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If you’ve ever thought about starting or buying a vineyard but didn’t have the capital then look no further than fractional ownership of a vineyard.

For about $130 bucks you can rent a row of vines at your choice of select vineyards in various regions in France for one year. Choose from Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire or Rhone regions with multiple vineyards in each.

How much wine can you get from a row of vines? I can’t find an exact commitment of a minimum on the website of the company that offers it, 3dwines. What they do spell out is a maximum of 2 cases per year. So, for $130 you can get a maximum 24 bottles of wine each year. Not bad.

Also, the site only quotes shipping to the UK so I’m sure there are additional costs to ship to the US.

Its worth a look.

I actually found the site on CNN (admittedly liberal for my redneck ways) on one of their galleries on the fractional life. Its a good read on fractional ownership that is typically reserved for private residence clubs, luxury yachts or private jets. I’d never heard of fractional ownership in a vineyard but its interesting nonetheless.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Just a quick note about a new service I was turned on to last week. I was at my local grocery store and bought several bottles of wine. On each was an advertisement for a service called eWine Match. As stated on the marketing piece:

1. Make your food choice
2. Using your cell phone text your selection to 411511
3. In moments you’ll receive a text message providing the perfect wine to enjoy with your food!

I tried it a couple of times (responses came within 30 seconds) and here are my results:

Food choice of Tuna - received reply message stating the following - Your matches…
Beringer Founder’s Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Matua Sauvignon Blanc
the Little Penguin Pinot Noir

Food choice of Kielbasa - received reply message - Your matches…
Rosemount Diamond Chardonnay
Beringer Founder’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau St. Jean Merlot

Food choice of beef fajitas - Your matches…
Beringer Founder’s Estate Zinfandel
Matua Sauvignon Blanc
Rosemount Diamond Chardonnay

Interesting that there was a Beringer in every reponse. They also have a website at ewinematch but it doesn’t contain anything except for a privacy policy and terms of service.

Seems like a decent resource for a quick wine pairing whether in the store or restaurant. Even if you’re a red wine snob like me you’ll appreciate that it gives both red and white recommendations.

Popularity: 10% [?]