Do Grape Growers Cluster? A Study of Virginia Winery Locations between 1971 and 2015

Abstract

The growing demand for wine presents opportunities for the expansion of viticulture into new regions.   While the effect of climate and terrain upon the spatial distribution of wine grape (vitis vinifera) cultivation have been closely studied, economic factors such as the presence of local knowledge, tourist visitation patterns, and local investment and support also exhibit a strong influence upon where wineries open.   After examining the spatio-temporal patterns of winery openings in Virginia from 1976-2015 there is a strong trend towards increased spatial clustering as the wine region develops, with the most pronounced clusters being associated with counties where agribusiness has local support.   This pattern may offer local planners in other developing wine regions guidance for their zoning and developing policies to support a budding wine industry.