A Sample Micro Winery Business Plan Template
A Sample Micro Winery Business Plan Template
Are you about starting a micro winery business? If YES, here is a complete sample
winery business plan template & feasibility study you can use for FREE.
Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a winery business. We also
took it further by analysing and drafting a sample winery produce marketing plan template
backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for winery businesses. So, let’s proceed
to the business planning section.
Starting a winery can be a very exciting and rewarding business if you are focused,
dedicated and plan very well. There are various aspects to the business and you can
decide to start on a small scale or large but an important fact of starting this business is
that you will need to be very patient and have substantial funds as this is a business done
with a long term approach and with a lot of money invested in it.
If you intend to start and run a winery as a profitable business, do not look forward to
having immediate returns on your investment. This is why people who go into the business
are generally seen as doing it not for their own gain or benefit but as a future investment
they can leave behind for their children and grandchildren. Although this is not always true
in all situations as there are people who start turning in profits some years after starting
the business.
An important decision you will have to make before starting is to know what aspect of the
business you will like to do or if you will prefer to handle all aspects. For instance, you can
decide to own a vineyard which is a farm that grows grapes a major ingredient for wines.
After growing the grapes, you can sell or export them to wineries who are involved in
producing the wine.
In a situation where you do not have enough money to invest, you can choose to partner
with more established wineries that have their own vineyards and wineries to grow their
grapes and produce their own wines. These wineries give people the opportunity to make
a barrel for their own private consumption or make hundreds of barrels for commercial
purposes.
Another decision to consider is where your business will be located. When choosing where
to site your business you will have to think of the climatic condition as grapes thrive in dry
climates, cool days and hot nights. This is why places like Arizona and California are
regarded as top wine growing and producing regions in United States of America because
they have climatic conditions that suit the growth, cultivation and harvesting of grapes.
Other factors you will also need to consider is the cost involved in setting up the business
as this could be substantial, licensing requirements and marketing and distribution plans.
All these factors and components are essential as they go a long way in making the
business a thriving and successful venture.
As stated earlier, the winery business is an exciting one and can be a rewarding
experience if properly done and well planned. The industry is fast growing as despite the
huge capital outlay needed to start the business a lot of people are still coming in leading
to it being a vibrant industry.
The Wineries industry comprises of companies that are involved in at least one component
of the winemaking process. The wine making process includes growing and harvesting
grapes, crushing and pressing grapes into unfermented wine and fermenting the wine.
The industry also makes wine blends, brandies and wines made from other fruit sources.
The wine institute which represents about 500 wineries in California states that total wine
sales in the United States both from foreign and domestic avenues was around 600 million
gallons some years ago which recorded a retail value of 19 billion dollars. Also wine
exports have been a good source of revenue with 79 million gallons exported providing
about 500 million dollars in revenue.
California accounts for most of the wine markets in the United States but steadily over the
years, the business has become very popular and there has been an increase in wine
markets in various regions around the country. This has seen vineyards available in about
40 states with 49 states having wineries, leading to about 2000 wineries around the
country.
In 2014, a major landmark was achieved when the United States of America for the first
time became the largest wine consumer by volume with an annual consumption of 29.1
million hectoliters over taking France in the process. This has gone on to explain why wine
brands from the United States are dominant in the world market and are continually on
the rise. Statistics also show that wine consumption in the United States is set to rise by
11% over the next few years and this growth will make the total market share of the country
double what is expected from the market of China.
There are several factors to consider like where to buy the land, cost of the land, planting
of the grapes harvesting of the grapes, bottling the product, marketing and lots more
making it a daunting and challenging task.
For instance, if you decide to start the business from the scratch you will have to be
extremely patient and be ready to spend huge money. It can take up to four years before
you produce grapes that are commercially viable and the process of making the wine can
take a further two years which means whatever you budget for the business should be for
a long term basis and you should be in it for the long haul.
The industry is characterized by fierce competition which is why it is important that when
entering the business, you develop a particular niche as this will enable you penetrate the
market and get your own customers.
Over and above, the winery industry is a profitable industry and it is open for any aspiring
entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business; you can chose to start on a
small scale (micro – winery) or you can chose to start on a large scale (mega – winery).
 Our Product
The Vineyard Group®, Inc. is going to operate a standard and licensed winery whose
products will not only be sold in the United States and Canada but also in other parts of
the world. We are in the winery business to make profits and also to give our customers
value for their money.
