As I write, wine-harvesting season is in full swing across southern Europe. Vineyards that were quiet and serene over the long summer months are now hives of activity.
The grape-picking harvest brings together families, workers, and even tourists. Work starts before sunrise. The cooler temperatures help preserve the grapes’ delicate flavors and aromas. An early start is good for the workers too. Even in September, daytime temperatures in southern Europe can get into the high 80s F.
Across southern Europe, the wine harvest is underway. Owning a vineyard would allow you to be part of this rich tradition…
This harvest is a fascinating sight…
The experienced harvesters move with astonishing speed from vine to vine. By mid-morning decades-old tractors laden with grapes can be seen puttering along narrow country lanes, traveling from the vineyards to the local wineries.
Interestingly, the harvest date is never the same. It changes each year depending on the weather, the region, and the grape variety.
Knowing the right time to begin the harvest comes with experience. There’s no lack of this in southern Europe. Many of the vineyards there have been in the same family for generations.
But owning a vineyard is not a closed shop. Anyone can buy a vineyard and start making their own wine.
And why not? It’s an idyllic way of living and comes with lots of benefits.
Vineyard work requires spending outdoors, being active, surrounded by nature. This type of lifestyle is known to improve physical and mental health and reduce stress.
And don’t forget the end result…a cellar full of your own wine. Do it well and you could end up with a lucrative business. As a hobby, you can sit down with friends and enjoy a bottle of wine that you produced yourself.
I asked my team to investigate some of the best places to own a vineyard. They looked beyond the more popular (and expensive) regions like Bordeaux and Tuscany, to places where your money buys more.
The listings featured here are more expensive than our regular dream homes. But they include things like acres of land, one or more homes, wine cellars, and even farmyard machinery…
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Listing Price: €693,000 ($766,800)
This home with 27 acres of vineyards is in the Minervois, a scenic and affordable area in France’s wine-growing heartland. Listing here.
We begin in the Languedoc-Roussillon, a region which produces more wine than anywhere else in France.
Located in the South of France, the Languedoc-Roussillon stretches along the Mediterranean coast where long sandy beaches alternate with rocky coves. Inland, you’ll find neat rows of vines blanketing gently rolling hills. Forests and fragrant scrubland make up the rest of the countryside. During spring and summer, the air is filled with the scent of wild herbs like thyme and rosemary.
My team found this wine-growing estate in the Minervois area of the Languedoc-Roussillon. This is one of the most affordable areas in France to own a vineyard. It’s becoming fashionable too, with award-winning domains bringing Minervois wines to a wider audience.
The estate has a main house in need of renovation. It is currently divided into two separate apartments of about 860 square feet each. They could stay that way or be combined into one main house, There’s also another small apartment that could be turned into a vacation rental.
The vineyard spans around 27 acres and the winery buildings include a 1,350-square-foot winemaking cellar, a storage building with a garage, and a large tasting room with space for bottle storage.
The vineyard primarily grows old Carignan and Cinsault vines, yielding close to 800 gallons on average per year. All cultivation and winemaking equipment is included. The estate, winery and vineyard are for sale at €693,000 ($766,800) and the listing is here.
Douro Valley, Portugal
Listing Price: €720,000 ($797,000)
This home and vineyard are in the Douro region of northern Portugal. This is the only place where you can produce Port, a sweet fortified wine. Listing here.
Our next home is in the Douro region of northern Portugal where a dramatic landscape of steep hillsides plunges down towards the winding Douro River.
Up in these hills, the vines grow on a maze of terraces which have been painstakingly carved into the granite slopes over the centuries.
This is where Portugal’s famous Port wine is produced, along with other excellent table wines. Port was invented by 17th century British merchants, who added brandy to wine to preserve it for long sea voyages. Today, it’s considered a dessert wine.
If you fancy trying your hand at producing Port, my team found this four-bedroom house with a vineyard for sale. It’s located just outside the historic town of Villa Flor, under two hours’ drive west of Porto.
