How do I check a vineyard’s vine age and block records before buying?
Ask for a block map listing variety, rootstock, planting date and row layout for every block, then walk the rows to see whether the vines match the paper. Vine age affects fruit quality and replanting needs, so confirm it from records and from what you see, not from the seller’s word alone.
Ask for the block records the seller actually uses: planting dates, variety and clone, rootstock, spacing and any replanting history. Check whether gaps in rows have been filled with younger vines, because a block described as one age may be a mix. Ask which blocks have produced fruit that was sold, and which have been struggling.
Walk each block with the map in hand. Look at trunk thickness, vigour, missing vines and signs of disease or damage. Ask what each block has been used for: sold fruit, own wine or both. Ask about contracts tied to specific blocks, since those may limit what you can do with them.
Ask for the harvest records block by block and compare them against the age you were told. Older blocks that yield poorly may need replanting soon, and that is a cost to plan for. An experienced grower or viticulture adviser can read the blocks with you. Your lawyer can check that the records you rely on are listed in the purchase agreement. Keep copies of everything you were shown, with dates and the names of who gave them to you, so there is no dispute later about what was disclosed.
Key takeaways
- Match every block on the map to the rows you can see.
- Ask which blocks are being replanted or filled with younger vines.
- Have an experienced grower walk the vineyard with you.
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Due diligence
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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