These are some of our services and product offerings;
Our mission is to establish a standard winery business that will produce a wide range of
wines for both low income earners and for luxury consumption. We want to build a winery
business that will be listed amongst the top 10 wineries in the United States of America
and Canada
The Vineyard Group®, Inc. is a business that is established with the aim of competing
favorably with other leading winery brands in the industry. This is why we will ensure that
we put the right structure in place that will support the kind of growth that we have in mind
while setting up the business.
We will ensure that we only hire people that are qualified, honest, hardworking, customer
centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all
the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).
As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior
management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or
more depending how fast we meet our set target. In view of that, we have decided to hire
qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;
      Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for
       the organization
      Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading
       professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in
       professional organizations.
      Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for
       accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to
       job accomplishments.
      Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
      Carries out staff induction for new team members
      Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
      Oversees the smooth running of the daily office and factory activities.
Warehouse Manager:
Merchandize Manager
      Manages vendor relations, market visits, and the ongoing education and
       development of the organizations’ buying teams
      Helps to ensure consistent quality of wines are produced
      Responsible for the purchase of raw materials and packaging materials (bottles
       and cans et al)
      Responsible for planning sales, monitoring inventory, selecting the merchandise,
       and writing and pricing orders to vendors
      Ensures that the organization operates within stipulated budget.
      Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information
       to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
      Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data
       generated by customer purchases
      Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities
       et al
      Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs,
       and communicate with clients
      Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
      Documents all customer contact and information
      Represents the company in strategic meetings
      Helps to increase sales and growth for the company
Information Technologist
Accountant / Cashier
      Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for
       the organization
      Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and
       accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed
       projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
      Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
      Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
      Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
      Responsible for administering payrolls
      Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
      Handles all financial transactions for the organization
      Serves as internal auditor for the organization
      Ensures that all contacts with customer (e-mail, walk-In centre, SMS or phone)
       provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest
       level
      Through interaction with customers on the phone, uses every opportunity to build
       client’s interest in the company’s products and services
      Manages administrative duties assigned by the store manager in an effective and
       timely manner
      Consistently stays abreast of any new information on The Vineyard Group®, Inc.
       products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information
       is supplied to students when they make enquiries
Cleaners:
 Strength:
Part of what is going to count as positives for The Vineyard Group®, Inc. is the vast
experience of our management team, we have people on board who are highly
experienced and understands how to grow business from the scratch to becoming a
national phenomenon.
So also, we grow our own grapes and the wide varieties of wine et al that we produce our
large national distribution network and of course our excellent customer service culture
will definitely count as a strong strength for the business.
 Weakness:
A major weakness that may count against us is the fact that we are a new winery and we
don’t have the financial capacity to engage in the kind of publicity that we intend giving the
business especially when big names like The Wine Group, Gallo and Constellation Brand
Inc. are already determining the direction of the market.
 Opportunities:
The opportunities for mega wineries with a wide range of products are enormous. This
due to the fact that the average Americans and Canadians consume distilled products. As
a result of that, we were able to conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies
so as to position our business to take advantage of the existing market for wine products
and also to create our own new market. We know that it is going to requires hard work,
and we are determined to achieve it.
 Threat:
We are quite aware that just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are
likely going to face is economic downturn and unfavorable government policies. It is a fact
that economic downturn affects purchasing power. Another threat that may likely confront
us is the arrival of a new winery or distillery plant in same location where ours is located.
 Market Trends
One common trend in the wineries industry is that, over the last five years, it has become
obvious that consumer drinking preferences have moved away from standard light beers,
and loads of consumers have discovered wine for its perceived health benefits and
increasingly diverse flavor profiles.
Going forward, the wineries industry will continue to benefit from a growing number of
consumers, mostly among the millennial generation, who have expanded their palettes
toward domestic wine. Also, the US wine region is increasingly becoming popular on a
global stage.
Another trend in the wineries industry is that most wineries now produce expensive wines
for the high end clients and also normal wine for everyday people. Statistics has it that
consumers have experienced appreciable increasing disposable income since 2009, and
as a result, many have sought out expensive wine brands that are perceived to be classy
and of higher quality.
When it comes to selling wines, there is indeed a wide range of available customers. In
essence, our target market can’t be restricted to just a group of people, but all those who
drink alcoholic drinks and non – alcoholic drinks. One thing is certain; the target market
for wines, especially red wines will continue to increase.
In view of that, we have conducted our market research and we have ideas of what our
target market would be expecting from us. We are in business to engage in the production
and wholesale distribution of assorted wines to the following groups of people:
      Corporate Executives
      Government Officials
      Business People
      Celebrities
      Military Men and Women
      Sports Men and Women (with the exemption of under – age)
      Students (with the exemption of under – age)
      Tourists
      Event / Wedding Planners
      Every adult in the neighbourhood where our wines will be sold.
