Buying a Wine Estate: What Financial Support Options Are Available?

Taking over a wine estate is often a dream, a new project, a change of lifestyle, and the culmination of years of study or professional retraining.

But acquiring a vineyard is, above all, taking over a business — one made of land, heritage, and history.
Such a project requires careful study, thorough preparation, and detailed analysis; every aspect must be taken into account.

Let’s take a closer look at the ten key questions to consider when it comes to financial support for acquiring a vineyard.

To shed light on these topics, Thomas Morinière and Sylvie Rouger share their expertise.

After a career in banking, Thomas MORINIERE joined Finance Conseil. Today, he advises both private individuals and professionals as a financial broker, guiding them in their search for funding — particularly for vineyard acquisitions.

Sylvie ROUGER is Agricultural Business Director at Banque Populaire Grand Ouest.

What Is the Price of a Vineyard?

At Ampelio, our portfolio features wine estates in the Loire Valley, generally ranging between €800,000 and €3,000,000 for a complete vineyard property, including the land, farm buildings, and all winemaking equipment (such as vats and machinery).

Below €500,000, properties typically cover less than 10 hectares, or concern operations without land ownership. Meaning the acquisition involves taking over the company alone, with leases allowing continued cultivation of the vineyard parcels.

Above €3,000,000, estates are usually located in the Centre-Loire area (Sancerre, Pouilly) or in Anjou/Saumur, featuring either large vineyard surfaces or significant private real estate.

According to Sylvie Rouger, “Vineyard prices tend to rise, and when taking over an operating estate, one must also consider the cost of the land and the residential property.”

Read our article : What Budget Do You Need to Buy a Vineyard Estate? Costs, Key Factors & Expert Advice

How Long Does It Take to Acquire a Vineyard?

On average, we observe a timeline of around 18 months between the signing of the sales mandate and the completion of the vineyard transfer.

We usually say that one year is the minimum required to go through the entire process — including property visits, appraisals, offers, negotiations, securing financing and other suspensive conditions, notarial deeds, and the specific administrative procedures tied to wine estate transactions.

From experience:

• A one-year timeframe is possible when the buyer has a very clear vision of their target. In such cases, since we already understand the project, we can quickly suggest a structure that fits their needs.
• Delays beyond two years are common when buyers are undergoing a career or lifestyle change. The decision process is then more complex, involving both professional and personal reflection.

Read our article : Vineyard Acquisition Timeline: Key Steps to Know

Who Are the Typical Buyers of a Wine Estate?

According to Thomas Morinière, “Historically, the typical buyer profile was that of young winemakers looking to take over the family business. This generational handover was often made easier through family donations and involved a smaller amount of capital to finance, as the family initially retained ownership of part of the vineyard land.

Over the past few years, however, we have seen the rise of new buyer profiles, increasingly represented by those undergoing career transitions. Former employees or business owners, often with available capital, they seek to train in viticulture and invest in a wine estate. They come from all backgrounds and regions but share one common trait: a deep passion for wine and vineyards.

The Loire Valley is particularly attractive for these new buyers, as its estates remain more affordable than those in other major wine regions, offering greater potential returns. The region’s wines are gaining increasing recognition both in France and internationally, thanks to the remarkable work of local winemakers. Moreover, vineyards here tend to be less exposed to climate risks, an important advantage in this era of global warming.”

Are There Banks Specializing in Vineyard Acquisitions?

In general, most major retail banks have a dedicated agriculture and viticulture division, with advisors managing portfolios of professionals within the wine industry.
>These specialists have an in-depth understanding of the business — from the seasonal financing cycles and weather-related challenges to distribution networks and the broader economics of wine production.

A few financial institutions stand out for their strong expertise, with teams specifically dedicated to vineyard and wine estate projects.

At Ampelio, we observe that banks remain supportive of all vineyard acquisition projects. However, over the past decade, eligibility criteria have become stricter, influenced by factors such as climate risks, occasional declines in export markets, and rising costs of dry goods and materials.

What Is a Vineyard Loan?

When bank financing is required, it’s important to distinguish between the different types of assets being financed.

• Land parcels and production buildings are usually financed through long-term loans,
• while equipment is typically financed over the short or medium term.

In cases where the acquisition involves buying company shares, the financing structure will vary depending on the assets held within the existing entity (or entities).

It is essential to meet with banking partners armed with a detailed business plan and financial projections, allowing them to better understand the project, address questions, and suggest tailored financing solutions.

As Thomas Morinière explains: “It’s crucial to carefully prepare your bank meetings: know how to present yourself, clearly explain your project, review financial statements, and build solid financial forecasts.”

