Micro-winery

A micro-winery is a small wine producer that does not have its own vineyard, and instead sources its grape product from outside suppliers. The concept is similar to a microbrewery, which does not have a field of hops or barley in its backyard.

The concept of the micro-winery is not as easily accepted as that of the microbrewery, however, as the American public has been conditioned to associate a winery as having a vineyard.

A winery uses similar wine-making equipment as a major commercial winery, just on a smaller scale. Glass carboys and sanitary plastic pails are often seen in the facilities of a micro-winery.

One of the primary differences of a micro-winery as compared to a typical winery is that a micro-winery is typically able to offer a wider range of wine varietals; as it is not tied to the grapes it grows.

Another opportunity created in being a micro-winery is that it is realistic to offer custom wine making services for quantities as small as a case.

In fact, a high percentage of micro-wineries focus on the custom services and allow customers to participate in the wine-making process.

There are a few micro-winery franchises:

• http://www.dvinewines.com
• http://www.winenot.com
• http://www.vintnerscellar.com

Some non-franchise micro-wineries include:

• http://www.AdirondackWinery.com
• http://www.RedHatWine.com
• http://www.grapestoglasswp.com
• http://www.WhiteWaterWinery.com
• http://www.ConcettaCellars.com
• http://www.VinesToWines.net
• http://www.cvillewinemaker.com

New York State provides a specific micro-winery license: http://law.onecle.com/new-york/alcoholic-beverage-control/ABC076-F_76-F.html