The spacious home has a main residence with three bathrooms, two fireplaces, a kitchen, living room, and a large, covered terrace. The estate has a guard house with a couple of two-bedroom units, a two-bedroom guest house, and multiple auxiliary buildings. The property covers 18 acres, with 13 acres of vineyard.
There are also four cellars, a fermentation workshop, a dovecote, two 10,000-bottle underground cellars, and two above-ground warehouses.
The vineyard, one of the region’s oldest, is planted with half red and half white grape varieties.
The estate is listed for sale at €720,000 ($797,000), reduced from close to €1 million, and you can view it here.
Mendoza, Argentina
Listing Price: $285,000
This vineyard in the prestigious Mendoza region of Argentina is available for just $285,000. Listing here.
Mendoza, in western Argentina, is famous for its Malbec, which has become Argentina’s signature grape.
The region is nestled at the foot of the Andes Mountains, where expanses of sun-drenched vineyards are set against the dramatic backdrop of the snow-capped peaks. The high-altitude desert climate, and the big difference between day and night temperatures, create perfect conditions for grapes to thrive.
Vineyards in Mendoza benefit from a unique irrigation system dating back to the pre-Columbus era. A series of channels and dams bring snowmelt down from the Andes providing fresh water for the vines.
My team found this one-bedroom property built in 2011, which has an attached garage/barn, an outdoor brick barbecue grill, and an old Deutz tractor. It’s located in San Rafael, a charming city in southern Mendoza province with Spanish colonial buildings and tree-lined streets.
The home is on a 50-acre farm containing 42 acres of Malbec grape vines. It can produce over 440,000 lbs. of grapes per year. It’s on the market for $285,000 and you can check out the listing here.
Casablanca Valley, Chile
Listing Price: $5 million
This incredible seven-bedroom mansion has around 67 acres of vineyards. Listing here.
Let’s end with a bit of luxury…
The Casablanca Valley in central Chile is an area renowned for its wine production and gently rolling hills covered in vineyards, and pockets of native forest. The morning fog and cool breezes that roll in from the Pacific Ocean create ideal conditions for growing cooler-climate grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Casablanca Valley is a relatively young wine region, commercial vineyards were only established here in the 1980s. Despite its youth, it has gained international recognition for its white wines.
The valley is part of Chile’s wine tourism route, offering visitors experiences ranging from wine tasting to horseback riding through the vineyards.
My team found this ultra-luxurious seven-bedroom wine estate and vineyard that comes with approximately 99 acres, including about 67 acres of vineyards and a vast, 13,000-square-foot estate home.
The main house includes five bathrooms, a large kitchen, and spacious living areas. The estate grounds include a tennis court, swimming pool, and landscaped garden areas. Additional amenities include a wine cellar, storage facilities, and both front and back yards.
The property has views of the coastal mountains and is five minutes from the main highway.
The estate is for sale at $5 million and you can view the listing here.
Ronan McMahon, Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S. If you’re interested in any of these listings you should hire an attorney and do your own due diligence. I haven’t visited these properties in person or done any due diligence on them.
P.P.S. For more listings of affordable overseas dream homes, click here to follow our Your Cheap Dream Home Instagram account.
Your Daily Dream Home
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
This modern one-bedroom condo has 520 square feet of living space in a new four-story building. The condo has a full bathroom, kitchen, and a combined living and dining area. The bedroom includes a king-size bed and TV.
The building has a rooftop terrace with a pool, grill, and lounge area, as well as a first-floor water feature. Daytime reception and night security are provided.
The condo is in Playa del Carmen, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. It’s a popular tourist destination known for its stunning Caribbean beaches and vibrant atmosphere. Playa del Carmen has grown from a small fishing village into a major destination, attracting visitors with its white sand beaches and turquoise waters. The famous Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida) offers a pedestrian-friendly strip filled with shops, restaurants, and nightlife.
