Lawyer for a sales mandate for a vineyard estate

Are you the owner of a vineyard and considering selling it with your vines? Whether you are a company or an individual, call on our lawyers for a mandate to sell wine estates to ensure the security of your transaction. From the preliminary audit to the signing of the final deed of sale, including price estimation, buyer search, and negotiation, we assist our seller clients.

By choosing us as your agent lawyer for the marketing of your wine estate, you guarantee a transparent and advantageous transaction. You also benefit from our expertise in rural law and our network of qualified investors for the sale of your vineyard and your vines with complete peace of mind.

Audit of your operation: contact our lawyers for your mandates for the sale of wine estates

The valuation of a wine estate is much more than a simple real estate estimate. It determines not only the realistic selling price of the estate but also influences the attractiveness of the offer to potential buyers. Our preparatory audit takes into account a multitude of factors

The quality of the terroir, the grape varieties, and the vineyard area

The terroir, a unique combination of geological, climatic, and topographical factors, is the heart of a wine's identity. Its assessment takes into account soil composition, drainage, exposure, altitude, and the specific microclimate of the plot. These elements directly influence the quality of the grapes and, consequently, the wine's potential.

Grape variety selection, i.e., the choice of cultivated grape varieties, is another determining factor. It must be adapted to the terroir and the estate's production goals. Our preliminary audit takes into account the quality of the grape varieties, their age, health status, and suitability for the target market. As lawyers mandated for the sale of wine estates, we verify the grape variety record and the INAO certificate of our selling clients.
The grape variety record must be rigorously updated and certified by customs services via the vineyard register, which lists all plantings. As for the INAO certificate, it attests to the classification of the vines as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), guaranteeing their compliance with quality standards.

Vines from the same wine estate can show significant differences. Some plots are overexploited, producing excessive volumes of wine, while others suffer from chronic underproduction. Our team takes these variations into account during the sale to accurately assess the potential of your wine estate.

We precisely measure the planted areas and verify the actual surface area of the vines before the wine-growing transaction. We also carry out the health inspection of the vineyard before any sale in order to identify any diseases (downy mildew or flavescence dorée) that could affect the productivity and value of the estate.

La superficie du vignoble est un élément tangible qui entre en ligne de compte dans notre évaluation préliminaire. Elle doit être en adéquation avec la capacité de production du domaine et les objectifs de vente. Nous analysons également la répartition des parcelles, leur accessibilité, ainsi que leur potentiel d’extension.

Buildings, winemaking equipment and the reputation of the vineyard

The operating buildings (wineries, storage facilities) and residential buildings (manor house, outbuildings) represent significant assets. During our in-depth analysis, we consider their general condition, functionality, and development potential. The equipment (tractors, grape harvesters, winemaking equipment) represents a substantial investment.

Before any sale, our lawyers acting as agents for the sale of vineyards verify the compliance of viticultural facilities. We assess their age, condition, performance, and market value. Some infrastructures may be outdated or obsolete, requiring special attention. The regulations governing wine production, equipment, and working conditions are both strict and comprehensive.

In the event of recovery of viticultural equipment, our team draws up an exhaustive list detailing the condition of each piece of equipment, while mentioning any pledges, liens or leases related to the equipment.
Similarly, the reputation of the wine estate, its history, as well as the prices and distinctions obtained by its wines constitute a valuable intangible asset. This notoriety can significantly influence the value of the vineyard. The turnover and profitability of your wine property are key indicators of its economic health.

Our preparatory audit takes into account the evolution of turnover, production costs, profit margins and the estate's ability to generate future income. Our knowledge of the specificities of each region, as well as our ability to analyze financial and legal data, guarantee you a rigorous and objective assessment.

Search for buyers and price negotiation: rely on our appointed lawyers for your sales of wine estates

The search for buyers for a wine-growing operation requires a methodical approach and in-depth market knowledge. Our law firm specializing in wine law has an extensive network of potential buyers, both in France and abroad: private investors, wine professionals, SCEA companies, SCI, etc.

The negotiation of the sale price of a vineyard is often the most sensitive step of the transaction. It requires great experience and an ability to best defend the seller's interests. To effectively conduct a negotiation, it is essential to master the specifics of the wine market. This involves knowing the prices, trends, and market players.

Indeed, prices vary depending on the region, appellation, quality of the terroir, grape varieties, reputation of the estate, etc. As for the wine market, it is constantly evolving, with periods of high demand and quieter periods. Our team helps you set a fair selling price, identify the most serious buyers, and conduct negotiations under the best conditions.

We negotiate payment terms and guarantees to make them as advantageous as possible for you. We have strong arguments to justify the sale price of your wine estate. Our mandatory lawyers for the sale of wine estates represent you during negotiations with potential buyers to defend your interests. Sometimes we have to make concessions to reach an agreement.

Drafting of legal documents: Consult our lawyers for a mandate to sell your wine estate

Different sales deeds govern wine-growing transactions and bind the parties: preliminary sale agreement, promise of sale, and final deed of sale. Then call on our law firm specialized in wine-growing and rural law to ensure the legal security of the transfer of your wine-growing property. The preliminary sale agreement is a pre-contract that binds the seller and the buyer to conclude the sale at a determined price and conditions.

It is generally signed after the two parties have agreed on the essential elements of the sale, such as the price, the description of the property, the payment terms, etc. It contains the following clauses:

• the designation of the parties: the identity of the seller and the buyer;
• the description of the property (the area of the estate, buildings, equipment, etc.);
• the price agreed between the parties;
• the payment terms (payment deadlines, possible guarantees, etc.);
• the conditions precedent;
• the date of signature of the final deed of sale.

Once the preliminary contract is signed, we inform the SAFER (Land Development and Rural Establishment Agency) of the sale. Following this notification, the SAFER has a period of two months to examine the file and, if applicable, exercise its right of pre-emption. After this period, the sale can be officially concluded. Our team handles all procedures before the SAFER for you to anticipate the risks of contestation of the transaction.

The promise to sell, on the other hand, is a unilateral contract by which the seller commits to sell their estate to a specific buyer, who has a deadline to accept or not. It is less binding than the preliminary sale agreement, as it only commits the seller. It can be used in various situations, for example when the buyer needs time to obtain financing or carry out checks on the estate.

The final deed of sale is the final contract that formalizes the sale of the estate and transfers ownership to the buyer. It also contains specific clauses for the sale of the vineyard estate, including guarantees on wine quality, possible operating restrictions, etc. Once this contract is signed, we handle its registration with the land publicity service to make it enforceable against third parties.

Our lawyers specialized in wine law assist you in drafting all sale deeds for your vineyard. We ensure that these contracts comply with current rules. As mandatory lawyers for the sale of your wine estate, we guarantee the legal and financial security of the transaction.