From the banking side, Sylvie Rouger adds:

“When assessing a vineyard acquisition, we evaluate the project itself before looking at the financing plan. We validate the person behind it — the applicant’s profile is key. We look at:

• Their knowledge of viticulture (production and/or sales skills),
• How they plan to fill any missing skills,
• And, if they’re new to the sector, what training or support they’ve planned.

A thorough assessment of the target estate is then conducted, covering both operational assets and company shares.
Banks require a wide range of documents, from accounting records to harvest declarations, to accurately determine the estate’s value.”

A broker can be a valuable ally throughout this process. They can help you prepare for meetings with lenders, refine your arguments, and potentially negotiate better loan conditions, sometimes saving several thousand euros, which can make a real difference when acquiring a vineyard.

What Are the Differences Between a Home Loan and a Business Loan?

As Thomas Morinière explains:

“These are two completely different markets, governed by distinct frameworks and regulations. For example, borrower insurance rules (which became a key topic in 2022 for home loans) do not apply at all to agricultural or professional loans. Since the financed assets are different, loan terms, interest rates, and guarantees also vary.

A professional or agricultural loan is, by nature, considered riskier for the bank, as repayment depends on many factors related to the future owner’s management of the estate.
As a result, interest rates are generally higher than those applied to home loans, reflecting this additional risk.”

What Is the Difference Between an Investment Loan and a Start-Up Loan?

An investment loan, for example, to finance new equipment or vineyard planting, is usually arranged with the estate’s existing bank, since it supports ongoing operations and the financial partner already knows the business well.

By contrast, a start-up or establishment loan concerns a major life and career project. In this case, candidates generally present their financing proposal to several banks to find the most suitable partner.

Here again, it is essential to provide a clear and detailed business plan and financial forecast, demonstrating the project’s viability and helping banks assess the request with confidence.

Have Interest Rates Changed in Recent Years?

Professional loan rates generally follow the same trend as home loan rates.

As Thomas Morinière explains:

“We’ve experienced a long period of extremely low interest rates, with financing sometimes below 1% over 15 years at the end of last year. That period now seems to be over, and the beginning of 2022 marked a turning point with a sharp rise in rates, about +0.15% per month over the last three months, a trend that had been expected for some time.

The succession of crises — Covid, the war in Ukraine, and the energy crisis — has not helped economic recovery. Tensions are mounting, and rates are rising as a way to combat inflation, reflecting also a decline in interbank market confidence.
It’s difficult to predict what the coming months will bring, but rates could continue to increase.

We’re still well below the conditions of the early 2000s, when even the best borrowers were negotiating rates between 4% and 5%!”

What Is the Ideal Amount of Personal Contribution for a Business Loan?

“Ideally, the personal contribution should represent around 30% of the total investment.
>While nothing is set in stone and each case is unique, in recent years we’ve seen that our banking partners generally require a personal contribution of about 20%.
This provides flexibility and a sufficient safety margin to ensure a smooth transition. Banks tend to prioritize financing tangible assets, meaning that working capital needs and additional costs linked to operations are ideally covered by the buyer’s own funds.”
explains Thomas Morinière.

Sylvie Rouger notes:

“The buyer’s contribution varies from one project to another. The level of equity depends on the project’s repayment capacity.
We don’t finance based on guarantees: we finance when we believe in the project.
>We always require a business plan prepared by a certified accountant, with a clear understanding of the underlying assumptions, and we perform cross-analyses to ensure the projections are realistic.

In business forecasts, we’re seeing longer financing periods for operational assets.”

Are There Any Financial Aid Programs to Support Vineyard Acquisition?

Several organizations can assist you with the financial aspects of acquiring a wine estate.

One key program is the “Dotation Jeune Agriculteur” (DJA – Young Farmer’s Grant):
This capital grant is funded 80% by the European Union and 20% by the French government.
The amount varies depending on the location, the type of project, and its scale.

The DJA can take the form of either a start-up grant or low-interest loans designed to support the takeover and the first investments.
To qualify, applicants must meet several eligibility criteria and submit a complete application.
Once approved, the recipient must commit to specific obligations for at least four years.

Beneficiaries of the DJA may also be eligible for additional advantages, such as tax reductions, relief from land tax on undeveloped property, or partial exemption from social contributions (MSA).

Learn more about the Dotation Jeune Agriculteur

In addition, FranceAgriMer provides financial support for vineyard restructuring.
Growers can apply for assistance to relocate vines or improve vineyard management techniques.

Learn more about the vineyard Restructuring Aid

Finally, it’s recommended to contact your local Point Accueil Installation (PAI), which lists all available financial aid and advisory services in your region.