The average price per ton increased by 6.9%. White grapes increased 8% to $635 per ton. Red grapes increased 5.5% to $1,019 per ton.
A vineyard yielding 2 tons per acre produces about 1,440 bottles. A vineyard yielding 10 tons per acre produces about 7,200 bottles. Installation, materials and labor average $22,000 per acre over 450 hours. To be profitable, a vineyard needs at least 5 acres selling direct, or 10+ acres for wholesale.
It’s difficult to state how many grapes 1 plant will produce as it depends on various factors. For wine grapes, 2 1/2 boxes (36 pounds each) will make 5 gallons of wine. Adding yeast allows more control over the finished product.
635,000 acres are estimated for wine-type grapes, with 590,000 acres bearing and 45,000 non-bearing. Each vine produces 30-40 clusters, yielding 2.5-3.33 cases of wine.
Vineyard yields range from 1-12 tons per acre. So 1 acre yields 640-1920 gallons or 65-240 cases or 780-2880 bottles. Profit depends on consistent production and market demand.
Between 600-1,500 vines fit per 5 acres. Most vineyards are 15 acres; to sell directly, 5 acres are needed. For wholesale, a minimum of 10+ acres is required. Profits can be around $15,000 per 5 ton or $3,000 per ton per acre. Factors such as location, grape variety, and viticultural skills affect profitability.