mario Andretti – The winery of this Indy/Daytona 500 victor (Andretti Winery) is located in the Oak Knoll portion of Napa Valley, California, and is well known for its pinot grigio, merlot, and chardonnay.  It spans 42 acres and, along with being quite a sight unto itself, boasts a large wine club membership; a significant roster of special events; and frequent tastings. 

Sam Neill – Sam Neill received a significant boost to his fame with his role(s) as Grant in the Jurassic Park films, and has since obtained a similar benefit with his notable efforts toward his vineyard Two Paddocks, located in the Central Otago region of New Zealand.  Though now expanding, Two Paddocks has for quite some time been known for its pinot noir and ecological friendliness.

Francis Ford Coppola – Well known for his capacity for filmmaking, Francis Coppola is also quite the wine connoisseur and owns a reputable vineyard entitled the Rubicon Estate in Rutherford, California.  He has owned the property for over 20 years and, from what many well established authorities report, has improved dramatically thanks to Coppola’s fastidious efforts.  Like Andretti above, Coppola’s winery features a wide range of features for wine buyers and functions as a prominent attraction of the area.

With more and more of the wealthy population pouring their capital into developing wineries, it is apparent that there are burgeoning risks.

All Vineyards Need Protection, Even Celebrity Vineyards

Burning through capital needlessly for disasters and mishaps that could have easily been covered by our vineyard insurance is frustrating and inconvenient, even if you have a ton of it. The visibility of celebrity wineries and the growth the industry demands that viable protection exists in the event of damage to the vines and infrastructure of a vineyard. Live Asset is the pioneer and the leading expert in the field.

Check out our recent blog posts on vineyard start-up costs; how to protect your vineyard investment; and a recent report on starting a vineyard.