1.   All these costs help explain why lending institutions specializing in vineyard properties expect a huge amount of due diligence on the part of prospective investors.

2.   But the Fallers can and do rent vineyard property, so long as they grow and harvest the grapes themselves.

3.   Gallo, although much larger, has had to remake itself to compete in the premium sector, buying vineyard property and inventing new brands.

4.   In addition, industry officials expect demand for top vineyard properties will grow as overseas wine sales and foreign interest in California wineries increase.

5.   When they could, they went north to the Napa and Sonoma areas to look for vineyard property.

6.   With a strong economy and premium demand for prestigious vineyard properties along the California coast, more mergers are on the horizon.