Our Competitive Advantage
Although we are set out to establish a standard winery in Indianapolis – Indiana whose
products will be sold throughout the United States of America and Canada, but that those
not stop us from setting up our own unique retail outlets across major cities so as to bring
our brands closer to locals. This is part of the competitive advantage that we are bringing
into the market.
Another competitive advantage that we have is the vast experience of our management
team, we have people on board who are highly experienced and understands how to grow
business from the scratch to becoming a national phenomenon. So also, the wide varieties
of wine flavours that we produce our large national distribution network and of course, our
excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for the
business.
One thing is certain; we will ensure that we produce a wide range of distilled drinks with
different flavours so as to give our customers various options.
Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be
among the best within our category (start – ups commercial greenhouse farms in the
United States) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the
business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and
objectives.
Winery Business Plan – SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY
 Sources of Income
The Vineyard Group®, Inc. is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the wineries
industry in both the United States of America and Canada and we are going to go all the
way to ensure that we do all it takes to sell a wide range of both alcoholic and non –
alcoholic wine products to a wide range of customers.
The Vineyard Group®, Inc. will generate income by offering the following services and
products;
      Marketing and retailing of various flavours of alcoholic and non – alcoholic wines
      Manufacturing brandy, vermouth and cider
      Sale of Chardonnay
      Sale of Cabernet Sauvignon
      Sale of Merlot
      Sale of Pinot Grigio
      Sale of Pinot Noir
      Sale of sauvignon Blanc
      Sale of Zinfandel, Riesling and other blends
Sales Forecast
It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our
feasibility studies, market survey and also some of the assumptions readily available on
the field. Below are the sales projections that we were able to come up with for the first
three years of operations;
N.B: This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the
assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and the arrival of a
competitor in same location as ours within the period stated above. Please note that the
above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.
Before choosing a location for The Vineyard Group®, Inc. and also the flavours of wines
to produce, we conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to
be able to be able to penetrate the available market of those who consume wines.
We have detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our
business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time and also for our
products to favourable compete with other leading brands in the United States of America
and Canada.
We hired experts who have good understanding of the wineries industry to help us develop
marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger
percentage of the available market in the United States of America and Canada.
In other to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell our products to
the available market which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing
team to deliver our corporate sales goals. In summary, The Vineyard Group®, Inc. will
adopt the following sales and marketing approach to sell our distilled alcoholic drinks;
 Payment Options
At the Vineyard Group®, Inc. our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite
aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the
payment options that will be available in every of our outlets;
In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make
payment for farm produces purchase without any stress on their part.
The winery business is a capital-intensive venture to start and we are well prepared
financially. We are aware that where you decide to locate the business, the equipment as
well as structures you will build will take up a major chunk of the money you have put
aside to set up the business. We have conducted our research, analysis, feasibility studies
and market survey very well before drawing up a budget and going ahead to source for
funds for the business.
This is the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital;
      The Total Fee for Registering the Business in the United States – $750.
      Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting
       services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $1,300.
      Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of The Vineyard Group®, Inc.
       in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy)
       for the total amount of – $3,580.
      Cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,500.
      Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty)
       coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
      The budget for permits, Insurance and license – $5,000
      The money needed to acquire land that will be suitable for the variety of grapes we
       will like to plant can cost you between – $100,000-300,000 per acre
      Construction of the vineyard facility and tasting rooms and other administrative
       blocks could cost about – $200, 000
      Equipment for the offices such as filing cabinets, safety gadgets, computers,
       printers, telephones, fax machines, furniture and electronics could cost about –
       $15,000
      Creating and launching an official website could cost about – $700
      Other expenses such as signage, business cards, advertisements, publicity and
       promotions) could cost around – $2,500
      Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sell of stocks
      Source for soft loans from family members and friends
      Apply for loan from my Bank
N.B: We have been able to generate about $500,000 (Personal savings $400,000 and
soft loan from family members $100,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan
facility of $700,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and
submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be
credited with the amount.
Winery Business Plan – Sustainability and Expansion Strategy
The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity
and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure.
If any of these factors is missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long
before the business close shop.
The Vineyard Group®, Inc. will ensure that all the factors listed above are reinforced on a
regular basis, we will continue to improvise with our products and also we will engage in
continuous capacity building of our workforce. As a matter of fact, profit-sharing
arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on
their performance for a period of five years or more.
We will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to
ensure that staff welfare is well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to
drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at
the top burner. We have the plans of
Check List / Milestone